26 Delicious Escarole Recipes for a Quick and Easy Meal

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Maryann Desmond

With so many of us struggling to get enough greens in our diet, it’s no wonder we’re always on the lookout for new ways to incorporate them into our meals.

Well, your search is over! These scrumptious escarole recipes are here to save the day and ensure you never have to sacrifice flavor for nutrition again. I’ll be honest with you – when I first came across escarole, I had no idea what it was or how to cook it. But a quick Google search later, and I discovered this incredible veggie!

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Bacon & Wilted Greens

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Bacon & Wilted Greens

Sophisticated diners and food enthusiasts alike will love the dish that embodies the essence of ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’, a mouthwatering meal that’s sure to impress even the most discerning guests. The star of the show is undoubtedly the chicken thighs, which are cooked to perfection with a crispy, golden-brown skin that gives way to tender, juicy flesh.

Meanwhile, the addition of smoky bacon and peppery escarole creates a delightful harmony of flavors, providing an exciting balance of acidic and fatty notes that will leave everyone raving about this culinary masterpiece for days on end.

Easy Garlic Escarole Saute Recipe

Easy Garlic Escarole Saute Recipe

Relying on the simplicity of this dish, sautéed escarole makes for an excellent accompaniment to any healthy meal. This recipe can be prepared in under 30 minutes, resulting in a harmonious balance of flavors. To begin, chop the escarole and parboil it until slightly tender. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a pan over medium heat, then add minced garlic and red pepper flakes for an added kick. The aroma that fills the air will be irresistible!

After 5 minutes have passed, carefully remove the escarole from the boiling water and transfer it to the pan with the sautéed garlic mixture. Allow everything to cook together until most of the excess moisture has evaporated. Once done, season your dish with a pinch of salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for an added burst of citrus flavor. The result is nothing short of exceptional – a cooked green salad that’s both invigorating and refreshing. Your taste buds will thank you!

Cannellini Bean Stew with Escarole Twist

Cannellini Bean Stew with Escarole Twist

Creating a lower-carb version of pasta e fagioli was the inspiration behind this delectable soup. By retaining the core ingredients such as escarole, tomatoes, and cannellini beans, the recipe achieves a similar taste profile to its carb-heavy counterpart. The crucial difference lies in the substitution of lasagna noodles with salty, fatty pancetta, which elevates the flavor of the dish significantly.

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This bold twist results in a super flavorful soup that is sure to delight even the most discerning palates.

Shrimp Escarole Stir-Fry with Italian Twist

Shrimp Escarole Stir-Fry with Italian Twist

Packed with an explosion of flavors, this mouth-watering dish is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Based on the classic Italian recipe, it boasts a unique twist by incorporating succulent shrimp, spicy chorizo, and roasted peppers alongside its traditional escarole and white beans components. The result is a truly delectable creation that’s bound to take your culinary experience to new heights.

Savory Salmon Pasta with Garlic Zest

Savory Salmon Pasta with Garlic Zest

Savoring a delicious seafood dish doesn’t have to mean dining out at an upscale restaurant. In fact, you can create a mouth-watering pasta dish with a rich, savory flavor profile right in your own kitchen. The key to this recipe’s success lies in the perfectly cooked pasta, which pairs beautifully with the flaky salmon and tender escarole. The sauce is also expertly balanced, adding just the right amount of depth and moisture to each bite.

It’s truly an amazing culinary experience that you won’t want to miss out on.

Italian Escarole Bean Delight Recipe

Italian Escarole Bean Delight Recipe

Zestfully, this traditional Italian comfort food stands out as one of the finest examples of its kind. It’s incredibly easy to prepare and boasts an irresistible flavor that will leave you craving for more. What’s more, it offers a winning combination: healthy and packed with fiber, making it a guilt-free pleasure. This delectable dish takes center stage, showcasing the star ingredients – escarole, cannellini beans, and parsley.

Each component is expertly sautéed to perfection alongside garlic and aromatic seasonings, resulting in a delightful harmony of textures: savory, crunchy, soft, and subtly creamy.

Lemon Infused Salmon and Escarole Delight

Lemon Infused Salmon and Escarole Delight

Many people are drawn to this meal’s irresistible charm, thanks to its simplicity, elegance, and mouth-watering flavors. But the best part? It can be prepared in just one pot and cooked to perfection in a mere 35 minutes!

Italian Escarole Bean Pasta Medley

Italian Escarole Bean Pasta Medley

Taking a cue from the classic Italian escarole and bean dish, this recipe adds a fun twist by incorporating pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and another type of beans, elevating it to a whole new level. The result is a filling yet surprisingly light meal that’s packed with fiber, nutrients, and an explosion of seriously good flavors!

