Enjoy this easy kale Caesar salad as a side dish or add chicken and Parmesan to make it a meal. Salty, tangy, and fresh, elevate tender kale to next-level delicious!
My husband used to skip a lot of healthy foods, like mushrooms and beans, until we came up with yummy ways of cooking them that even he was a fan of, like Weeknight Creamy Mushroom Pasta and Easy Minestrone Italian Soup.
He also used to hate kale. Then I introduced him to a couple of new kale salads – one of which is this kale Caesar salad – and he officially converted!
He didn’t come right out and tell me so, but the fact that he went back for seconds and even ASKED for more kale salad later in the week was all the sign I needed.
If you have some kale haters in your family too, try this easy kale Caesar salad to change their minds!
EASY KALE CAESAR SALAD
If you’ve never made kale Caesar salad before, you’re in for a treat. Not only is it super simple, but it’s also:
- Leftover friendly. Kale doesn’t get soggy like Romaine lettuce!
- Perfect for making ahead of time.
- An easy way to get extra vegetables.
- In season in cooler temperatures.
- Just as versatile as any other traditional Caesar salad!
As-is, this kale Caesar salad is a great vegetarian side dish option (with dairy-free options in the dressing), but you can add some grilled chicken or cooked shredded chicken and some Homemade Croutons and you’ll have a full meal in just a few minutes!
INGREDIENTS FOR VEGETARIAN KALE CAESAR SALAD RECIPE
You need just four simple ingredients for this vegetarian kale Caesar salad recipe:
- Shredded Kale. I like to buy the pre-bagged, pre-washed kind and shred it myself. Whole leaf Lacinato kale or curly kale also works.
- Caesar Dressing. Choose from my original Traditional Caesar Salad Dressing recipe or my latest No-Mayo Caesar Dressing (that has a dairy-free option if Greek yogurt doesn’t work for you) or look for a vegetarian Caesar dressing with simple ingredients.
- Olive Oil. For massaging the kale to soften the leaves before assembling the salad.
- Lemon Juice. Also for massaging the kale – the acidity in the lemon juice helps cut through the bitterness of the kale and makes it tender and delicious!
HOW TO MAKE KALE CAESAR SALAD
Pulling this kale salad Caesar together is really easy!
Step 1. Wash and dry the kale. Place it into a large bowl and, using a pair of kitchen scissors, cut the kale into very small pieces – bite size or smaller!
Step 2. Use your hands to massage the olive oil and lemon juice all over and into the shredded kale.
Step 3. Prepare the Caesar dressing. Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds. Dressing can be prepared ahead of time – store it in a jar in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and shake gently before serving.
For easy pouring out of a mason jar, try one of these reCAP mason jar lids! The pour-spout one is perfect for homemade salad dressings!
Step 4. Toss the salad dressing with the kale using a pair of tongs and serve immediately. Add the chicken and any additional toppings just before serving.
If you’re making this kale Caesar salad recipe ahead of time, I’d recommend massaging the kale leaves earlier in the day and waiting to toss the kale with the salad dressing until you’re ready to serve.
KALE CAESAR SALAD VARIATIONS
This simple kale Caesar salad recipe is just massaged kale and salad dressing, but you have plenty of options to dress it up!
Classic Caesar salad will have croutons and parmesan cheese in addition to the lettuce and dressing, but add any of these to the tossed salad for a new twist.
- Homemade Croutons or sunflower seeds for a bit of crunch
- Grilled chicken or All-Purpose Cooked Chicken to make it a meal
- Hard Boiled Eggs are another option for a heartier salad
- Grated Parmesan cheese for creamy saltiness that goes perfectly with the tangy dressing – this is a requirement for my own Caesar salad every time!
- Instant Pot Lentils – these hide in the shredded kale for a great protein boost!
- Extra vegetables – try halved grape tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, or diced avocado for even more veggie goodness.
- Add roasted chickpeas for an extra crunch too!
TO SERVE KALE CAESAR SALAD
For us, kale Caesar salad is a main meal salad, and we often add a few of the options from the list above and have Homemade Sourdough on the side.
This salad would also go really well as a side dish with:
KALE SALAD CAESAR FAQS
How do you make kale for salad less bitter?
That’s what the olive oil and lemon juice are for! The secret to making kale less bitter is massaging the kale for a good minute. Don’t worry – I’ve included this in the instructions for the recipe. The tangy lemon, salty anchovies, and creamy yogurt in the Caesar dressing also help counteract any bitter flavor.
How do you shred kale?
Shredded kale really does taste best, and the easiest way to do this is to put the pre-washed kale in a big bowl and use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut it up. It takes me about one minute to thoroughly cut up a pound of kale.
It’s not hard at all, and well worth it so that you have small pieces of tender kale to enjoy, rather than chewing on big, tough, stem pieces.
OTHER EASY SALAD RECIPES
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Kale Caesar Salad
Enjoy this easy kale Caesar salad as a side dish or add chicken and Parmesan to make it a meal. Salty, tangy, and fresh, elevate tender kale to next-level delicious!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
- Category: Soup & Salad
- Method: Chop, Blend
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Salad
Caesar Dressing (no-mayo version)
Instructions
- Wash and dry the kale. Place it in a large bowl and using a pair of kitchen scissors, cut the kale into very small pieces.
- Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp lemon juice to the kale leaves and using your hands, massage the leaves very well for one full minute.
Prepare the Caesar Salad Dressing (no-mayo)
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
- Blend or process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately or store in a jar with a lid for 3-5 days. Shake gently before serving.
Toss the salad dressing with the kale using a pair of tongs. Serve as desired!
Notes
Note: I included my no-mayo salad dressing recipe simply because it’s a little lighter. If you want the full, rich version, here’s that recipe.
Caesar Salad Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup yogurt
- 2 tsp spicy brown mustard
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 oz anchovy fillets, drained
- 1 lemon, juiced (about 2 Tbsp juice)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender. Puree on low until smooth, about 30-45 seconds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 225
