• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Dessert
    • Condiments
    • Reviews
  • About Midwexican
    • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me!

Midwexican

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Midwexican
  • Work With Me!
×

Home » Sides

Published: Sep 24, 2020 · Modified: Jan 12, 2022 by Tino Marie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • LinkedIn

Your kale-hating friends won’t hate this Jalapeno Popper-inspired Creamed Kale, with its jalapeno heat and cream cheese-y goodness. Top with breadcrumbs or bacon pieces if you want to really shut up the haters.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

I have a very special announcement to make: I figured out how to make kale palatable to the kale-haters. 

It’s so simple, really. Jalapeno poppers are SUPER popular (looking at you, Pinterest) and have inspired some truly amazing dishes. You can have everything from jalapeno popper grilled cheese sandwiches, to jalapeno popper pizza, to jalapeno popper stuffed chicken. So why not a Creamed Kale recipe inspired by the flavors and ingredients of Jalapeno Poppers? 

Jalapeno Popper Creamed Kale

So here we are. Creamed kale meets jalapeno popper to create a creamy kale dish that has a lovely heat. This is one fantastic creamed kale recipe. Kale and cream cheese make a fantastic pair.

This creamed kale with cream cheese recipe makes a perfectly indulgent dish that begins with a healthy base of kale. And it’s so jalapeno popper flavor-forward that it pretty much hides the flavor of the kale. Seriously, feed this kale dish to your kale-hating crew and they’ll be asking for seconds. If not, kindly ask them to leave. 

Jump to:
  • How do you Make Creamed Kale?
  • Ingredients 
  • Instructions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Garnishes
  • Variations and Substitutions
  • Leftovers and Reheating
  • Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!)

How do you Make Creamed Kale?

Here is what you will need to make this fantastic recipe for creamed kale - one that's both comforting and spicy.

Ingredients 

  • kale
  • butter (or bacon grease)
  • ½ and ½
  • cream cheese
  • medium yellow onion
  • garlic cloves
  • jalapenos
  • salt and pepper
Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!) ingredients.
Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!) ingredients.

Instructions

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.

Add onion, garlic, and jalapenos and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add cream cheese and stir until melted.

Add ½ and ½,  then toss all of the kale in. Use tongs to help coat the kale in the creamy mixture and encourage wilting. Cover for 2 minutes, then rotate the kale with the tongs.

Repeat this process (rotating the kale, then covering the kale for 2 minutes) for around 15 minutes or until kale becomes tender and the cream thickens. Once you’ve achieved tender, creamy kale, turn off the burner. Add salt and pepper until seasoned to your liking.

Let sit for 1-2 minutes to cool and thicken further.

Sprinkle on bacon bits and/or breadcrumbs or crushed croutons.

Serve to your kale-hating friends with smug satisfaction.

Serving Suggestions

What does creamed kale go with? Since this recipe is a touch hearty (read: comforting), I recommend pairing with a lean protein like pork loin or chicken breast. And maybe a nice piece of toast. Mmmmm.

Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese

Garnishes

Let’s talk jalapeno poppers for a second. Jalapeno poppers tend to fall into one of two categories: breaded or unbreaded. From there you have sub-categories or variations, like unbreaded, but wrapped in bacon or sprinkled with bacon bits, or fully or partially coated in breadcrumbs. 

Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese
Creamed Kale with crushed crouton topping.

Regardless of what kind of jalapeno popper you’re emulating, I highly encourage the flourish of sprinkling on some bread crumbs/crushed croutons before serving to add some crunch. Or you could liberally sprinkle on bacon bits. Or you could do both, you overachiever you. 

Dinner of Creamed Kale

This dish is 100% comforting (read: the kind of meal you'll want to take a nap after). Pair it with a lean protein like baked pork loin or grilled chicken breast for a balanced meal.

Variations and Substitutions

This creamed kale recipe is - of course - amenable to alterations. Some suggestions include:

  • Add other greens to the mix - why not add in some fresh spinach or other green(s) of choice?
  • While the recipe was inspired by jalapeno poppers, go ahead and use other peppers like thai chilies or poblanos to add heat. Heat can also be accomplished with seasonings like cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes.
  • I insist on the cream cheese in this recipe because it adds that rich creaminess, but if you'd like to lighten it up a little try using ⅓ less fat cream cheese.

Leftovers and Reheating

Store leftovers in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Leftovers reheat well - just put 'em in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes on each side. 

If you liked this creamed kale with cream cheese recipe, you might also like:

  • Kohlrabi Slaw with Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Crispy Slow Cooked Dr. Pepper Carnitas
  • Buffalo Ranch Hummus with Pickled Celery
  • Roasted Cauliflower Corn Chowder with Pepperjack Cheese
  • Jalapeno Pickle Roll-Ups
Creamy Kale Recipe
Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!)

Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!)

Your kale-hating friends won’t hate this creamed kale dish, with its jalapeno heat and cream cheese-y goodness.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Side Dish
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 7-8 ounces kale, center stalks removed (weighed using a food scale)
  • 2 tablespoons tablespoons butter (or bacon grease)
  • 1 cup ½ and ½
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese
  • ½ medium yellow onion, minced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 4 jalapenos, minced (remove pith and seeds to reduce spiciness)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Toppings

  • 3-4 strips of bacon, chopped into bacon bits
  • ¼ cup bread crumbs or crushed up croutons

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add onion, garlic, and jalapenos and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add cream cheese and stir until melted.
  • Add ½ and ½,  then toss all of the kale in. Use tongs to help coat the kale in the creamy mixture and encourage wilting. Cover for 2 minutes, then rotate the kale with the tongs.
  • Repeat this process (rotating the kale, then covering the kale for 2 minutes) for around 15 minutes or until kale becomes tender and the cream thickens. Once you’ve achieved tender, creamy kale, turn off the burner. Add salt and pepper until seasoned to your liking.
  • Let sit for 1-2 minutes to cool and thicken further.
  • Sprinkle on bacon bits and/or breadcrumbs or crushed croutons.
  • Serve to your kale-hating friends with smug satisfaction.

Notes

Many recipes for jalapeno poppers also include cheddar cheese, but I left it out here because this dish is on the heavy (read: comforting) side. I recommend pairing with a lean protein like pork loin or chicken breast. 
Leftovers reheat well - just put 'em in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes on each side. 
Keyword creamed kale, Creamed kale recipe, Creamed kale with cream cheese, Keto creamed kale recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

More Sides

  • Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes
  • Cream Cheese Christmas Pinwheels
  • Jalapeno Creamed Corn
  • What to do with Leftover Pico de Gallo

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow me!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Christina from Midwexican

About Christina

I'm a Minnesota native who can't get enough of south-of-the-border flavors. My recipes combine comforting Midwestern eats with bold Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. If you love comforting food, bold flavors, and - most importantly - tacos! then you'll love what I'm cooking!

Learn more about me →

Lighter Fare

  • Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl
  • Instant Pot Pozole
  • Imitation Crab Ceviche
  • Tuna Tostadas
  • Turkey Lentil Soup
  • White Chicken Porchetta Chili
  • Cruciferous Crunch Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette
  • Instant Pot Pinto Bean Soup

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Work With Me!

    • Let's Collaborate!

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Midwexican

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT