Easy Kale Caesar Salad (6 Ingredients!)
This Kale Caesar Salad is my favorite way to eat kale.
It’s so delicious and healthy that you might forget you’re eating kale salad. It’s made with tender kale, crispy garlicky bread crumbs, parmesan, and a creamy homemade dressing.
Plus, it only requires six ingredients!
I promise that this kale salad recipe will change the way you think about kale.
I love kale. Seriously, I do.
Besides Swiss Chard, Kale is my favorite vegetable. Hearty and packed full of nutrients, it’s the ultimate plant food. (And I’ve got a dozen kale soup recipes to prove it!)
However, I know few share the same sentiments. As a Registered Dietitian, I often get quizzical looks from my clients when I ask them if they’ve ever tried kale. My question is either quickly dismissed with “Don’t like it” or “Don’t know how to prepare it.”
Well, that changes in this easy kale Caesar salad. If you don’t think that you like kale, then I recommend starting here.
It’s the perfect gateway kale salad recipe (along with my kale and apple salad) thanks to two secrets– massaging the kale and using breadcrumbs instead of traditional croutons!
I know you are going to love this easy kale caesar salad as much as we do– see below for more details and tips for success, or scroll down to the full recipe below.
Why I Love This Recipe
I first developed this salad back in 2011 when I gave a talk on Breast Cancer and preventative nutrition last week and wanted to bring something I could make for a recipe demo afterward. I’ve made it for dozens of cooking classes since, and it’s a hit every time. It’s familiar enough for everyone to be willing to try it, while also highlighting the distinctive taste of kale.
Kale is a nutritional powerhouse, offering a wide array of health benefits. It’s packed with vitamins like K, A, and C, which contribute to bone health, vision, and immune function.
Kale also tastes good! Really– much like tofu, once you learn how to cook it, then you’ll likely come to appreciate it’s slightly bitter, vegetal taste.
Ingredient Notes
- Dinosaur Kale: My go-to kale is Tuscan kale, also known as dinosaur kale or lacinato kale. It’s got dark, smooth leaves, unlike curly kale or purple kale. I think it’s worth seeking out as it makes for a better-tasting salad, but curly kale will work in a pinch.
- Bread Crumbs: The bread crumbs make or break this salad– you want them in every nook and cranny of the kale so make sure you like the taste of what you use! I often use leftover stale bread that I’ve needed in other recipes (like my French Toast Overnight Casserole) and store-bought bread crumbs work too.
- Parmesan: Parmesan cheese adds a nice salty bite; I use a vegetarian parmesan cheese and if you want a dairy-free version, then make sure to choose a vegan parmesan.
How to Make this Easy Kale Caesar Salad
It really is this easy. Toss your kale with olive oil and cover with shredded parmesan cheese and crushed croutons or breadcrumbs.
Step 1: Wash the Kale
Rinse and dry kale leaves. Remove any tough stems and stack the leaves on top of one another. This will make it easier to chop into thin strips.
Step 2: Cut the Kale
Roll up tightly, like you are rolling a cigar. Thinly slice the leaves, like a wide chiffonade, and place into a large bowl. This is one of the secrets in this kale salad. Very small pieces of kale taste less bitter than larger pieces of kale.
Step 3: Rub the Kale
Add the olive oil and salt to the kale and, using your hands, massage the dressing into it. This method makes the kale very tender and allows you to use less dressing than you normally do with Caesar dressing! Add in the cheese and breadcrumbs, then toss together.
Step 4: Toss and Enjoy
Taste, adding more salt and pepper as desired, and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
The secret to this recipe is slicing the kale very thinly and massaging the dressing into the kale leaves before adding the rest of the ingredients. Chopping the kale into bite-size pieces creates a better texture.
Since I love the croutons usually found in Caesar salad, I want to enjoy their flavor in every bite! Therefore, I’m using breadcrumbs instead of croutons so that every kale leaf gets coated in crunchy goodness.
You can also use croutons, just smash them before adding to the salad or chop them with a sharp knife. This is also key as you want a bite of the cheese and the crunchy croutons in every bite.
If you are using panko breadcrumbs, then I recommend toasting them in a dry skillet for 1-2 minutes first. If you are using croutons, then you can crush them so they are breadcrumb-like before adding to the salad.
Serving Suggestions
You can make this a heartier meal by adding some protein on top. My go-to choices are my air fryer tofu, my tempeh bacon.
This kale caesar salad also makes for a great side dish, especially for pasta or Italian meals.
I like serving this alongside my baked ziti, my eggplant lasagna or my quick 20-minute vegan pasta for an easy weeknight dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of kale is best for Caesar salad?
Lacinato (dinosaur) kale is my favorite kale as it is more tender than other types of kale. However, curly kale works too, though it may need more massaging.
Why do you need to massage kale?
Massaging kale with olive oil helps to break down its tough fibers, which makes it more tender and palatable. Massaging also helps reduce bitterness.
Can I use other greens instead of kale?
You can use romaine lettuce, baby kale or arugula are all good substitutes. If you use another green instead of kale, then you don’t need to massage the greens first.
More Kale Recipes You’ll Love:
If you try this kale recipe, make sure to come back to leave a rating and a comment. Your feedback helps other readers, and seeing you make my recipes makes my day!
Easy Kale Ceasar Salad (Only 6 Ingredients!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Tuscan Kale
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup good-quality seasoned bread crumbs, or croutons, smashed*
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry kale leaves. Stack leaves and roll up like a cigar. Starting at the end, thinly slice "ribbons" of kale, like a wide chiffonade, and set aside in a large bowl.
- Add the salt, olive oil and lemon juice to the kale– depending on how much kale you have, I usually start with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil. You can always add more! Remember that you'll be adding salty breadcrumbs and parm cheese as well.
- Using your hands, gently massage the dressing into the kale leaves. This method allows the kale to become very tender and allows you to use less dressing than you normally would on such a large kale salad. This usually takes 30-60 seconds of constant massaging.
- Add the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, then toss together. Season as needed, with more salt and pepper once you add the cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
This Easy Kale Caesar Salad recipe was first published in 2011 and updated in 2025.