21 Swiss Chard Recipes includes enchiladas, risotto, stir fry and more delicious ways to use these nutritious greens! You’ll also learn everything you need to know about chard including how it tastes, how to grow it, nutrition information and so much more!

Rainbow chard leaves stacked up

I love my greens, but admittedly I’d never tried Swiss chard until several years ago in cooking school.  We used it in a variety of ways and it quickly became a favorite of mine.

I loved it so much that I began growing it in my garden, and it was a huge success. In fact, the gorgeous rainbow chard leaves that you see in these photos were grown in my garden!

It was abundant, so I found a lot of creative ways to incorporate it into my recipes.

It’s such a nutritious leafy green with a unique flavor, and I hope that this post inspires you to use Swiss chard more often as well!

If you love produce as much as I do, be sure to check out the recipe round ups below!

Rainbow swiss chard leaves
What is Swiss chard?

Swiss chard is a green leafy vegetable that is prevalent in Mediterranean cooking. It’s actually a member of the beet family, but it doesn’t produce a bulbous root.

Chard comes in array of colors, hence the name rainbow chard. Colors include green, red, white, yellow, pink, orange and purple.

Swiss chard leaves are normally enormous when you find it at the farmer’s market or in the store. The leaves are on the delicate side, and the stems are very hardy.

What does Swiss chard taste like?

Swiss chard has a mild flavor that’s sweet and bitter like spinach, and is also somewhat earthy like beets. The flavor mellows significantly when it’s cooked.

Can you eat swiss chard raw?

Swiss chard is great served raw. The leaves are delicate yet hardy and are a great addition to salads.

Growing swiss chard

Chard is a biennial, which means it will not set seed until the second year of growth. It should be planted in the fall well before the first frost, or in the spring after the last frost, or when the soil is at least 50 degrees F.

I planted (4) rainbow chard plants in late October, and am currently harvesting it now. It’s grown very well all through the winter so far, and made it through a few very cold, frosty weeks here in California (very cold and frosty here is high 20’s – low 30’s).

I’ve found chard to be very easy to grow, but a little tougher to keep the slugs off of the beautiful leaves. Normally I clip the leaves as soon as they’re large enough so the slugs don’t get to them before I do.

Harvest the outer leaves at the base of the stalk when they are 8-12″ long, and leave the inner leaves intact to continue growing. The leaves will continue to grow again and again.
Swiss chard growing in the garden

Nutritional information

Swiss chard is an excellent source of Vitamin A, C and K, and is rich in magnesium, potassium, fiber and iron. Chard is a great way to add nutrition to your salads, smoothies, soups and pasta dishes!

Cooking chard for a short time only will help it retain its nutritional value as well as its green color.

How to choose Swiss chard

Look for chard that has dark, leafy greens and brightly colored stems. Because the leaves are so large, they can rip and tear easily. I always try to find the leaves that are in the best shape at the store or farmer’s market.

How to store Swiss chard

Blot the chard dry using a paper towel if necessary before storing it in the crisper drawer of the fridge. For best results use within 2-3 days. I’ve read that chard can last for up to 5 days stored in a plastic bag in the fridge, but I haven’t tried that myself.

Blanch chard for 1-2 minutes, chop it, and store in the freezer in a plastic zip top bag.

How to prepare Swiss chard

I prep chard by placing it on a cutting board with the stem at the top. Using a sharp knife, I cut from the top down along each side of the stem in a “V”. From there, I stack a few leaves on top of one another and slice them into ribbons or chop them depending on what I’m using them for.

I treat Swiss chard the same way that I treat spinach when I cook it. It’s so delicate that all it needs is a quick wilt in soups, sautés and pastas.

Chard stems are completely edible as well, and they’re quite delicious. They’re very hardy and are similar to celery, so simply chop and cook them.

Stack of rainbow Swiss chard leaves

21 Swiss Chard Recipes

Not sure what to do with Swiss chard? These easy recipes illustrate just how versatile this leafy green is. It’s a great addition to soups, stews, salads, quiche filling, and so much more!

