Layers of homemade dressing and crunchy bacon croutons make up this Kale Caesar Salad Recipe. Not only does it make for a hearty appetizer, but the leftovers last all week in the fridge! Perfect for meal prep and potlucks.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time15 minutesmins
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 30 minute meal, caesar, dressing, healthy salad, kale, kale salad, salad, side dish, sides
6piecesthick-cut baconcut into 1” pieces or replace with 3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 ½cupbreadtorn into smaller pieces
Instructions
Kale Caesar Salad
Remove the stems from the kale. Rinse and pat dry or spin in a salad spinner.
Slice into 1/4 inch pieces and place them in a large bowl.
Bacon Croutons
In a pan, add 1” bacon pieces and cook until they're crisped to your liking. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
In the same pan with the bacon fat, cook the torn pieces of bread until toasted and browned. Toss often to coat with bacon fat. If you don’t like bacon, use unsalted butter instead.
Assemble Salad
Pour my Classic Homemade Caesar Dressing over top. Massage the leaves with your hands until they're wilted and softe. Let the dressing and kale sit for at least 5-10 minutes while you make the bacon and croutons.
Add the dressed salad to a serving platter and add the bacon pieces, croutons, and freshly shaved parmesan on top. Enjoy with your favorite protein.