Simple Sautéed Swiss Chard Recipe

This simple sauteed Swiss chard recipe is a delicious and super healthy side dish to go along with any meal. Seasoned with lemon, garlic, and black pepper, it’s easy to make and oil-free!

We all need more leafy greens in our diet, no secret there. Spinach and kale are all the craze these days. But, what about Swiss chard? It’s the underdog of the green leafy veggies. I’d be willing to bet you can’t recall the last time you even heard the words “Swiss chard.” Am I right?

If you’re not getting this powerhouse green into your cooking rotation then start now. I love Swiss chard and one of my favorite vegetables to cook and eat! It’s healthy, delicious, and easy to prepare, and the flavor possibilities are endless. Also, you can eat the whole thing – stems and all!

One thing most people may not realize is the versatility of this powerhouse food. You can use it just like you would any of your other favorite greens. It’s great in this Chipotle Chickpea Kale Salad, tossing it into the mix of this Vegan BLT Salad, or in this Instant Pot Collard Greens recipe.

If you have never cooked with Swiss chard before consider this your introduction. The sky’s the limit to what you can do and create with it. And, if you are a Swiss chard connoisseur enjoy this simple recipe.

What is Swiss chard?

Swiss chard is a green leafy vegetable that’s part of the beet family. It’s like eating beet greens but not the root. The leaf blade can be green or reddish while the stems are usually white, yellow, or red. It’s also like getting two vegetables in one because you can eat the leaves as well as the stems.

Chard, like other green leafy vegetables, has highly nutritious leaves. It also goes by other names: chard, stem chard, silverbeet, spinach beet, leaf beet, white bee, and seakale beet. You can find chard as a common ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, but it is also very popular across Europe and here in the U.S.

You could say this cruciferous vegetable is a cousin to spinach and kale and has qualities that you want in a vegetable: easily accessible, it cooks quickly, and highly nutritious.

What you’ll need to make this recipe

This simple sautéed Swiss chard recipe is extremely simple and requires very few ingredients.

• 1 bunch of Swiss chard (roughly 1 pound)
• garlic cloves
• lemon for squeezing
• sea salt and black pepper to taste

How to prepare this Swiss chard recipe?

You can have this Swiss chard recipe on the table in 10 minutes.

1. Prep the chard: Remove the leaves from the stems, wash with cold water, and pat the leafs dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Slice the stems into ¼″ pieces then stack the leaves on top of one another and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
2. Cook: Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add the chard stems, and sauté them for 1-2 minutes until they’ve softened. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water or veggie broth to prevent sticking if needed. Toss in the chopped chard along with the garlic. Stir and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the leaves start to wilt.
3. Season and serve: Squeeze the desired amount of lemon juice, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and serve it as a beautiful side dish alongside a big meal.
4. Optional: Top it with some vegan parmesan cheese before serving. It’s delicious!

What is the best way to eat Swiss chard?

You can make this Swiss chard recipe ahead of time and incorporate it into tons of other dishes from soups to pasta and even breakfast recipes. There’s no longer an excuse not to be getting your greens.

Soups, Stews, & Chili: Chop up a bunch of chard and toss it into this Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili, Vegetarian Minestrone, or Vegetable Soup! It’s perfect for adding heartiness and greens to soups and stews.

Pasta: Replace the kale in my Creamy Sun-dried Tomato & Kale Pasta with chard or serve it over Brown Rice and Lentils.

Variations you have to try!

Simple sautéed Swiss chard is a super easy and delicious side dish, but if you feel this recipe is a little boring here are a few suggestions for livening up this already vibrant green.

• Spice it up: Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and add a nice jolt of heat.
• Dress it up: Toss in some sliced almonds, pine nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, or tofu feta are excellent options for both texture and flavor.
• Herbs: Enhance the flavor of your sautéed chard by cooking with additional herbs like oregano, basil, and mint.
• Balsamic: Instead of using lemon juice try drizzling this simple sautéed chard with balsamic vinegar. It’s tangy and delicious!
• Breakfast: Use the leftovers from this Swiss chard recipe in my Vegan Frittata, Tofu Scramble, or this Cheesy Grit Bowl with BBQ Soy Curls.

My favorite Swiss chard recipes

Here are a few of my favorite chard recipes. Some of them contain oil but it can very easily be left out without affecting the flavor.

• Swiss Chard Mushroom Enchiladas by Making Thyme for Health
• Warm Balsamic Barley Salad by Produce on Parade
• Chickpea Stew with Swiss Chard by This Healthy Table
• Black Eyed Peas with Swiss Chard by May I Have That Recipe
• Swiss Chard with Crisp Apples by Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

What do I serve with sautéed Swiss chard?

Here are a few serving suggestions to incorporate this leafy green into your weekly meal routine:

Let me know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo @shaneandsimple on Instagram. Cheers, friends!