Kale Crunch Salad - Copycat Chick-fil-A Recipe - Chisel & Fork (2024)

This kale crunch salad can be prepared in under 10 minutes and is perfect as a side or paired with chicken, salmon or any protein to make it a main dish. With an easy apple Dijon vinaigrette, this is just like Chick-fil-A's popular version.

When it comes to salads, kale is my go-to these days - from a kale sweet potato salad to a kale Caesar salad to a roasted pumpkin salad.

Yes, Chick-fil-A is famous for their chicken, but if you haven't had their salad, you are totally missing out. Kale has become quite popular lately - in part due to the texture and added nutrients that comes from it. Plus it doesn't hurt that you can toss the salad in the dressing ahead of time and it doesn't become soggy.

And this salad is about as simple as they come. With kale, Brussels sprouts and slivered almonds being the main ingredients, you get some crunch/texture in every bite.

Paired with a simple apple Dijon vinaigrette that adds some acid and tartness, you get a light and healthy meal or side dish with this kale crunch salad recipe.

Why This Recipe Works

• Make-ahead friendly - Prepare all the ingredients in advance, and mix them together just before you're ready to eat.
• Healthy - Some salads are healthy on the surface, but actually aren't. That's not the case with this salad where you get nutrients from the kale and Brussels sprouts that isn't overpowered by a heavy dressing.
• Versatile - The great thing about this salad is you can mix and match to what you want. You can keep it completely vegetarian and add even more crunch with ingredients like apple chips or add in protein like chicken or salmon.

Ingredient Notes

• Apple Dijon vinaigrette - I like the simplicity of mixing some olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey and Dijon mustard together to complement the salad.
• Kale - I use curly kale for this salad. Make sure you remove the tough stems and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces for a tender texture.
• Brussels sprouts - Shred or thinly slice the Brussels sprouts to integrate their unique flavor and nutritional benefits into the salad.
• Almonds - While the kale and Brussels sprouts both have texture, the crunch really comes from the almonds. Don't forget to toast them.
• Parmesan cheese - Adds a slightly nutty flavor.

Ingredient Swaps

As with any recipe, you can swap out ingredients. Some variations include:

• While I like the homemade apple Dijon vinaigrette to match Chick-fil-A's version, you can buy a dressing at the store or try a creamy balsamic dressing.
• I mentioned above that I use curly kale, but Tuscan kale works too.
• If you don't have Brussels sprouts, cabbage are a great substitute.
• While I like slivered almonds, walnuts work as well or sunflower seeds if you need to go nut-free.
• Change the type of cheese by using crumbled blue cheese, gouda or feta.

Step-by-Step Photos

Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.

Make the vinaigrette by whisking all of the ingredients together in a bowl or shaking in a mason jar. In a large bowl, toss the kale and Brussels sprouts together and add the dressing before mixing in the almonds and cheese.

FAQs

Benefits of Kale

Kale has become super popular and there is good reason for it. Some of thehealth benefitsof kale include

• Among mostnutrient-dense foodson planet.
• Great source ofVitamin CandVitamin K.
• Can lowercholesterol.
• Loaded withantioxidantsto help battle disease and illness.
• Goodsource of mineralsmost people don’t eat enough of.

Add-Ins

The great thing about this kale crunch salad recipe is it is great on its own or you can add additional ingredients.

• Proteins - Chicken or salmon are two proteins that would pair great with the salad.
• Fruit - You can use dried fruit like dried cranberries or raisins, or fresh fruit like apples.
• Fat - If you want additional fat, some diced avocado is a great choice.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• Usefresh kaleandchop yourselfso you can easily remove the stems. Don't buy the pre-packaged chopped kale unless that's your only option.
• It is mentioned before, butmassage the kale with some olive oilto make it less course and bitter.
• If using forleftoversor amake-ahead lunch, keep thekale and Brussels sprouts separate from all the other ingredientsand toss to combine in the morning or right before serving.
• Feel free to get creative and add other ingredients like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, dried fruit, protein or even roasted sweet potatoes to enhance the overall flavor profile.

Other Salad Recipes

If you’ve tried this kale crunch saladrecipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow meonFacebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

More Salad Recipes