Kale Caesar Salad with Bacon & Homemade Croutons
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Have your kale and eat it too with this delicious kale Caesar salad recipe! This hearty dish features crispy, savory bacon, crunchy croutons, and generous shavings of sharp parmesan cheese, all brought together with a creamy and delicious homemade dressing. It’s full of contrasting textures and flavors, easy to make, and delicious!
A kale Caesar salad is a simple twist on the classic, swapping romaine for chopped kale while keeping everything else you love — crunchy croutons, creamy dressing, and crispy bacon. That’s it. Same familiar flavors, just a different green.
Kale works especially well here because its curly leaves grab onto the dressing, making every bite extra flavorful. It’s also sturdy enough to handle being dressed ahead of time without wilting, so leftovers keep beautifully. The crisp kale paired with the rich dressing creates a strong contrast, and the sturdy leaves cradle the bacon bits so they don’t sink to the bottom of the bowl.
I love experimenting with variations of the classic Caesar salad; the bold flavors work well with a lot of different vegetables. Next, try my Brussels sprouts Caesar salad or my broccoli Caesar salad with crispy prosciutto.
Ingredients notes
If you’ve tried a kale salad before, you’ll know that there is no other way to eat a caesar salad. Seriously, once you go kale caesar you never go back! This is what you need:
- The salad: Bacon, kale leaves, and parmesan cheese.
- Garlic parmesan croutons: Making your own croutons is totally worth the few minutes it takes to make them! Store-bought work just fine in a pinch, or use toasted cashews or roasted, crispy chickpeas instead!
- The dressing: Mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, anchovy paste, dijon mustard, black pepper, sea salt, and a garlic clove.
Variations to try
Kale caesar salad sounds a little fancy, but it’s also super easy to customize and make variations. Here are some of our favorite ways to mix it up:
- Toppings: Homemade croutons add a satisfying crunch, but you can also make roasted chickpeas. Toasted cashews also taste amazing in this kale caesar salad.
- Meat: Add some shredded baked chicken breast or party shrimp to make this a heartier meal.
- Avocado
- Veggies: Sauté or grill some zucchini, bell peppers, or red onions, or roast some sweet potato cubes for a boost of color and flavor.
What to serve with kale caesar salad
Kale caeser salad works as a standalone meal, or as a delicious side dish.
Sweet potato contrasts the slightly bitter kale with some sweetness, so serve it beside sweet potato wedges or sweet potato fritters.
Enjoy it as a side dish to round out meals, like grilled chicken breast with crispy roasted potatoes. It also provides a flavor and texture contrast to creamy soups, like this curried pumpkin soup or creamy cauliflower soup.
Kale Caesar Salad with Bacon & Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
The Salad
- 4 strips bacon
- 5 cups kale leaves (stems removed and roughly chopped)
- 1 cup homemade croutons (see notes)
- ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese (see notes)
Caesar Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise (try homemade mayonnaise!)
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh is best)
- 2 teaspoons anchovy paste (or 2 minced anchovies)
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
Instructions
- Slice the bacon into 1" pieces. Heat a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat. Add the bacon slices and cook until they're crispy. Remove them from the pan.4 strips bacon
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the caesar dressing ingredients together.½ cup shaved parmesan cheese, ½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons anchovy paste, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 pinch sea salt, 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- Add the kale to a large salad bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Toss so that the kale is coated in the dressing and then let it sit to soften for about 10 minutes.5 cups kale leaves, 1 cup homemade croutons
- Add the crispy bacon, croutons, and parmesan cheese and toss again. Serve with a little extra parmesan on top, if you'd like.¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Croutons and bacon are always welcome at our table. My boys didn’t fuss much about the kale. Salty & crunchy, I added also spinach, works all well together. Thank you! It is a winner .
Aw, I love hearing that — salty + crunchy is always a win! And I’m so glad the boys didn’t fuss about the kale. Adding spinach is such a great idea, too. Thanks so much for sharing your note! 💛
Absolutely loved this salad! So easy to make, few ingredients but so full of flavours! Definitely Will be doing it frequently.
Awww thank you so much! This salad is seriously one of my favorites. I’m making again for guests tonight!