Name: Potato and Kale Patties for Picky Eaters
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded; 2 cups kale (stems removed); 1 small onion, roughly chopped; 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella (optional); 2-3 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional); 2 eggs; 1.5 cups breadcrumbs (adjust if needed); 2 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet); 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 4 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

These crispy, oven-baked potato and kale patties are perfect for sneaking healthy greens into a kid-friendly meal. Blended kale and onion keep the flavor mild, while the cheesy potatoes ensure that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy. They’re easy to make and go great with a side of ketchup!

Two vegetable patties with a side salad of cherry tomatoes and greens on a white plate. Bright orange dip and garlic bulbs in the background.

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Recipe

Servings: 8 (about 16 patties)

Calories per Serving: ~160 calories per serving

Total Time: 45 minutes

Potato and Kale Patties for Picky Eaters

Ingredients:

4 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded
2 cups kale (stems removed)
1 small onion, roughly chopped
2/3 cup shredded mozzarella (optional)
2-3 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional)
2 eggs
1.5 cups breadcrumbs (adjust if needed)
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

Instructions:

Prep the Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Shred the peeled potatoes and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
Blend Kale, Onion, and Eggs: In a blender or with a hand blender, blend the kale, onion, and eggs until smooth.
Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the shredded potatoes, mozzarella, Parmesan (if using), garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the blended kale mixture and stir in the breadcrumbs. Adjust the amount of breadcrumbs as needed; the mixture should be thick enough to hold together when shaped.
Form Patties: Shape the mixture into 16 patties, about 3 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.
Bake the Patties: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the patties on it. Lightly brush the tops with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Serve: Let the patties cool slightly and serve with a dipping sauce, such as ketchup, to keep even the pickiest eaters happy.

Nutritional Value (per serving):

Calories: ~160
Carbohydrates: 22g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 6g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 2g

Tip: These patties pair wonderfully with ketchup for an extra kid-friendly touch!

Prompt

My husband and I have different approaches when it comes to handling picky eating. I firmly believe that hungry kids will eat what's in front of them if snacks are kept to a minimum. With my husband away on a trip, I saw it as the perfect chance to test my theory. And guess what? It worked like a charm—no complaints, no fuss, and to top it off, everyone enjoyed the meal!

I bought kale. Don’t ask me why—it’s not something we ever eat. Yet there it was, sitting in the fridge, staring at me with big, green, sad eyes. Desperate for inspiration, I turned to ChatGPT for ideas:

I have some kale and am looking for ideas for dinner. my audience is picky kids. Give me some ideas for recipes please, each idea should eb recipe name, total prep time and ingredients. I'm looking for quiche and bake ideas but open to other ideas too so please give me 15 ideas

And it suggested:

Here are 15 picky-kid-friendly dinner ideas featuring kale, with quiche and bake options as requested: 1. Cheesy Kale Quiche Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Pie crust, eggs, shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella), kale, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder 2. Kale & Chicken Casserole Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Shredded cooked chicken, kale, rice, cream of chicken soup, shredded cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic, onion powder 3. Kale and Sweet Potato Frittata Total Prep Time: 40 minutes Ingredients: Eggs, kale, sweet potatoes, feta cheese, milk, olive oil, salt, pepper 4. Kale and Sausage Bake Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Ground sausage, kale, diced tomatoes, pasta (penne or rigatoni), mozzarella cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper 5. Mini Kale and Cheese Muffin Quiches Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: Eggs, kale, shredded cheese, milk, salt, pepper, muffin tin 6. Kale and Potato Hash Bake Total Prep Time: 40 minutes Ingredients: Potatoes, kale, eggs, shredded cheese, olive oil, salt, pepper, onion powder 7. Kale and Macaroni Cheese Bake Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Macaroni, cheddar cheese, milk, kale, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, butter 8. Kale and Chicken Quesadillas Total Prep Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: Tortillas, shredded cooked chicken, kale, shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella), sour cream, olive oil 9. Kale and Ham Quiche Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Pie crust, eggs, diced ham, kale, shredded cheese, milk, salt, pepper 10. Cheesy Kale and Broccoli Bake Total Prep Time: 40 minutes Ingredients: Kale, broccoli, shredded cheese, milk, breadcrumbs, butter, garlic, salt, pepper 11. Kale and Bacon Breakfast Bake Total Prep Time: 40 minutes Ingredients: Eggs, kale, bacon, shredded cheese, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder 12. Kale and Veggie Pasta Bake Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Kale, pasta, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, carrots, zucchini, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper 13. Kale and Chicken Alfredo Bake Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Cooked chicken, kale, Alfredo sauce, pasta, shredded cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper 14. Kale and Cheese Puff Pastry Squares Total Prep Time: 40 minutes Ingredients: Puff pastry sheets, kale, shredded cheese, eggs, garlic, salt, pepper 15. Kale and Cheese Tater Tot Casserole Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Frozen tater tots, shredded cheese, kale, cream of mushroom soup, ground sausage, salt, pepper These options should make dinner fun and tasty while keeping the kale kid-friendly!

