These hearty and healthy Swiss Chard Rolls are packed with a flavorful filling made from ground veal, ground turkey, lentils, and aromatics, all simmered in marinara sauce. Wrapped in tender chard leaves and baked in a simple chili-spiced passata sauce, they’re a comforting, high-protein meal that’s naturally gluten-free and perfect for meal prep!
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If you’re a fan of classic cabbage rolls, you’ll love this twist. These Swiss chard rolls are my way of playing with tradition, keeping that same comforting, saucy, stuffed goodness, but with a few changes that make the recipe feel fresh and a little lighter. The chard leaves are more delicate and quicker to work with than cabbage, and the filling has a flavorful balance of ground veal, turkey, and lentils that sets it apart from the rice-heavy traditional cabbage rolls. Just like with my Air Fryer Sausage Onion Rings or Chili-Filled Meatballs, I love taking a familiar idea and giving it a twist, making it fun and a bit unexpected.
Recipe Overview
⏱️ Ready in: 1 hour (including prep and bake time)
🍽️ Servings: 4 (makes 8–10 rolls)
💪 Diet-Friendly: High-Protein, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb Friendly
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Why You’ll Love These Swiss Chard Rolls
- A Fresh Twist on a Classic: Like my 7-Layer Taco Salad and my Kohlrabi Carpaccio, this dish is inspired by a traditional recipe (i.e., cabbage rolls) but made lighter and faster with tender Swiss chard leaves!
- They're nutritious: Packed with protein-rich veal, turkey, and fiber-filled lentils!
- Saucy and Comforting: Baked in a simple spiced tomato sauce that ties everything together in the coziest way. And, if you like cozy lentil recipes, you'd also like this Easy One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup.
- Naturally Gluten-Free: No rice or breadcrumbs.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Roll them in advance, pour over the sauce, and pop them in the oven when you're ready to bake.
Ingredients
- Ground Veal & Turkey: This combo creates a juicy, flavorful filling that’s lighter than beef but still rich and savory. Veal adds tenderness, and turkey keeps things lean.
- Lentils: Add heartiness, texture, and fiber. Green or brown lentils work best since they hold their shape well. Here's some information on the Types of Lentils and How to Use Them in Your Cooking.
- Swiss Chard: The leaves are sturdy enough to roll, but tender after a quick blanch. They’re easier to prep than cabbage and add a subtle earthiness to the dish.
- Onion & Garlic: Our aromatics. They’re lightly sautéed before the meat to enhance flavor.
- Marinara Sauce: Stirred into the filling to add moisture, tang, and a touch of sweetness. Use your favorite store-bought or a homemade marinara sauce version.
- Passata (or Crushed Tomatoes): It forms the base of the sauce the rolls bake in. It’s perfect for soaking into the chard without overpowering it.
- Chili Powder: Just a bit to give the tomato sauce and filling subtle depth. You can adjust the spice level to suit your taste.
- Avocado Oil: A neutral oil for sautéing that adds healthy fats without interfering with flavor. I like to use it for its high smoke point.
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swiss Chard: You can use cabbage leaves or collard greens instead. Just blanch them a bit longer to make them pliable. Cabbage rolls will be heartier and collards give an earthier flavor.
- Ground meat: Swap the veal and turkey with ground chicken, ground beef (like in this Slow Cooker Beef Mince Recipe), or even just one type of meat if that’s what you have.
- Make it Spicier: Add more chili powder or add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce if you want more heat. A spoonful of harissa or chipotle paste would also work well.
- Add More Veggies: You can also add grated carrots, chopped zucchini, or sautéed mushrooms. They can be folded into the meat and lentil filling. The grated carrots can be added when sauteing the onion and garlic.
- Cheesy Version: Sprinkle some grated mozzarella or parmesan on top before baking. You could also add crumbled feta or goat cheese to the filling.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Make the sauce
In a bowl, combine passata, water, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Pour a small amount of the sauce into the bottom of a baking dish to lightly coat the base. Set the remaining sauce aside for topping.
STEP 2: Prepare the filling
Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium, add chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until softened. Add ground meat, season with salt, pepper, and chili powder, and cook until almost cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in cooked lentils, and let the mixture cool slightly.
STEP 3: Blanch the Swiss chard
While the meat filling is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Trim the thick stems from the chard leaves. Blanch each leaf for 30–60 seconds until pliable, then transfer to a bowl of ice water. Pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel and place on a flat surface.
STEP 4: Roll and assemble
Working one at a time, add about 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the leaf. Fold the longer side of the leaf over the filling first, then tuck in the sides to close it in. Then roll it up toward the remaining edge. Place each roll seam-side down into the sauced baking dish as you go.
STEP 5: Add sauce
Once all rolls are in the dish, pour the remaining tomato sauce over the top to cover slightly.
STEP 6: Bake
Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the rolls are heated through. When serving, reserve any leftover sauce from the baking dish and pour it over the rolls while hot.