Turkey Meatball Escarole Soup Delight

Turkey Meatball Escarole Soup Delight

Voicing the simplicity of this light soup, it’s undeniable that its flavors truly shine through. The dish showcases homemade turkey meatballs in an uncomplicated yet deeply satisfying broth, which perfectly complements the tender and tasty escarole.

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What’s more, one of its greatest strengths lies in its versatility – with just a few added ingredients, such as a mirepoix and pasta, this soup can easily transform into a hearty Italian wedding soup, maintaining all the while its light and refreshing essence.

Savory Escarole Soup Recipe

Savory Escarole Soup Recipe

Gazing at the vibrant colors of this delectable soup, it’s clear that it’s not just visually appealing, but also packed with nutrients. Its warm and light texture makes it perfect for occasions when you’re craving something comforting without feeling too indulgent. This delicious soup is made even healthier by its generous serving of escarole, garlic, and onions, making it a guilt-free option. The broth is rich and savory, the pasta is tender, and the veggies are tantalizingly fresh.

While this recipe calls for chicken broth, I highly recommend using a high-quality bone broth as it not only adds flavor but also provides an extra nutritional boost. If you prefer a vegetarian diet, simply swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth – it’s that easy! And if you’re vegan, don’t worry, just make a few simple substitutions and you’ll be enjoying this soup in no time.

Easy Oven-Roasted Escarole Delight

Easy Oven-Roasted Escarole Delight

Unlocking the full flavor potential of a dish without putting in too much effort is always the ultimate goal for home cooks and chefs alike. And this oven-roasted escarole recipe delivers just that. The process of roasting mellows out the bitter notes in the escarole while simultaneously deepening its other flavors, creating a harmonious balance that will elevate any meal.

With a cooking time of only 30 minutes, all it takes is a drizzle of oil and some carefully chosen seasonings to bring out the best in this humble ingredient. And to take it to the next level, serve with roasted chicken, braised beef, or pair it with your favorite main course – the options are endless.

Southern-Italian Fusion in a Braised Escarole

Southern-Italian Fusion in a Braised Escarole

Zeroing in on the key elements of southern-cooked collard greens, this spicy braised escarole offers an Italian twist that’s sure to satisfy. It’s essentially the spicy version of its southern counterpart, a flavor explosion that combines the best of both worlds. This delectable dish starts by sautéing garlic and spicy Italian hard salami, creating a rich and aromatic base that sets the tone for the rest of the flavors.

Next, add in the escarole and cook down until it’s tender, then stir in canned tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings to create a depth of flavor that’s simply irresistible. Let it simmer for 15 minutes before topping with toasted panko and parmesan, and the result is a spicy, deliciously savory side dish that will become everyone’s new favorite.

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Escarole Bliss with Crisp Apple and Nuttiness

Escarole Bliss with Crisp Apple and Nuttiness

Pairing an array of vibrant ingredients, this salad stands out as a refreshing option for those seeking something new and exciting to satisfy their taste buds. Each component brings its own unique flavor profile to the table… but when combined, they ignite a spectacular explosion of flavors that is sure to leave you wanting more. And just when you thought it was perfect, adding a drizzle of tangy dressing takes it to an entirely new level of deliciousness.

Escarole and Sausage Rustic Brunch Bake

Escarole and Sausage Rustic Brunch Bake

You can’t start your day on the right foot without this scrumptious, Italian-inspired rustic bake. Not only is it a mouthwatering treat, but it’s also a filling one, making it perfect for brunch. The dish is loaded with an assortment of delectable ingredients, including spicy Italian sausage, artisan bread, wild mushrooms, eggs, gouda cheese, fragrant herbs, and of course, escarole.

What sets this recipe apart is the harmonious balance of earthy and savory flavors, resulting in a truly unforgettable culinary experience.

Hearty Italian Veggies in a Broth

Hearty Italian Veggies in a Broth

Nothing beats a warm, comforting bowl of Italian soup to impress your guests. This traditional recipe checks all the right boxes – it’s hearty, fresh, and packed with flavor. The combination of veggies, legumes, and herbs provides a delightful contrast of textures and tastes. Chunks of lasagna noodles add a satisfying starchiness, making the dish both light and filling, perfect for a chilly evening or a special occasion.

Rach’s Butternut and Escarole Lasagna

Rach’s Butternut and Escarole Lasagna

Elevate your dinner game with this mouthwatering veggie-filled lasagna recipe that’s perfect for a cold winter evening. Not only does it pack in plenty of nutrients from the various vegetables, but it’s also an indulgent treat that will satisfy even the heartiest of appetites. The combination of artisanal cheeses, tender noodles, roasted butternut squash, slightly bitter escarole, and fragrant herbs creates a rich, buttery flavor profile that’s simply irresistible.

Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table or just a delicious meal to share with loved ones, this lasagna is sure to impress. Its comforting, savory goodness makes it an excellent choice for any family gathering or special occasion.

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