21 Kale Salad Recipes That Are Anything But Boring

We'll always love a good kale salad—here are some really great ones.

July 26, 2017

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We know, we know: kale salad is like, so last year. But we just can't seem to quit it. And why should we? A kale salad is healthy, easy to make, and gosh darn it, it's delicious. Browse these recipes and remind yourself why kale salad is, was, and always will be one of our favorites (no matter what the haters say).

Alex Lau
1/21
Kale BLT Salad
Thick slab bacon is key to this dish. Buy it packaged if you can find it or from the butcher.
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Vincent Cross
2/21
Grilled Kale Salad with Paprika Breadcrumbs
Grilled salad. It’s a thing. This one gets a double dose of smokiness, both from the charred greens and the smoked paprika.
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Gentl & Hyers
3/21
Kale and Cucumber Salad With Roasted Ginger Dressing
We know, another kale salad recipe! Don’t write this one off. Roasted ginger makes this one extra special.
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4/21
Hearty Greens with Kumquats
Who doesn't love kumquats?
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5/21
Coconut Rice, Tofu, and Kale Salad
Coconutty black rice imparts a slightly sweet note.
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Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
6/21
Kale with Pomegranate Dressing and Ricotta Salata
Massaging the dressing into the kale with your hands helps break down some of the fibers so the greens are more tender.
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Peden + Munk
7/21
Kale and Celery Tiger Salad
Loaded with fresh herbs and sturdy kale and then set off by a bright and spicy dressing, this salad is an ideal counterpoint to the more decadent dishes on the table.
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8/21
Bulgur, Tofu, and Kale Salad
Hearty enough for a meal, but not so much it weighs you down—this is our dream lunch al desko.
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9/21
Kale and Pink Grapefruit Salad
Zippy pink grapefruit gives this salad a lift—fresh avocado brings it all together.
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Christopher Baker
10/21
Crudités Salad with Farro and Pecans
A texture riot of a salad; it gets crunch and creaminess from toasted pecans and almond butter(!).
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Jeremy Liebman
11/21
Barley and Kale Salad with Golden Beets and Feta
Chewy, nutty barley and salty feta add a one-two punch.
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12/21
Kale Salad with Butternut Squash and Almonds
Kale salad puts on its autumn jacket.
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13/21
Freekeh Salad with Chicken and Kale
If you can’t find freekeh, use another whole grain, like spelt or rye berries.
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14/21
Wheat Berries with Charred Onions and Kale
Don't be afraid to give those onions some color—it'll add a deep, rich flavor to the salad.
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15/21
Kale Salad with Walnuts and Soft-Boiled Eggs
Adjust the amount of red pepper in the dressing to your liking—we think it adds a nice balance to the creamy vinaigrette.
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Eva Kolenko
16/21
Spinach and Chicken Waldorf
This classic epitomizes the range of flavors and textures in Hillstone’s salads, hitting every note on the salty-sweet-chewy-crunchy spectrum.
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17/21
Grilled Kale Salad with Ricotta and Plums
Quickly grilling kale makes it crispy. Pairing it with fresh plums and ricotta transforms it into one tasty salad.
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Chris Searl
18/21
Potato Salad with Grilled Kale
Australian potato salad. We didn’t know it existed, but when you swap mayo for a tangy vinaigrette and add charred greens, magic happens.
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19/21
Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
A shower of finely grated Pecorino cheese keeps things from getting too virtuous.
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20/21
Crispy Kale Salad with Lime Dressing
You can use any herb you'd like—we think cilantro, basil, and mint are nice.
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21/21
Tuscan Kale Caesar Slaw
A shower of lemon zest keeps this salad from feeling too heavy. Anchovies are a must!
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Senior Associate Web Editor. When she’s not torturing herself by grinding coffee beans by hand and making her own butter, Rochelle writes about cooking techniques and seasonal eating for bonappetit.com. She comes to BA by way of a small farm in Central New York, where she worked as a farmhand ... Read More

Explore Bon AppétitKale

Kale BLT Salad

Grilled Kale Salad with Paprika Breadcrumbs

Kale and Cucumber Salad With Roasted Ginger Dressing

Hearty Greens with Kumquats

Coconut Rice, Tofu, and Kale Salad

Kale with Pomegranate Dressing and Ricotta Salata

Kale and Celery Tiger Salad

Bulgur, Tofu, and Kale Salad

Kale and Pink Grapefruit Salad

Crudités Salad with Farro and Pecans

Barley and Kale Salad with Golden Beets and Feta

Kale Salad with Butternut Squash and Almonds

Freekeh Salad with Chicken and Kale

Wheat Berries with Charred Onions and Kale

Kale Salad with Walnuts and Soft-Boiled Eggs

Spinach and Chicken Waldorf

Grilled Kale Salad with Ricotta and Plums

Potato Salad with Grilled Kale

Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad

Crispy Kale Salad with Lime Dressing

Tuscan Kale Caesar Slaw