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.

Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad

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

Print Recipe

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5 from 1 review

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.

Author: Nicole Radcliffe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Category: salad
Method: chopping
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units Scale

FOR THE SALAD:

6 cups chopped kale
1 1/2 cups shredded red cabbage
1/3 cup spiced almonds
1/4 cup dried blueberries

FOR THE DRESSING:

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

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Instructions

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, orange juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Set that aside and work on your salad
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
Once chopped, add the kale to a large bowl along with your cabbage
Pour half of the dressing over the kale and cabbage mixture, and use your hands to massage it in
Let the kale rest for three minutes to tenderize.
After those three minutes, add chopped, spiced almonds and dried blueberries to the salad along with the remainder of the dressing
Use tongs to give it a good toss to ensure everything is well mixed, then use tongs to serve it up and enjoy

Notes

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

Find it online: https://www.coleinthekitchen.com/chick-fil-a-kale-salad-recipe/