But they didn't seem fun to make or delicious to eat so I asked for more ideas:

I don't know that I like any of these. Other ideas?

And it gave me more ideas:

Let’s brainstorm some more unique, kid-friendly ideas with kale, avoiding the ones you didn’t like: 1. Kale and Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Jumbo pasta shells, ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, kale, marinara sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper 2. Kale and Bacon Grilled Cheese Total Prep Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: Bread, butter, bacon, kale, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt 3. Cheesy Kale-Stuffed Chicken Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Chicken breasts, kale, shredded cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper 4. Kale and Beef Enchiladas Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Ground beef, kale, tortillas, enchilada sauce, shredded cheese, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper 5. Kale and Mashed Potato Cakes Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, kale, shredded cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper 6. Kale and Cheese Flatbread Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Flatbread, mozzarella cheese, kale, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper 7. Kale and Ground Beef Sloppy Joes Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Ground beef, kale, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hamburger buns, garlic powder, salt, pepper 8. Kale and Creamy Chicken Pockets Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: Crescent roll dough, shredded chicken, cream cheese, kale, garlic powder, salt, pepper 9. Kale and Cheese Pita Pizzas Total Prep Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: Pita bread, shredded mozzarella, kale, marinara sauce, garlic powder, olive oil 10. Kale and Ground Beef Empanadas Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Ground beef, kale, premade empanada dough, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper 11. Kale and Bacon Cheesy Mashed Potato Bake Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, kale, bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper 12. Kale and Ham Pinwheels Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Puff pastry sheets, ham, shredded cheese, kale, mustard, salt, pepper 13. Kale and Chicken Parmesan Bake Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Chicken breasts, kale, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper 14. Kale and Veggie Lasagna Rolls Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: Lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, kale, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, garlic, salt, pepper 15. Kale and Bacon Cheesy Grits Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Grits, kale, bacon, cheddar cheese, milk, garlic powder, salt, pepper How do these sound?

But I still wasn't feeling it. So I tried to brainstorm some more:

how about some patties? with perhaps potatoes or tuna or something else? I need to hide the kale taste but it should still be healthy

And it had some interesting ideas:

Here are some kale patty ideas that hide the kale taste but remain healthy: 1. Kale and Potato Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 2. Tuna and Kale Patties Total Prep Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: Canned tuna, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, lemon zest, salt, pepper, olive oil 3. Kale and Sweet Potato Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Mashed sweet potatoes, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 4. Kale and Chicken Patties Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: Ground chicken, finely chopped kale, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 5. Kale and Quinoa Patties Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: Cooked quinoa, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 6. Kale, Zucchini, and Potato Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Grated zucchini, mashed potatoes, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 7. Salmon and Kale Patties Total Prep Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: Canned salmon, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 8. Kale and Black Bean Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Black beans (mashed), finely chopped kale, breadcrumbs, egg, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 9. Kale and Lentil Patties Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: Cooked lentils, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, olive oil 10. Kale and Cauliflower Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Cooked mashed cauliflower, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 11. Kale and Turkey Patties Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: Ground turkey, finely chopped kale, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 12. Kale and Chickpea Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Mashed chickpeas, finely chopped kale, breadcrumbs, egg, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 13. Kale and Carrot Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Grated carrots, mashed potatoes, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 14. Kale and Cheese Potato Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, finely chopped kale, shredded cheddar cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil 15. Kale and Ricotta Patties Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Ricotta cheese, finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil These patties should help disguise the kale while keeping the dish healthy and appealing to picky eaters!

Ricotta LOL... I don't think it understands who it's dealing with. I asked:

which one is most likely to be agreeable with very picky eaters?

And it responded:

The Kale and Potato Patties are likely the most agreeable to very picky eaters. Potatoes are familiar and comforting, and the kale can be finely chopped and easily hidden within the creamy mashed potatoes. Plus, the flavor can be masked with simple seasonings like garlic powder and salt. If you want to boost the appeal even further, you can add a small amount of cheese or serve with a dipping sauce that picky kids enjoy.

Now we're getting somewhere, but I was a little worried about the mashed potatoes. Oldest gagged last time he tried that, so I asked:

I'm not sure about the mashed potatoes. Are there other ways to use potatoes for a less puree texture?

