Bacon Kale Salad

Warm bacon drippings drizzled over crisp, massaged kale is one of those magic moments where this Bacon Kale Salad stops feeling like a side and starts feeling like the main event.

It’s easy enough to throw together on a weeknight but hearty and flavorful enough to bring to a potluck. Serve it warm for the best texture and flavor.

Helpful Tips

• Really massage the kale: Spend a couple of minutes working the olive oil into the leaves with your hands, since this breaks down the tough fibers and makes the kale noticeably more tender.
• Cook the bacon until fully crisp: Crispy bacon crumbles hold their texture better once tossed into the salad, and you’ll also get more flavorful drippings for the dressing.
• Whisk the dressing right in the pan: Building the dressing directly in the bacon drippings while they’re still warm helps everything emulsify and pulls in all that smoky flavor.

You Might Also Like These

• Cobb Salad Skewers
• Bacon & Egg Potato Salad
• Classic Waldorf Salad

Bacon Kale Salad

Warm bacon drippings drizzled over crisp, massaged kale is one of those magic moments where this Bacon Kale Salad stops feeling like a side and starts feeling like the main event.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 13 minutes mins

Total Time 23 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 287 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 large bunch kale washed and dried
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup chickpeas drained
• 1/4 cup almonds sliced
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 4 slices bacon
• 1 shallot minced
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

 

• Cook the bacon to crispy and transfer it to a paper towel to cool. Crumble.
• Cut the stems off the kale and roughly chop it. Place it in a large salad bowl. Drizzle on the olive oil and massage the kale with your hands until it’s softened. Add the chickpeas, almonds, Parmesan cheese, and crumbled bacon to the salad.
• Add the shallots to the bacon drippings in the pan and saute over medium heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar, and mustard to the pan and whisk until well combined.
• Pour the warm dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 11gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 266mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 344IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!