Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad

Name: Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups chopped kale; 1 1/2 cups shredded red cabbage; 1/3 cup spiced almonds; 1/4 cup dried blueberries; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons orange juice; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Why leave your house when you can make this copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad right in your own kitchen? It's easy, quick and tastes even better than the original! There's got hearty kale, cabbage, dried blueberries, and almonds all tossed in a homemade vinaigrette.

chick fil a kale salad in a wood bowl being served with wooden tongs.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In A Homemade Chick-fil A Kale Salad
How To Make Chick-Fil A Kale Salad At Home
Ingredient Substitutions/ Recipe Variations
Expert Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing Your Leftover Chick-Fil A Kale Salad
More Copycat Recipes!
Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad
CHECK OUT LATEST POSTS

This copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad is the perfect salad for the summer. It's full of crunch, loaded with nutrients, and can literally be made in 10 minutes.

You can enjoy it on the side of some burgers , pizza, or chicken with a glass of lemonade, or better yet, add your protein directly into it for a one bowl, 10 minute dinner.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's quick, easy, and takes 10 minutes to make
this homemade salad tastes 10x better than the fast food version
It's very healthy and full of nutrients
This salad is gluten free and dairy free
A great option to serve at a dinner party for an easy side dish

Ingredients In A Homemade Chick-fil A Kale Salad

ingredients for kale crunch salad labeled with black text.

ingredients for apple cider vinaigrette labeled with black text.

EQUIPMENT:

Cutting board
Sharp knife
Large mixing bowl

FOR THE SALAD:

Kale: I used pre-cut organic kale because it was the same price as an uncut bunch, plus it saves me time
Cabbage: I like the color that red cabbage adds, so I used that instead of traditional green cabbage
Almonds: I added spiced almonds for extra flavor, but any will work
Dried blueberries: Really adding nutrients to this salad! Blueberries are high in antioxidants, and also add a great sweetness

DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

Olive oil: You want to use a good quality, extra virgin olive oil because this is the base of the dressing and you want it to taste good
Apple cider vinegar: This adds that notable tang and brightness
Honey: You need the honey to sweeten the dressing and tone down the tang from the vinegar
Dijon mustard: Wouldn't be a Dijon vinaigrette without the Dijon mustard
Orange juice: I used this in place of lemon juice because I loved the sweetness it added
Salt, black pepper, garlic powder: Just a little bit of each spice to round out the flavor of the salad dressing

How To Make Chick-Fil A Kale Salad At Home

1. Give your kale a good rinse, dry it, then, on a cutting board, cut out the center ribs and chop the leaves into bite size pieces

2. Once chopped, add the kale to a large bowl along with your cabbage

3. Whip up the dressing by adding all ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar and whisking until everything is combined

apple cider vinaigrette in a small measuring cup. — **Whisk together dressing**

kale and red cabbage in a clear bowl. — **Massage kale and cabbage with half the dressing**

4. Pour half of the dressing over the kale and cabbage mixture, and use your hands to massage it in and let the kale rest for a few minutes to tenderize

5. After resting, add the chopped almonds and dried blueberries to the salad along with the rest of the dressing

chick fil a kale salad in a clear bowl topped with chopped almonds. — **Add almonds, dried blueberries, and rest of dressing**

Ingredient Substitutions/ Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

Cabbage: You could use green cabbage, napa cabbage, or even shredded brussels sprouts or iceberg lettuce
Almonds: Slivered almonds, candied, or sliced will work, just be sure to toast them first! If you don't like almonds, you can substitute with chopped walnuts, pecans, pistachios, or cashews- again, just toast them
Dried Blueberries: Substitute these with dried cranberries, dried cherries, or raisins
Olive oil: Use avocado oil instead
Honey: Maple syrup is a good substitute, and would also work on making it vegan
Dijon mustard: Substitute with spicy brown mustard for a vegan option
Orange juice: Can easily be substituted with lemon juice

Variations:

Add protein: Chicken breast, Shrimp, or tofu would all be good!
Extra veggies: Add in chopped broccoli, sliced radishes English cucumbers, shredded carrots, or even diced apples
Add a healthy fat: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or pine nuts are a few favorites
Turn into a wrap with chicken!

healthy kale crunch salad copycat recipe in a wood bowl served in 2 small white bowls.

Expert Tips

Cut the ribs out when cutting your kale
Massage some of the dressing into the kale to tenderize it
Add chicken or shrimp and turn this into a main dish
Always toast your nuts
Buy pre-shredded cabbage (great time saver)
Swap the honey with maple syrup and the Dijon mustard with spicy or coarse mustard to make this vegan
Store any leftovers in the fridge for 4-5 days

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to massage kale?

Technically, you don't. However it only adds an extra 2-3 minutes to the recipe and makes the kale much more tender.

What dressing does Chick Fil-A serve on their kale salad?

According to their website, they serve an apple cider Dijon mustard vinaigrette! That's why I made this one instead of a maple vinaigrette that used to be on their (now discontinued) superfood salad.

Is the Chick Fil-A version healthy?

It is healthy, but the dressing contains extra added ingredients and inflammatory oils. Which isn't unhealthy occasionally, but my copycat recipe tastes even better with minimal and quality ingredients.

How much does the salad cost?

If purchasing from the fast food restaurant, it would cost about $2.29 per serving, while my copycat version costs around $1.10 per serving.

Is this recipe vegan?

Since honey and Dijon mustard are main ingredients in the dressing, it is not vegan. However, with a few small changes, this can easily be made vegan! Check the substitutions list for options!

What's in the Chick Fil-A kale crunch salad?

The one from the restaurant contains kale, green cabbage, and chopped almonds.

kale superfood salad topped with chopped almonds.

Storing Your Leftover Chick-Fil A Kale Salad

You can store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

If you have any leftover dressing, keep is in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The olive oil will harden when chilled, so take it out 15 minutes before you plan on using it, then give it a good shake, and enjoy!

More Copycat Recipes!

hands using wood tongs to serve chick fil a salad from a wood bowl.

Did you make this copycat Chick Fil-A Kale Salad Recipe? If you did, I would appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below. Additionally, you can follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make this or any other of my easy, healthy recipes.

*Recipe was updated 3/1/2023 to include more information, tips, and a clearer recipe card*