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Hey, I’m Nicole! Founder of kale junkie

Where bold flavor
meets
uncomplicated
cooking

about
nicole

Your go-to girl for bold, nourishing eats that actually taste good.  
Kale Junkie started as a personal journey and grew into a full-on love for creating food that fuels and empowers. Around here, I keep it real: eat foods that make you feel good – and that includes the damn cookie! If you’re into no-fuss meals that hit hard on flavor and confidence, you’re in the right place.

The Scoop about me

My ride or die recipe

Crispy Rice Salmon Cucumber Salad with Creamy Asian Dressing

STEP 1

prepare crispy rice topping
STEP 2

season and bake salmon
STEP 3

mix dressing
STEP 4

chop and toss ingredients
STEP 5

voila!

Party of one

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Oats & Granola

Single-Serving Carrot Cake Baked Oats

Cakes

The Best Easy Flourless Chocolate Cakes

Single Serving

Single Serving Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll

Single Serving

Single Serving Strawberry Cinnamon Roll

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Your next kitchen crush

hot right now

Sheet Pan Warm Kale Salad

If a warm and cozy salad is calling your name, then look no further than my Sheet Pan Warm Kale Salad. This vibrant salad is packed full of tender toasted veggies, mild Italian sausage, tangy feta cheese, and crunchy pistachios, all topped off with a creamy maple dijon dressing for the perfect salad in every bite. The sheet pan makes it quick and easy to assemble, plus, it makes it easy for serving a crowd. Whether you make this for your next gathering or for a simple family dinner, you can't go wrong with this salad!

Get in my belly

What’s cooking on the ‘gram

watch it, crave it @kalejunkie

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@kalejunkie 🍗 CRISPY BUTTERFLIED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS with a tangy herb dipping sauce that’s out of this world! You must try this technique for preparing chicken drumsticks—they cook faster and more evenly, and you get juicier meat, crispier skin, and more flavor because it exposes more surface area for seasoning to penetrate 🤓 Oh, and don’t forget to make the sauce, it’s the best part. You can make them in the air fryer or the oven, that’s up to you!⁣

Comment LINKS for my more affordable stainless steel air fryer and mini food processor!
⁣
Makes 4-6 servings ⁣
2 1/2 lbs chicken drumsticks, skin on⁣
1 tb olive oil ⁣
1 tb paprika⁣
1 tb garlic powder⁣
1 tb onion powder⁣
2 tsp cumin⁣
1 tsp kosher salt⁣
1 tsp ground black pepper⁣
⁣
Herby yogurt sauce⁣
1 cup labneh or greek yogurt⁣
1/4 cup chives ⁣
1/4 cup italian parsley ⁣
1/2 jalapeno, seeds removed ⁣
1 clove garlic⁣
1/2 lemon⁣
1/2 tsp kosher salt⁣
⁣
To make the butterflied chicken, use a sharp knife to cut down along the bone on one side, then make similar cuts on either side of the bone to open the meat into a flat, even piece. Do this to all the drumsticks, then add to a bowl and add the olive oil and spices. Mix to coat the chicken well, getting the spices in all the crevices. For the air fryer: 400F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. For the oven: 400F for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through. To make the sauce, add all of the ingredients to a small food processor/blender and process/blend until smoother, leaving some texture. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Plate your meal and enjoy!⁣
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Air fryer meals | air fryer recipes | butterflied chicken | cooking techniques | family recipes | healthy eating in the new year | budget meals | eating well on a budget | protein packed ⁣

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FOLLOW @kalejunkie FOR THE BEST KITCHEN HACKS

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@kalejunkie 👈🏼 it’s time to adult and clean your wooden utensils! 😳 Wood utensils are the BEST—they are non-toxic and if you care for them properly, will last several years. But wood is porous, so if you don’t give them a good clean every few months, they can smell because they trap food particles, harbor bacteria, and leave oil residue. I do this every few months. Simply boil your utensils in boiling water for 20 minutes. Don’t do it longer than that or you run the risk of the wood cracking. I add the juice of 1/2 lemon and 1 tablespoon of baking soda, which deodorizes the spoons. Then run under warm water and let air dry. Oil them with a food grade mineral oil and you are good to go. Good as new. Comment LINKS and I will DM you everything I use! Inspired by my friend @itsnicolejaques ❤️. #cleaningtips #homecleaning

