If you’ve ever wondered how to cook Swiss chard, we’ve got the answers! Also, we’re sharing one of our favorite ways to enjoy those leafy greens: a simple sautéed swiss chard recipe with garlic.

Platter of cooked Swiss chard and garlic as a side dish next to a platter of chopped tomatoes.

How to Cook Swiss Chard: All the Many Ways

Considered part of the beet family, Swiss chard grows well in both cool and warm climates. It has large, deep green leaves around strong, long stems. There are several varieties of Swiss chard including green with white stems, green with red stems, and rainbow chard (stems are a mix of yellow, pinks and purples). You can cook all the different varieties of chard in the same way.

Both the Swiss chard leaves and stems can be eaten either raw or cooked making it a very versatile plant. You can plant Swiss chard the same as other green leafy vegetables such as beets. With so many ways to cook Swiss chard, you won’t be disappointed!

Raw

Fresh Swiss chard is a tasty option for adding to healthy green leaf salad. After washing, simply chop the dark green leaves and stems into smaller pieces. Enjoy them on their own with a lemon juice vinegarette, or mix them with other leafy green vegetables with your favourite dressing.

Boiled

Since Swiss chard tends to be hard or rather “tough”, especially the stem, it is best to boil it in water to help soften. We recently shared this traditional blitva recipe, a Croatian boiled Swiss chard with red potatoes side dish we’re sure you’ll love.

Baked

Baking is another great way to cook Swiss chard. Simply break up the leaves into course pieces and place them on a baking sheet with a little olive oil and salt to make swiss chard chips, similar to kale chips.

Steamed

Another method for softening the stems and leaves is to steam. Simply add the chopped Swiss chard into steamer (or a double boiler works well too). Steam over rolling water until a fork can easily pass through the stems (about 5-8 minutes).

Sauteed Chard

Swiss chard can be sauteed from fresh but it’s best to add some form of liquid, such as tomato juice (or water) for moisture. When we cook with Swiss chard, it’s usually a combination of boiling or steaming along with sauteing.

Glass plate of Swiss chard with garlic sauteed in a buttery broth.

High in vitamins A, C and K, adding chard to your diet is a healthy choice. Also a good source of magnesium, iron and dietary fiber.

How to Clean Swiss Chard

Whether you’ve picked up some of this leafy green vegetable at the grocery store, farmers market or from your own garden, you’ll want to clean it thoroughly before using. Clean your Swiss chard as you would lettuce or other leafy veggies. Start by filling a large bowl (or your sink) with cold water and let it soak for a couple of minutes. Next, gently scrub the chard stalks with your fingers to remove any dirt. You can then rinse the large leaves and place on some paper towels to dry (or use a salad spinner).