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The finished Kale Crunch on a wooden plate.

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Kale Crunch Salad Recipe

A crisp and flavorful Chick-fil-A Kale Crunch Salad copycat with curly kale, cabbage, almonds, and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. Simple, healthy, and delicious!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Salad

  • 5 cups curly kale stemmed and finely chopped
  • Lemon juice Optional
  • 1 cups green cabbage shredded or thinly sliced
  • ⅓ cup roasted sliced almonds or honey-roasted almonds for a sweeter version

For the Apple Cider Dijon Vinaigrette

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey add more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt add more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

Prep the Kale:

  • Add chopped kale to a large bowl.
    5 cups curly kale, Lemon juice
  • Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and a small squeeze of lemon (optional). Massage the kale with your hands for 2–3 minutes until tender and darker in color.
    1 cups green cabbage
  • Add the shredded green cabbage to the kale and toss to combine.

Make the Dressing:

  • In a small bowl or mason jar, combine all vinaigrette ingredients. Shake or whisk until well emulsified and smooth.
    ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Pour about half the dressing over the kale/cabbage mixture.
  • Massage again gently to help the flavors absorb and kale soften further. Let rest for 5–10 minutes for best flavor.
  • Add toasted sliced almonds just before serving for crunch. Add more dressing to taste and toss to coat.
    ⅓ cup roasted sliced almonds

Notes

Optional Add-Ins (Not in Chick-fil-A’s version, but tasty!)
• Diced apple or dried cranberries
• Crumbled feta
• Blueberries
• Grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken for a full meal
Storage Tips
• Store leftover salad and dressing separately in airtight containers.
• Salad base (without almonds) holds well for 2–3 days.
• Dressing lasts 1 week in the fridge.
 
Keyword Chick-fil-A Kale Crunch Salad copycat