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@kalejunkie NEW! 😍 SAUCY ASIAN-INSPIRED CHUCK ROAST—because cozy season isn’t over yet!!!! My miso ginger & orange chuck roast was a huge success, and this one is different—it’s got a an Asian-inspired sweet & slightly spicy sauce that pairs perfectly with rice to soak up all that goodness!It takes only 10 minutes to prep this and then your oven does the rest. The result is lots of delicious, juicy meat to enjoy for the week.⁣
⁣
Make sure to FOLLOW @kalejunkie to see all the ways I enjoy this meat during the week!⁣
⁣
Makes 12 servings⁣
3 1/2-4 lbs chuck roast⁣
1 cup low sodium soy sauce⁣
1/4 cup honey⁣
1/2 cup hoisin sauce⁣
1/3 cup rice vinegar⁣
1 cup beef broth ⁣
3 tb coconut sugar (or brown sugar)⁣
5 cloves garlic, mashed⁣
2 tb sesame oil⁣
2 tsp red chili pepper flakes (less if desired)⁣
1 tsp kosher salt⁣
⁣
Garnishes: ⁣
sesame seed⁣
green onions, thinly sliced⁣
chili crisp⁣
⁣
Serve with:⁣
Cooked rice⁣
⁣
Preheat oven to 325F, then make the marinade. In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients. Pat dry the chuck roast and place it in a dutch oven. Pour the marinade on top and flip the meat a few times to coat it well. Cover and place in the oven for 3 1/2-4 hours. Pull it out at the 3 1/2 hour mark and use two forks to pull the meat apart. If it’s not easily shredding, pop it back in the oven for 30 minutes more. The exact timing does depend on the size of your roast, oven, etc! Once ready, remove from the oven, shred all the meat and toss with the juices. If you want to brown the meat for crispy bits, place the pot back in the oven under the broiler on high for 3-4 minutes. Serve over rice and garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and chili crisp (if desired). #chuckroast ⁣#viralrecipes

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@kalejunkie comment SPICE or LINKS for everything I used! 🫶🏻 It’s January 1, which means it’s time to get organized so you can go into the new year with a clear mind. Obviously I spend a ton of time in the kitchen—so when it’s a mess and disorganized, it gives me anxiety (@eri.wool can confirm 😬). So one thing I do each year is organize the spice drawer and throw out expired seasonings—not only do they lose flavor, they can grow mold if exposed to moisture 🤢. I love that these jars come with labels so you can write down the expiration dates. Join me in organizing your spice drawer, it’s actually fun! HAPPY NEW YEAR! #asmr #organizing #homeorganization

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@kalejunkie my second most viral video of 2025 with a combined 25 million views—HONEY GLAZED SALMON BOWLS W/CUCUMBER AVOCADO SALAD avocado salad and a no-mayo protein packed spicy sauce! This recipe is easy and soooo delicious, so if you haven’t made it yet, this is your sign 🪧!⁣
⁣
Makes 4 servings⁣
Salmon bites⁣
1 1/2 pounds salmon, skin removed and cut into bite sized pieces ⁣
2 tb avocado oil ⁣
2 tb honey⁣
3 tb sriracha ⁣
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos/tamari for a gf option)⁣
2 cups cooked rice⁣
⁣
Cucumber avocado salad⁣
2 persian cucumbers, finely diced⁣
1 avocado, finely diced⁣
1/4 cup cilantro⁣
1 lime, juiced ⁣
1 tb honey⁣
⁣
Spicy sauce⁣
1 cup cottage cheese⁣
1 lime, juiced ⁣
1/4 cup sriracha⁣
2 tsp cumin⁣
1 tsp smoked paprika ⁣
1 tb honey ⁣
⁣
Preheat oven to 400F. Coat the salmon in the avocado oil, honey, sriracha and soy sauce. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 10-11 minutes, then broil for 1-2 minutes at the end to get that crunchy top. Remove from oven and set aside. Cook rice according to package instructions and set aside. Make the spicy sauce by adding everything to a blender and blending until completely smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Last, make the cucumber-avocado salad. Add all ingredients to a bowl and toss well. Finally, assemble your bowls. Add rice first, followed by the salmon bites, then the cucumber-avocado salad, and last, a drizzle of the delicious spicy sauce on top. Enjoy!⁣
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#salmonbowls #salmon #dinnertonight #dinnerrecipes⁣

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It’s pretty safe to say that caviar became my entire personality in 2025 and it’s definitely coming with me into 2026 😏. Best served with my herby crème fraîche “dip,” that pairs perfectly with chips! Paired with @thecaviarco kaluga hybrid 🙌🏼

Herby Crème Fraîche Dip
8oz crème fraîche
1/4 cup chives, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
2 tb fresh dill, chopped
2 tsp lemon zest
Pinch of salt

Mix everything in a bowl and enjoy! #caviar #caviardip

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Comment FAVS or LINKS and I will DM you my “best of 2025”—the ten items that are worth every penny and that I’ll be using for years to come. Which of course means you need them too 😉! Happy new year #kalejunkie

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