5 2 Published Aug 13, 2024, Updated Oct 04, 2024 Given my love for copycat recipes and salads I decided it was time to make a homemade version of the Chick-Fil-A kale salad without any weird ingredients, so I could enjoy it at home whenever a craving hits. I love making this salad for lunch and topping it with a grilled chicken breast or grilled salmon, but it also makes for the perfect side salad to serve with dinner.
kale – I love using curly green kale for this salad because it holds up well with the dressing and has a great texture. Make sure to de-stem, chop, and wash it thoroughly. green cabbage – thinly sliced cabbage adds a nice crunch and complements the kale beautifully. almonds – this recipe calls for roasted salted almonds, but you can always use raw or un-salted almonds if you prefer. apple cider maple vinaigrette – a sweet and tangy dressing made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
How to Make Kale Crunch Salad
What to Serve With Kale Crunch Salad
This kale crunch salad pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes from soups to hearty proteins. Here are a a few serving suggestions:
Add protein: Turn this into a meal-sized salad for lunch by adding your favorite protein. My faves are this maple turmeric chicken or air fryer salmon. For a vegan option you could add tempeh or air fryer chickpeas. On the side: Serve this as a side dish with your favorite main. This turkey burger, balsamic glazed salmon, pasta primavara and baked eggplant parmesan are all delicious options! With a sandwich: Make a classic turkey sandwich or rotisserie chicken salad sandwich and serve it alongside this salad for a filling lunch. With soup: Soup and salad almost always go hand in hand. This tomato basil soup is perfect for a light meal, or my chicken wild rice soup is great for something a bit heartier.
More Popular Salad Recipes
Kale Caesar Salad Easy Quinoa Salad Classic Broccoli Salad Arugula Salad Easy Spinach Salad Farro Salad
Be sure to check out all of my kale recipes as well as the full collection of salad recipes on EBF!
If you’re planning to store the salad for more than 2 days or if you’re wanting to prep it ahead of time, I recommend storing the dressing separately in the fridge and adding it right before serving. This will help keep the cabbage and kale nice and crunchy. I would also wait to add the almonds until right before serving otherwise they’ll get soft.
