Cheesy Baked Kale Bites
While we’ve had great success with Spinach Pesto, Kale Pesto, and adding spinach to popsicles, I wanted to find a new way to serve greens to my kids. We tend to have a lot of kale from our garden in the summer and while I don’t stress about getting it into my kids, I figured that I might as well try a new method! These Cheesy Kale Bites are basically a meatball with shredded kale in place of meat. They have tons of flavor from the cheese, and they taste really great when dunked into ketchup or salsa.
Baked Kale Recipe
Greens can be tricky with little ones for a few reasons. First, I think we get preoccupied about how many veggies they are eating, and we sometimes put too much emphasis on green foods. And you know that so often, when we push too hard, kids are likely to push back. Second, the texture of greens can be tricky. Raw kale is really dense and it takes a lot of commitment to chew it up enough to comfortably swallow it. And for toddlers, who often choose the most nutrient dense foods available so they can get on with playing, it’s just a lot of work for very little payoff. It can also have a strong “green” flavor. (I mean, I’m an adult and I don’t always like it.) But we know that greens are filled folic acid, iron, and fiber to name just a few—so it’s a good idea to occasionally have them around from an early age…as long as you serve them up in ways that are easy for them to eat and yummy tasting, of course.
Ingredients You Need
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Kale (either flat leaf or curly) Egg Shredded mozzarella cheese Cornmeal Parmesan Roasted sunflower seeds a little seasoning
TIP: There is a lot of kale in each of these bites, so your little one might only want one, but they are really packed with nutrients for growing bodies. (I have been eating these for lunch myself lately, which marks the only way besides green smoothies that my pregnancy taste buds can tolerate kale and I love how easy they are to reheat!)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in making this baked kale recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full info.
Is baked kale good for you?
This baked kale recipe has protein, calcium, Vitamins A and C, so they make for a nicely balanced snack all on their own. We particularly love dunking them into salsa for a nice mild flavor boost.
Kale for Baby
These are a wonderful finger food if diced up, so you can consider this a yummy way to offer kale to a baby over about age 9 months.
What do you serve with this kale recipe?
We like these with a simple side of fruit and maybe crackers or a roll as a simple toddler meal, or on their own as a snack. You can also make them slightly smaller using a 1 teaspoon portion and toss them with marinara sauce and pasta as a vegetarian take on meatballs!
How to Store
You can let the Kale Bites cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days and reheat them for about 15 seconds in the microwave or a few minutes in a 400 degree oven until warmed through. You can also freeze them in a zip top freezer bag for up to 3 months and heat from frozen.
Best Tips for Success
Do wilt the kale first to ensure that it’s easy to blend. Serve with a favorite dipping sauce. See the options to make these nut/seed free. Try this with frozen kale if needed.
I’d love to hear if you make this recipe, so please comment below.
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