Top Tips
- Don’t skip blanching the chard. It softens the leaves just enough to make rolling easy and prevents tearing.
- If the bottom rib of the chard leaf is bulky, use a knife to shave it down slightly so the leaf folds easily without cracking.
- Let the filling cool slightly before rolling. It makes handling easier and prevents the chard leaves from softening too much or tearing.
- Spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce in the baking dish before placing the rolls. This prevents sticking and infuses flavor from the bottom up.
- Cover the dish with foil while baking to keep the rolls moist. Uncover for the last few minutes if you want the top to reduce a bit.
- Don’t forget to pour the leftover hot sauce over the rolls before serving, it’s the finishing touch that brings it all together!
Frequently Asked Questions
Simply blanch the leaves in boiling water for about 30–60 seconds, then transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking. This quick step helps mellow out the sharpness and soften the leaves for easier rolling. You can also balance any remaining bitterness with acidic ingredients like lemon juice or tomato-based sauces.
Cabbage rolls are traditionally baked in a simple tomato-based sauce made with crushed tomatoes or passata, garlic, onions, and seasoning. Some variations use a sweet-and-sour twist with vinegar and sugar, or even a touch of honey and lemon juice.
Yes! You can roll and refrigerate them a day ahead. Add the sauce right before baking, or bake the whole dish in advance and reheat when ready to serve. They're even better the next day.
What to Serve with the Swiss Chard Rolls
Serve these Swiss chard rolls hot, spooned with extra sauce from the baking dish. They pair nicely with a side of mashed potatoes, rice, or a simple green salad like this Tuna Caesar Salad or this Asparagus Kale Salad. For a cozy, complete meal, try them with crusty bread to soak up all that rich, spiced tomato sauce.
Leftovers & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. They keep really well and might taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld.
To reheat, place the rolls in a covered baking dish and warm them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 15–20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave them individually for 1–2 minutes. Be sure to spoon some of the reserved sauce over top before reheating to keep everything moist and flavorful.
Freezing tip: These rolls also freeze beautifully. Arrange them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container, with a little sauce on the bottom and between layers. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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Recipe
Swiss Chard Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- Medium Mixing Bowl to prepare tomato sauce
- non-stick skillet to cook the meat and lentil filling
- Large Pot for blanching the Swiss chard leaves
- tongs to remove chard leaves from boiling water
- Baking Sheet 9 x 13 inch to bake the rolls
- Aluminum Foil to cover the dish while baking
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups passata or crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
For the Filling:
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or any neutral cooking oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ lb ground veal
- ½ lb ground turkey
- ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
- ½ teaspoon chili powder or more if you like a little heat
- ¾ cup marinara sauce
- ¾ cup cooked lentils green or brown lentils work well
- 10 large Swiss chard leaves stems trimmed and leaves blanched
Instructions
Make the Sauce
- In a medium bowl, combine passata, water, salt, pepper, and chili powder.1 ½ cups passata, ½ cup water, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- Pour a small amount of the sauce into the bottom of a baking dish to lightly coat the base. Set the remaining sauce aside for topping.
Prepare the Filling
- Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium and add chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until softened, about 3–4 minutes.1 tablespoon avocado oil, 1 small onion, 2-3 cloves garlic
- Add ground veal and turkey, season with salt, pepper, and chili powder, and cook until almost cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks.½ lb ground veal, ½ lb ground turkey, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder
- Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 2–3 minutes.¾ cup marinara sauce
- Remove from heat, stir in cooked lentils, and let the mixture cool slightly.¾ cup cooked lentils
Blanch the Swiss Chard
- While the filling is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Trim the thick stems from the Swiss chard leaves. Using tongs, gently submerge each leaf into the boiling water. Don’t overcrowd the pot (work in batches if needed).10 large Swiss chard leaves
- Blanch each leaf for 30–60 seconds, just until it becomes pliable, then transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water for about 10 seconds to stop the cooking. Remove and set aside.
- Pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
Roll and Assemble
- Working one at a time, add about 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the leaf. Fold the longer side of the leaf over the filling first, then tuck in the sides to close it in. Then roll it up toward the remaining edge. Place each roll seam-side down into the sauced baking dish as you go.
- Once all rolls are in the dish, pour the remaining tomato sauce over the top to cover.
Bake
- Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the rolls are heated through. Uncover for the last few minutes if you want the top to reduce a bit.
Notes
-
- Don’t skip blanching the chard. It softens the leaves just enough to make rolling easy and prevents tearing.
-
- If the bottom rib of the chard leaf is bulky, use a knife to shave it down slightly so the leaf folds easily without cracking.
-
- Let the filling cool slightly before rolling. It makes handling easier and prevents the chard leaves from softening too much or tearing.
- The leaves are flexible and forgiving, so don’t worry about making them look perfect. Once baked, they’ll hold together beautifully under the sauce.
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- Don’t forget to pour the leftover hot tomato sauce over the rolls before serving, it’s the finishing touch that brings it all together!
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