Healthy Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad – This wholesome kale salad recipe is packed to the max with goodies! You’ll enjoy lots of shredded kale, Parmesan cheese, roasted chicken, and a lemon olive oil dressing. So simple and so good! This chicken kale salad is gluten-free and paleo with both Whole30 and keto options. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the Roasted Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad
The salad
- 1 or 2 rotisserie chicken breasts, diced (or any chicken part you like)
- 1/2 red onion, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 5–6 cups fresh kale, chopped very finely
The dressing:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- Juice of one lemon
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the Roasted Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad: Place all the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake to mix. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
2. Toss the kale and red onion together and drizzle with half the dressing. Add chicken and parmesan and toss to combine. Adjust seasoning with more dressing, to your liking. Serve the roasted chicken parmesan kale salad immediately. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the chicken parmesan kale salad
This spinach chicken salad is the perfect solution to an easy dinner, but will also make wonders for your picnics or potlucks. You can prepare it up to a day in advance, keeping it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Hint: Add dried cranberries or even fresh berries to the salad mix for even more flavor!
Can I cook chicken for the salad instead of using rotisserie chicken?
Yes, of course! Rotisserie chicken is great if you are short on time, but if you have a grill or barbecue and some time available, go ahead and grill your chicken breasts or chicken tenders! The chicken will be more tender, smoky, and juicy. We like to slice chicken breasts horizontally so they cook faster. In case you use chicken tenders, there’s no need to slice chicken before cooking.
What kale should I use for the chicken parmesan kale salad?
Any type of kale will work: curly, Lacinato kale (also known as dino kale). Just make sure to remove the stem, or you will end up with very tough bits in your chicken kale salad! To make kale less bitter, we usually recommend massaging kale whenever you plan to eat it raw. Massage chopped kale leaves with oil and salt before using; this will soften the leaves and tame down that bitter taste.
What to serve with the chicken parmesan kale salad?
This chicken parmesan kale salad is nourishing, refreshing, and goes with pretty much everything: think garlic bread, toasted pita, our delicious Caprese pull-apart bread, or homemade bread rolls. Remember, this chicken salad is a meal on its own!
Can I make the chicken kale salad ahead?
Yes, you can prepare the chicken kale salad up to a day in advance, keeping it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
More chicken salad recipes you might like
- Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad
- Healthy Spinach Chicken Salad with Cauliflower
- Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Pesto, Avocado, and Tomato
- Roasted Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
