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    Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes » Kale Caesar Salad

    Kale Caesar Salad

    Published: Mar 21, 2023 Modified: May 8, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    My version of the Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Caesar Salad tastes even better than the original! It’s easy to make at home using simple ingredients, complete with grilled chicken and an incredible lemon vinaigrette. Including chicken made from scratch or leftovers, this easy caesar salad will take you just minutes to assemble!

    Chick-fil-A kale caesar salad on a plate with lemon wedges and grilled chicken
    Jump to:
    • Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Salad
    • Kale Chicken Salad Ingredients
    • How to Make Kale Caesar Salad
    • Kale Chicken Salad Recipe Tips
    • Grilled Chicken Temperature
    • Can this salad be made ahead of time?
    • How to Store Leftover Kale Salad
    • Chick-fil-A Salads FAQs
    • Easy Salad Recipes
    • Chick-fil-A Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Salad

    If you know me, you know how much I love Chick-fil-A recipes… but you should also know how much I love to make my favorites at home, instead! Making your favorite recipes at home is budget-friendly and super easy, especially when it comes to the Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Caesar Salad.

    My version uses grilled chicken, marinated in an incredibly flavorful homemade marinade of milk and dill pickle juice, and finished with a zesty and sweet spice rub that complements the salad so well. Top it all off with lemon vinaigrette, panko breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese, and you have a perfect salad.

    The best part about making your own version of Chick-fil-A lemon kale caesar salad is the option to customize it or even use up leftover chicken from a previous meal. Add this easy caesar salad recipe to your meal plan for the week after enjoying a chicken dinner – you will be so glad you did!

    This has quickly become my new salad obsession. It is so good!

    Teresa on Pinterest
    A fork with grilled chicken over kale caesar salad

    Kale Chicken Salad Ingredients

    For the Kale Salad

    • Grilled Chicken Breast or Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Nuggets
    • Romaine lettuce
    • Kale
    • Panko breadcrumbs
    • Parmesan cheese
    • Lemon wedges

    For the Lemon Dressing

    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • White balsamic vinegar
    • Sugar
    • Salt
    • Lemon juice
    • Lemon zest
    • Garlic powder
    • Dry mustard
    • Onion powder

    You can make my version of Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Caesar Salad using either grilled chicken or air fryer Chick-fil-A nuggets. Both work amazingly well in this easy caesar salad recipe – they are so yummy with the homemade lemon vinaigrette!

    How to Make Kale Caesar Salad

    1. Add all dressing ingredients to a jar. Screw on the lid, then shake well. Store until ready to use. Lemon vinaigrette lasts 1 week in the refrigerator – give it a good shake before using.
      Mixing lemon vinaigrette dressing in a jar
    2. To make the breadcrumbs, add panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese to a baking tray. Broil in the oven on high for 1 minute. Be very careful not to walk away or let them burn! Gently remove them from the baking sheet to a plate or bowl once done baking. Then, add romaine lettuce, kale, and parmesan cheese to two salad bowls or deep plates.
      Mixing lettuce on a plate with tongs
    3. Arrange grilled chicken on the salads as you like.
      Topping salad with grilled chicken
    4. Sprinkle with the baked breadcrumbs. Add two lemon wedges to the edge of each plate and drizzle both salads with lemon vinaigrette. Serve, and enjoy!
      Complete chick-fil-a lemon kale caesar salad on a white plate

    Kale Chicken Salad Recipe Tips

    • When broiling the breadcrumbs, make sure not to leave them in there for too long. 1 minute under the broiler on high is enough time to roast the breadcrumbs perfectly. Any longer and they will burn, so keep an eye on them.
    • You can massage the kale, if you wish, by adding it to a bowl with some of the dressing and working it with your hands before assembling your salad. Massaging kale softens it and distributes the flavor of the dressing evenly throughout the leaves, giving the salad even more robust flavor.
    • If you plan to store the dressing before using it, give it another good shake before adding it to your salad just to mix everything together again. Vinaigrettes separate in the fridge.
    • Try adding Leftover Ham!

    Grilled Chicken Temperature

    Chicken should always read between 165°F and 175°F on a meat thermometer. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is done cooking on the grill.

    Chicken PartGrill TemperatureLid Open or ClosedCooking Time
    Boneless Chicken ThighsMedium to medium-high, 350°F-375°FClosed6 minutes per side
    Bone-in Chicken ThighsMedium to medium-high, 350°F-375°F, lowered to 300°FClosed4 minutes per side; lower heat to medium-low, cook another 3-5 minutes
    Boneless Chicken Breasts (Large)Medium-high to high, 375°F-400°FClosed6-8 minutes per side
    Bone-in Chicken Breasts (Large)Medium-high, 375°FClosed8-10 minutes per side

    Follow my step by step instruction on how to cook the perfect grilled chicken breast recipe.

