27 Awesome Arugula Recipes

Arugula is a light green beautiful plant with leaves that are edible. 

You may recognize it from its unique, serrated shape.  

Surprisingly, it is not a variety of lettuce, but rather a green that is closer to the mustard or cabbage family. It has a peppery bite, and that wispy, leafy green packs quite a flavor punch.

The topic at hand today is that many of us do not know what to do with arugula besides make a salad. So I went on a treasure hunt to see what other creative ideas I could find. 

Can you cook arugula? Yes, you can, and now you are empowered with recipes to follow. 

I was truly amazed at the wide range of options! 

Join me as I talk you through the best ones I compiled here.

1. Lemon Arugula Pasta With Burrata

First up, a pasta recipe using arugula. 

Mixing together rigatoni pasta with arugula and the luscious burrata cheese is enough to make you wonder where you have been all your life that lemon arugula pasta with burrata was not in your rotation! 

Bonus, the whole dish is prepared on the stovetop, so no waiting for baking!

2. The Easy Arugula Salad

I absolutely love this easy salad recipe with arugula because it is all about the dressing. 

No fuss or fancy ingredients here. 

Just wash and dry the arugula! 

Whisk together the dressing and your salad is ready!

3. Onion Frittata With Goat Cheese And Arugula

This delightful, savory frittata is finished with arugula sprinkled on top. 

So when you find yourself wondering what to make with arugula, keep in mind it makes a lovely garnish!

The onion frittata with goat cheese cooks up warm and toasty with the arugula complementing its dense texture.

4. Arugula Chickpea Salad

Roasting up chickpeas is the delicious part of this recipe using arugula, but it does take a bit of time. 

Otherwise, this arugula chickpea salad is simple to pull together. I have a feeling we are going to be seeing the lemon and honey combination quite a bit!

5. Salmon Arugula Quinoa Bowl With Cilantro Jalapeno Lime Dressing

This is no ordinary salad. 

When wondering which recipes with arugula are next on your to-nosh list, this savory bowl with veggies, quinoa, salmon, and a surprise cilantro jalapeno lime dressing will certainly come to mind again and again! 

Long title, great dish!

6. Creamy Vegan Arugula Soup

Here we go with a soup front and center! 

Yummm! 

Can you cook with arugula? 

Yes, indeed. 

And after this creamy vegan arugula soup simmers a while, you will put it through the blender for an extra smooth and creamy spoonful.

Place extra arugula leaves on top, loosely chopped, as a garnish.

7. Caramelized Onion, Fig And Goat Cheese Pizza With Arugula

Chances are pretty high that you enjoy most of the ingredients in this recipe BUT when you combine them, you create a powerhouse of flavor! 

Don’t let anything hold you back cooking with arugula. 

You had me at caramelized, but now it’s a PIZZA?  

I’m so in!

8. Grape, Gouda And Arugula Skewers

When considering what to do with arugula, this beautiful appetizer is sure to capture your interest! 

Colorful, sweet, leafy, savory all together on one toothpick! 

These grape, gouda and arugula skewers are fun to make and eat!

9. Angel Hair Noodles With Arugula And Pistachio

Comfort food is what this recipe with arugula says to me! 

Angel hair noodles mixed with arugula and pistachios that have been toasted? 

Amazing! 

Combine, and you are good to go!

10. Arugula Lasagna

Another lovely dish that you can cook with arugula! 

This arugula lasagna has some arugula mixed in and some is used as garnish on top! 

Who, I ask, who can resist a bubbling dish of lasagna?

11. Strawberry And Arugula Goat Cheese Panini

Now I present you with another excellent example of a well balanced combination of ingredients. 

The sweet strawberry and the bitter or tangy arugula combines with the hearty goat cheese to make this strawberry and arugula goat cheese panini a flavorful sandwich option!

12. Brie, Pancetta And Gingered-Bourbon Poached Pear Burger

While this recipe is focused mostly on the burger part of the story, I want to draw your attention to the step where arugula is used as a topping on the burger. 

It certainly steps the plating up a few levels in presentation.

13. Healthy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes With Arugula

This is certainly not your kids-table mashed potatoes recipe.  

Most kids will turn up their noses at the color of green being mixed in with their potatoes!

But adults may just lose their minds at how amazing this recipe with arugula actually is as it is folded in with chives as the last step before serving.

14. Blackened Fish Tacos With Creamy Lime Sauce

Fish tacos are epic! So satisfying while at the same time being light and delicate. 

