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In just minutes, make this delicious Kale Crunch Salad that’s– dare I say– better than the Chick-fil-A Kale salad! It’s made of simple ingredients, including crunchy roasted almonds, crisp cabbage, and healthy kale, then tossed in a zesty apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing full of flavor!
Why We Love This Recipe!
- Clean and Healthy: This superfood salad consists of simple ingredients, including a homemade vinaigrette dressing, a blend of kale and cabbage, and roasted almonds. It’s all the flavor you need with less guilt– Just as a salad should be!
- Personalize: Add cheese, protein, or fruit – just another perk to the simple salad ingredients – there is plenty of room to customize the recipe to fit your taste.
- Versatile Use: Enjoy this kale salad as a quick and light lunch, a side salad for dinner, or an entire meal with protein added.
Most will agree that kale isn’t the most tasty produce on its own. It’s usually cooked or smothered in dressing or sauce to be enjoyed. Additionally, it tends to be tough to chew, so a good chef will massage kale if the recipe involves eating it raw.
But why go through the trouble? Kale is a vitamin-packed superfood! It’s good for your immune system, bone health, blood, and more!
If you are looking for more creative ways to enjoy this leafy green superfood, Try my Strawberry Kale Salad with feta cheese crumbles and warm Zuppa Toscana Soup with tender potatoes, bacon, and, of course, fresh kale!
Ingredient Notes
Salad Dressing
Salad
Variations and Substitutions
How To Make Kale Salad with Dressing
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Combine dressing ingredients
Let’s begin creating the easy kale salad recipe by adding the oil, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, salt, and pepper to a mason jar. Next, put the lid on and give it a good shake until everything is combined.
Then set the jar aside or in the refrigerator as you prep the salad.
Step 2 | Mix kale and cabbage
Next, put the chopped kale leaves and shredded cabbage in a large bowl and gently toss to combine.
Step 3 | Add dressing and massage kale
This is the important part – Drizzle the homemade dressing on top and massage the kale for 2-3 minutes until it softens. Yes, give it the full Swedish treatment = massaged kale salad.
Step 4 | Sprinkle almonds, toss, and serve!
Finally, let’s dress this green salad up. Add the almonds, toss the salad thoroughly, and serve your colorful and crunch kale salad!
Tips
- Chill Before Serving – For the best taste and texture experience, chill the salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Then, add the almonds and enjoy!
- Massaging Kale – Use your hands to gently knead and massage the kale leaves to release the flavor and soften the texture.
- No Jar, No Problem – If you don’t have a jar to mix the dressing in, Use a small bowl and whisk instead!
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Recipe FAQs
Curly kale is the most common variety and the most used for salads and other recipes. However, you can use lacinato kale, red kale, or baby kale if preferred.
Always start by washing your kale thoroughly to remove any remaining soil or chemicals. Next, cut the leafy part of the kale off the stem and chop it into bite-sized pieces. And don’t forget that all-powerful massage!
The kale salad from Chick-fil-A is nutrient-rich and packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals, including fiber. While the dressing has a decent amount of calories, the rest of the salad is generally healthy. Try asking for another dressing if you’re extra concerned about your calorie intake, like the Light Italian Dressing.
Storage
Refrigerate: Unlike most salad recipes, a kale salad will survive with the Dijon mustard vinaigrette dressing when stored in the refrigerator for a few days! Keep it in an airtight container, with or without the dressing, and enjoy it for another day!
What to Serve with Kale Salad Recipes
Serve this delicious copycat Chick-fil-A Kale salad as a side dish with a filling entre, like Creamy Spicy Sausage Spaghetti Pasta, or make it a soup and salad combo with Pasta Fagioli Soup. You can also serve the salad as a vegetarian main dish or add meat with a side of Cheesy Green Chile Bread– Delish!
More Delicious Salad Recipes
- Chopped Greek Salad
- Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad
- Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
- Strawberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
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Kale Crunch Salad (Chick-fil-A Copycat)
Ingredients
Dressing
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pressed garlic, about 2 cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salad
- 6 cups chopped kale, stems removed
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage, (or you can use all of one type
- ¼ cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Add the oil, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, salt, and pepper to a mason jar. Put the lid on and shake until everything is combined. Set aside.
- Put the chopped kale and cabbage in a large bowl and toss to combine.
- Pour the dressing on the greens and massage the kale for 2-3 minutes until it softens a bit.
- Add the almonds, toss, serve, and enjoy.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Notes
- Chill Before Serving – For the best taste and texture experience, chill the salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Then, add the almonds and enjoy!
- Massaging Kale – Use your hands to gently knead and massage the kale leaves to release the flavor and soften the texture.
- No Jar, No Problem – If you don’t have a jar to mix the dressing in, Use a small bowl and whisk instead!
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
Such a fresh and delicious side!
Thank you, Laura!
I absolutely love this vinaigrette, and it’s perfect with the kale and cabbage! Thanks!!
Thank you! I really love the combination too!
I loved this salad- I’d even say I like it more than the one I get from ChickFilA! Perfectly fresh and delicious!
Thank you, Tayler.
I love how healthy and clean this salad is and it’s still delicious! This is one of my favorite menu items at Chick Fil A so thanks for the recipe 🙂
Thank you, Kathryn. I agree the flavor is so delicious and being healthy makes that even better.
LOVE this colorful, crispy salad, and the maple Dijon dressing recipe is a treasure, too!
Thank you, Eliza! The dressing is the perfect compliment to the crunchy Kale.
This was so good and the perfect copycat! Love the crunch and the dressing is absolute perfection.
Thank you, Angela! I really enjoy the crunch as well.
I love this kale salad! I had it once before on a trip and always wanted to recreate it
Thank you, Nancy! Now you can have it at home anytime!