How to Make Kale Salad from Chick-fil-A?
The Kale Salad from Chick-fil-A is a fan favorite, and for good reason. The combination of crispy chicken, tangy dressing, and fresh kale is a match made in heaven. But what if you want to make it at home? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll break down the steps to make a Chick-fil-A-style Kale Salad from scratch.
Ingredients:
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s take a look at the ingredients you’ll need:
- 2 cups curly kale, stems removed and discarded, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, diced
- 1/2 cup crispy chicken strips (see note)
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- Chick-fil-A’s Signature Dressing (see below for recipe)
Note: To make crispy chicken strips, you can either use store-bought chicken strips or make your own by coating chicken breast in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs, then frying until crispy.
Chick-fil-A’s Signature Dressing Recipe:
This is the secret sauce that makes the Kale Salad from Chick-fil-A so irresistible. Here’s a recipe to make it at home:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions:
Now that we have our ingredients and dressing, let’s move on to the instructions:
- Prepare the kale: In a large bowl, massage the kale leaves with your hands for about 2-3 minutes to help break down the fibers and make it more tender.
- Add the chicken: Add the diced chicken breast and crispy chicken strips to the bowl with the kale.
- Add the toppings: Sprinkle the crumbled blue cheese, chopped red onion, chopped dried cranberries, and chopped pecans over the top of the salad.
- Drizzle the dressing: Drizzle the Chick-fil-A’s Signature Dressing over the top of the salad and toss to combine.
- Taste and adjust: Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more dressing, salt, or pepper to taste.
Tips and Variations:
Here are some tips and variations to take your Kale Salad to the next level:
- Use fresh kale: Make sure to use fresh, curly kale for the best flavor and texture.
- Customize the toppings: Feel free to customize the toppings to your liking. You can add or subtract ingredients to suit your taste.
- Make it a meal: Add some croutons or crispy bacon to make it a more substantial meal.
- Use different cheese: If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, you can substitute it with cheddar or feta cheese.
- Add some heat: If you like a little spice, you can add some diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the salad.
Comparison Table:
Here’s a comparison table to help you see the differences between the original Chick-fil-A Kale Salad and our homemade version:
| Ingredient | Original Chick-fil-A | Homemade Version |
|---|---|---|
| Kale | Curly kale | Curly kale |
| Chicken | Grilled chicken breast | Cooked chicken breast |
| Crispy chicken | None | Crispy chicken strips |
| Blue cheese | Crumbled blue cheese | Crumbled blue cheese |
| Red onion | Thinly sliced red onion | Chopped red onion |
| Dried cranberries | None | Chopped dried cranberries |
| Pecans | None | Chopped pecans |
| Dressing | Chick-fil-A’s Signature Dressing | Homemade Chick-fil-A’s Signature Dressing |
As you can see, our homemade version is a close approximation of the original Chick-fil-A Kale Salad. We’ve kept the same ingredients and toppings, but made some adjustments to make it easier to make at home.
Conclusion:
Making a Kale Salad from Chick-fil-A at home is easier than you think. With the right ingredients and a little bit of effort, you can create a delicious and healthy salad that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. Remember to use fresh kale, customize the toppings to your liking, and make sure to drizzle that signature dressing over the top. Happy cooking!