    Can this salad be made ahead of time?

    You can make lemon kale caesar salad ahead of time by mixing the dressing separately, chopping the kale, and cooking and storing the chicken beforehand. I recommend you toast the breadcrumbs when you assemble the salad – it only takes a minute and will taste better fresh.

    You can prepare the ingredients for the salad up to 3 days ahead of time if you’re making the chicken early, and up to about 1 week ahead of time if you’re only preparing the dressing ahead.

    How to Store Leftover Kale Salad

    Leftover salad with dressing tends to wilt if it’s saturated with too much dressing. If you plan on having leftovers, don’t use all of the dressing at once. Store the salad leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator with a folded paper towel over the top – this will absorb any excess moisture. Redress the salad when ready to enjoy the next day.

    chick-fil-a kale lemon caesar salad on a plate with lemon wedges

    Chick-fil-A Salads FAQs

    How do you prepare kale for salad?

    If you purchased your kale whole rather than pre-shredded in a bag, prepare it for the salad by cutting or tearing it from the stalk with a knife or your hands. Chop the kale roughly or rip it into pieces with your hands, then rinse it using a colander.

    Do you need to massage kale?

    You do not need to massage the kale for a salad, but you can if you wish to do so. Kale that has been “massaged” (rubbed with a dressing using your hands) becomes softer and even more tasty than eating it as-is. If you want to massage your kale, add a portion of your lemon vinaigrette to only the kale, massage it with your hands, then continue with the remaining steps of the recipe to assemble the salad. Don’t massage baby kale if using, it’s already soft enough.

    Can you substitute another lettuce for kale?

    If you prefer, you can use any lettuce of your choose rather than kale. Try green leaf lettuce or spinach. If you substitute another lettuce for kale, I recommend adding a big of arugula for the flavor it adds.

    Easy Salad Recipes

    • Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
    • Strawberry Chicken Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
    • Cold Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas
    • Burrata Salad
    • Grilled Peach Salad
    • Easy Caesar Salad Recipe

    Chick-fil-A Recipes

    • Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Nuggets
    • Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup
    • Chick-fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup

    For more chicken recipes like Greek Chicken and Potatoes and more, plus inspiration on how to cook chicken perfectly, follow my Chicken Temperature Chart!

    📋 Recipe

    Pouring dressing on chick-fil-a kale caesar salad

    Kale Caesar Salad

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to make Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Caesar Salad at home using easy ingredients! Simple to make and so delicious!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 salads
    Calories 1004 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 jar with lid for mixing dressing
    • 2 deep plates or bowls

    Ingredients
      

    For the Dressing

    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
    • 3 teaspoons sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • zest from one lemon
    • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder

    For the Salad

    • 2 grilled chicken breasts using our Chick-fil-A inspired grilled chicken breast recipe
    • 4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
    • ½ cup kale chopped into small pieces
    • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese
    • 4 lemon wedges
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Add all dressing ingredients to a jar. Screw on the lid, then shake well. Store until ready to use. Lemon vinaigrette lasts 1 week in the refrigerator – give it a good shake before using.
      ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, 3 teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, zest from one lemon, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon dry mustard, ¼ teaspoon onion powder
      Mixing lemon vinaigrette in a jar
    • To make the breadcrumbs, add panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese to a baking tray. Broil in the oven on high for 1 minute. Be very careful not to walk away or let them burn! Gently remove them from the baking sheet to a plate or bowl once done baking. Then, add romaine lettuce, kale, and parmesan cheese to two salad bowls or deep plates.
      4 cups romaine lettuce, ½ cup kale chopped into small pieces, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ cup panko bread crumbs
      Mixing lettuce on a plate with tongs
    • Arrange grilled chicken on the salads as you like.
      2 grilled chicken breasts
      Addign chicken to chick-fil-a lemon kale caesar salad
    • Sprinkle with the baked breadcrumbs. Add two lemon wedges to the edge of each plate and drizzle both salads with lemon vinaigrette. Serve, and enjoy!
      4 lemon wedges
      complete lemon kale caesar salad

    Video

    Notes

    • When broiling the breadcrumbs, make sure not to leave them in there for too long. 1 minute under the broiler on high is enough time to roast the breadcrumbs perfectly. Any longer and they will burn, so keep an eye on them.
    • You can massage the kale, if you wish, by adding it to a bowl with some of the dressing and working it with your hands before assembling your salad. Massaging kale softens it and distributes the flavor of the dressing evenly throughout the leaves, giving the salad even more robust flavor.
    • If you plan to store the dressing before using it, give it another good shake before adding it to your salad just to

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1004kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 67gFat: 68gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 44gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 1241mgPotassium: 906mgFiber: 4gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 10102IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 429mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword chick-fil-a lemon kale caesar salad, kale caesar salad
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

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