Here we find another suggestion for what to do with arugula.  

If you can dress a burger with it, you can also create a bed for your tortilla fish taco fillings!

15. Chicken Pesto Burrata Naan Pizza With Fried Egg!

Flatbreads are indeed a fun way to serve up a meal. 

Top them with literally anything and they will be good! 

Am I right? 

This recipe for chicken pesto burrata naan pizza with fried egg tells you all the ingredients right there in the title! 

Of course, does this recipe use arugula? 

Yes, yes it does. Covered in healthy oil and lemon juice and placed on top!

16. Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe

This watermelon feta salad absolutely lives up the expectations of being cool and refreshing especially since it is served IN the watermelon rind! 

Talk about a conversation piece! We really enjoy this recipe and make it frequently when watermelons are in season.

17. Grilled Soy-Lemon Flank Steak With Arugula Recipe

These steaks are cooked to perfection and provide the savory base to build a beautiful arugula salad on top. 

The peppery taste combines well with the seasonings from the flank steak for a delectable meal and only one plate to clean up! 

This recipe is sure to be one you will pull out regularly.

18. Lemony Arugula Salad With Couscous, Cucumbers And Feta Recipe

Well, that recipe using arugula certainly is a mouthful! 

Couscous, cucumbers and feta mixed with lemony arugula is certainly a winning combination and one that is worth your time! 

Recipes using arugula have the added benefit of adding peppery taste to whatever the main entree is being prepared.

19. Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

Nothing says celebratory or special like the word shrimp.  

Oh and garlic and butter and pasta.  

Additionally, this recipe with arugula has you cooking it down to slightly wilted. 

Quick mix and dinner is ready! It will be gone all too fast.

20. Oven Risotto With Garlic Roasted Mushrooms And Arugula

If you are the wing-it kind of chef, this recipe that includes cooking with arugula may not be your cup-of-tea. 

There is an ordered process here, but the reward goes to those who are determined. 

Hang in there, the flavors and textures of oven risotto with garlic roasted mushrooms and arugula, will be worth it!

21. Vegan Arugula Pesto Pinwheels Recipe

Puff Pastry has entered the chat and is at your service! 

Another variation of arugula pesto is here too in this recipe with arugula and sunflowers. 

Rolling and slicing gives the cute pinwheel look when served up to friends and family.

22. Steak And Arugula Salad Bites With Parmesan

Is it a bite? 

Is it a snack? 

Is it an appetizer? 

YES! 

No matter which way you decide to serve it, this recipe using arugula is adorable, easy to assemble and quickly consumed!

23. Tomato, Arugula And Mozzarella Quiche

The classic combination of cherry tomatoes and mozzarella pearls are joined by arugula in this quiche. 

Nothing says lazy Saturday like sleeping in and fixing this quiche recipe using arugula for brunch.

24. 5-Minute Pea Arugula Pesto Pasta Salad

Half the needed amount of arugula in this dish will be the bed of the salad, but the other half will be blended and pulsed into pesto to put on top of the pasta. 

So, when you are wondering what to make with arugula, add pesto to the list!

25. Arugula Salad With Peach And Pecan

So the key to balancing a salad recipe using arugula, is to keep in mind that it has a bit of a bitter or peppery taste, so add-ins will need to be nutty or sweet or savory. 

That is definitely the case here when you add pecans and peaches to the bed of arugula.

26. Arugula, Apple, And Avocado Salad

This recipe with arugula has hit my “new favorite” list, which is constantly growing. 

It couldn’t be simpler to cut and combine these cool and refreshing ingredients with the homemade dressing. 

Definitely give this one a try!

27. Arugula Fig Salad with Blue Cheese

Discover a summer salad that’s sure to impress: the Arugula Fig Salad with creamy Gorgonzola. It’s a delightful mix of sweet figs, spicy arugula, and rich Gorgonzola, all brought together with a light touch of orange blossom. Perfect for a sunny day, this salad is not just tasty but also a feast for the eyes!

The bottom line

I am quite sure we both learned a lot by perusing this list of recipes that introduced us to what to do with arugula beyond the obvious lovely salad bowl. 

Here is a tried-and-true recipe that we eat a lot here at CookingChew for an easy tossed arugula greens side.

Can you cook arugula? 

Yes, you can indeed, and now you are empowered with recipes to follow, so go forth and enjoy!