White bean chard stew in white bowl with rosemary and parmesan

Instant Pot Spicy White Bean and Chard Stew

Instant Pot Spicy White Bean and Chard Stew is a mediterranean inspired stew with hearty white beans, swiss chard and red pepper flakes.  Top with parmesan for the perfect cozy meal! {GF, VEG}
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Swiss chard wraps with lime on a dark plate

Sweet Thai Chile Chicken Swiss Chard Wraps with Peanut Ginger Sauce

This will be your new go-to wrap. It’s fresh and light, quick and easy, and oh so pretty!
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Swiss chard tart with slice on plate

Swiss Chard tart with Chevre and Leeks

This Swiss Chard tart with Chevre and Leeks is a must make if you are looking for a vegetarian entree that is festive enough for a special occasion. It is filled with swiss chard, fresh crumbled goat cheese, golden raisins in a homemade tart shell.
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Roasted sweet potato salad on white plate

Roasted Sweet Potato & Chickpea Salad

An amazing, hearty salad with swiss chard, roasted sweet potatoes, and crispy chickpeas with a creamy, tahini dressing. A healthy, plant-based meal.
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Pickled swiss chard stems in two mini mason jars

Spicy Pickled Swiss Chard Stems

This recipe is easy and requires only a few ingredients. You’re preserving the chard stems, but no water bath canning is involved.
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Swiss chard with pancetta, corn and beans in white bowl

Swiss Chard with Pancetta, Corn and Cannelini Beans

Swiss Chard with Pancetta, Corn and Cannelini Beans is a hearty side dish that pairs well with a savory pork chop, a light pan-roasted fish fillet, roast chicken—just about anything!
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eggplant shakshuka in black bowl with toast

Eggplant, Chickpea, and Chard Shakshuka

Quick and easy Shakshuka with eggplant, chickpeas, and chard – a well-balanced breakfast or dinner that requires right around 40 minutes to prepare.
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Swiss chard mushroom enchiladas in baking dish

Swiss Chard Mushroom Enchiladas

Leafy swiss chard and mushrooms rolled in whole grain tortillas and topped with roasted tomato-habanero salsa and cilantro sunflower crema.
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Chard and pinto bean risotto in white bowl

Spicy Instant Pot Chard and Pinto Bean Risotto

By adding green chiles, spicy pepper cheese, and pumpkin seeds, the Italian rice dish takes a Southwestern turn—into spicy Instant Pot chard and pinto bean risotto.
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Farmers market frittata on white plate

Farmers Market Frittata

This hearty Farmers Market Frittata is brimming with locally raised pork sausage, bell pepper, & fresh rainbow chard.
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Butternut Squash Vegetable Stew with yogurt and lime

Butternut Squash Vegetable Stew

Butternut Squash Vegetable Stew is packed with chunky veggies and smoky, spicy flavor. It's a hearty meatless meal that's great for meal prep!
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Swiss chard soba noodle stir fry in bowl

Swiss Chard Soba Noodle Stir Fry

This Swiss Chard Soba Noodle Stir Fry is super quick & easy to make & is tossed with the most delicious sweet, savoury & spicy ‘instant’ sauce!
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Sweet potato swiss chard soup in bowl with spoon

Creamy Sweet Potato and Swiss Chard Soup

This creamy sweet potato and swiss chard soup is comfort in a bowl! Packed with fresh veggies, beans and dreamy cashew cream, it’s healthy, flavorful and satisfying.
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Pesto sauce in jar with greens, lemon and parmesan

How to Make Pesto Sauce (with any greens!)

How to Make Pesto Sauce is a guide that will teach you how to make homemade pesto sauce with almost any ingredients that you have on hand!
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Black eyed pea curry in white bowl

Black Eyed Pea Curry with Swiss Chard & Roasted Eggplant

An easy quick curry for a warming meal any night of the week. Black Eyed Pea Curry with Swiss Chard & Roasted Eggplant is packed with creamy veggie power to satisfy even this biggest plant-based skeptic!
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Kale and chard salad in bowl with apple slices on top

Kale and Chard Green Power Salad

This kale and chard salad is bulked up with blue cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, and apples.
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Lemon paprika chicken with lemon slice on top

One-Pan Braised Lemon Paprika Chicken with Sumac



This one-pan braised lemon paprika chicken is bursting with flavor and ready in 30 minutes! Perfect for weeknights.
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Overhead view of a Mediterranean chard salad in a gray bowl.

Mediterranean Chard Salad

Mediterranean Chard Salad with chickpeas, farmers market veggies, pepitas and simple lemony dressing- a healthy hearty vegan salad full of nutrients! Vegan adaptable!
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Spaghetti with Cauliflower and Garlicky Swiss Chard Gremolata

Finely chopped cauliflower and swiss chard sauteed with olive oil and lots of garlic turn into a healthy sauce in this spaghetti with cauliflower and garlicky swiss chard gremolata.
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A white plate of chicken pasta with chard.

Pesto Chicken Pasta with Swiss Chard

This Pesto Chicken Pasta with Swiss Chard is the perfect one-pot meal that will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time.
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Bowl of sautéed swiss chard with lemon

Sautéed Swiss Chard

Sautéed Swiss Chard is tender ribbons of rainbow chard with the flavors of garlic, cayenne and fresh lemon. It's a flavorful, healthy side dish that's gluten-free, vegan and ready in minutes!
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