So it responded:

Yes! You can definitely use potatoes in a way that doesn’t create a pureed texture. Here are a few ideas: 1. Grated Potatoes (Similar to Hash Browns) Grate raw potatoes and squeeze out excess moisture. This will give the patties a crispy, more textured bite while still incorporating the potatoes without the mashed texture. 2. Diced Potatoes Boil or roast small diced potatoes and mix them with other ingredients to keep their shape in the patties. This gives a chunkier, hearty feel, and the patties will have more bite. 3. Shredded Potatoes Shredded potatoes (using a cheese grater or food processor) create a finer texture than diced but still have more texture than mashed. You can use this technique to keep the potato form, and it crisps up well when cooked. You could combine one of these potato textures with finely chopped kale, egg, breadcrumbs, and seasonings to form patties that hold together well but avoid the mashed consistency. Would one of these work for your kale patties?

Okay, grated it is. I asked:

ok please create a shredded potato kale patties recipe. I also prefer them in the oven. Remember, it is for picky eaters, but it still needs to have some taste

And it did:

Here’s a recipe for Shredded Potato and Kale Patties that are oven-baked, tasty, and kid-friendly: Shredded Potato and Kale Patties Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Servings: 4 (makes about 8 patties) Ingredients: 2 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded 1 cup finely chopped kale (stems removed) 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional for extra flavor) 1 small onion, finely grated (optional, for mild flavor) 1 egg 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet) 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 2 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

This looked good, but I wanted more servings. So I requested adjustment:

can you increase the amount by half? (6 servings)

Yes it could:

Here's the adjusted recipe for 6 servings (about 12 patties): Shredded Potato and Kale Patties (Increased Recipe) Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Servings: 6 (makes about 12 patties) Ingredients: 3 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded 1.5 cups finely chopped kale (stems removed) 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional for extra flavor) 1 small onion, finely grated (optional, for mild flavor) 1.5 eggs (use 1 whole egg and beat the second, using half of it) 3/4 cup breadcrumbs 1.5 tsp garlic powder 3/4 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet) 3/4 tsp salt 1/3 tsp black pepper 3 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

I did not have cheddar and I also don't really like cheddar so I asked:

I think I have mozzarella not cheddar, and a little parmesan.

And it updated:

Using mozzarella and Parmesan will still work great for this recipe! Mozzarella will provide a mild, melty texture, and Parmesan will add a nice savory, slightly nutty flavor. Here's the adjusted recipe: Shredded Potato and Kale Patties (with Mozzarella and Parmesan) Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Servings: 6 (makes about 12 patties) Ingredients: 3 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded 1.5 cups finely chopped kale (stems removed) 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 2-3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 1 small onion, finely grated (optional) 1.5 eggs (use 1 whole egg and beat the second, using half of it) 3/4 cup breadcrumbs 1.5 tsp garlic powder 3/4 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet) 3/4 tsp salt 1/3 tsp black pepper 3 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

However it was too much cheese:

My children do not like when things are too cheesy.

So it updated:

Since your children don't like things too cheesy, we'll reduce the cheese to balance the flavors while still giving a hint of it for taste: Shredded Potato and Kale Patties (Light Cheese Version) Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Servings: 6 (makes about 12 patties) Ingredients: 3 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded 1.5 cups finely chopped kale (stems removed) 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (for a mild flavor) 1-2 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional, for a subtle savory taste) 1 small onion, finely grated (optional) 1.5 eggs (use 1 whole egg and beat the second, using half of it) 3/4 cup breadcrumbs 1.5 tsp garlic powder 3/4 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet) 3/4 tsp salt 1/3 tsp black pepper 3 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

I then noticed the recipe called for throwing half an egg away. What a waste! So I requested:

using half an egg is weird. adjust the recipe for 8 servings

So it updated:

Here’s the adjusted recipe for 8 servings (about 16 patties) with full eggs: Shredded Potato and Kale Patties (8 Servings) Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Servings: 8 (makes about 16 patties) Ingredients: 4 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded 2 cups finely chopped kale (stems removed) 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella (for a mild flavor) 2-3 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional, for a subtle savory taste) 1 small onion, finely grated (optional) 2 eggs 1 cup breadcrumbs 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet) 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 4 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the patties)

I started chopping the kale and was pretty sure my kids would not like that so I thought it would make more sense to blend (these are 2 separate prompts but similar answer so combined):

I'm actually going to grind the kale together in a hand blender with the eggs so please adjust the recipe. And the onion too. So may need more breadcrumbs for the extra liquid

Scroll to the top for the final outcome.

Potato and Kale Patties for Picky Eaters

Recipe

Potato and Kale Patties for Picky Eaters

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Nutritional Value (per serving):

Prompt

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