Smoked Chicken Kale Salad with Cranberries

Indulge in a vibrant and satisfying Smoked Chicken Kale Salad with Cranberries—a perfect blend of smoky, juicy chicken and the freshness of tender kale.

The smoky flavor of the chicken pairs beautifully with the sweet-tart cranberries and apples, while a crunchy mix of bacon and sliced almonds add texture. Tossed in a creamy, homemade poppy seed dressing, this salad bursts with flavor in every bite. It’s a refreshing yet hearty meal that’s as nourishing as it is delicious.

This kale salad is the direct result of a trip to a restaurant in Arizona. Do you ever eat something at a restaurant and then go home and try to recreate it? I do that all the time! This is a healthy and delicious kale salad packed with apples, bacon, craisins, almonds and of course, smoked chicken, all tossed with a simple poppy seed dressing.

A while back we headed to Arizona for our nephew’s high school graduation and our readers all recommended we head to Oregano’s Pizza Bistro for dinner. Thank you for the tip, friends! It was so good! We loved the appetizers, the pizza, the sandwiches and even that pizza cookie for dessert.

But the real winner in my opinion was the Kale Salad with Cranberries that I ordered with chicken. Their chicken was amazing! So smoky, juicy and tender.

We immediately came home to create a copycat!

I’ve heard several people rave about the power greens kale salad that they sell at Costco. It is pretty dang good, but this is even better…like WAY better actually!

How to Smoke Chicken Breasts

For this recipe you are going to want to get the chicken breasts going in the Traeger smoker. For all the details on how to smoke chicken perfectly and for the best smoked chicken rub in town, head over to our Traeger Chicken recipe. Once that is going, you can start working on the kale and all the delectable add-ins.

Ingredients for Chicken and Kale Salad

Here is a list of all the ingredients you need to make this kale salad. Make sure your smoked chicken is ready to go.

Poppy Seed Dressing

• White Vinegar: adds acidity and tanginess to the dressing and emulsifies with the mayonnaise
• Milk: adds creaminess to the dressing
• Sugar: adds a touch of sweetness to balance out all the acidity
• Salt: enhances all the flavors in the dressing
• Ground Mustard: adds flavor
• Onion: adds flavor and little texture
• Mayonnaise: acts as the base of the of the dressing with the vegetable oil
• Vegetable Oil: acts as the base of the dressing
• Poppy Seeds: adds flavor and texture

For the Salad

• Kale: washed, stem removed and chopped into ribbons
• Lemon: helps tenderize the kale
• Salt: adds flavor and helps soften the kale
• Chicken Breasts: smoked, cooked and sliced thin
• Apple: A flavorful juicy apple like honeycrisp, cosmic crisp or pink lady would be best.
• Bacon: adds smokiness and texture
• Almonds: adds texture
• Craisins: adds tartness and sweetness, could be substituted with golden raisins
• Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
• Broccoli: cut into the bite-sized pieces, bulk up on the all the nutrients that comes with more green veggies

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post along with all the instructions for making this salad recipe.

How to Prepare Kale for a Salad

Kale that is completely raw can be a little difficult to chew, so you’re going to want to give it some extra TLC to make it perfect. Start by tearing the stem out. I like to fold each in half like a taco and then just rip the stem out of the middle. Then you rough chop the kale leaves into ribbons.

To make kale salad nice and tender in texture it should be massaged before cooking by squeezing it with your hands. Start your essential oil infuser and put on some calming orchestral music and the kale will be in the mood for a good massage. JK…you can skip that stuff and just add an acid such as fresh lemon juice and some salt to help break it down. Once you have thoroughly massaged the kale, let it sit in the bowl for at least 5 minutes and up to an hour.

How to Make Kale Salad with Cranberries

While the kale rests and the chicken finishes up in the smoker, you can prep all the yummy additions in this kale salad recipe. Head to our How to Cook Bacon post for making the most crispy perfect bacon!

You can also chop up one apple (no need to peel!) and about a cup and a half of broccoli. Measure out your craisins, almonds and Parmesan cheese as well. Once the chicken is done, rested, cooled slightly and sliced, you can combine everything together and give it a good toss.

How to Make Poppy Seed Dressing

Poppy seed dressing goes great with kale salad recipes. This poppy seed dressing is super simple and uses normal household ingredients. Add the vinegar, mayo and milk into a blender and mix them together thoroughly. Pulse in the vegetable oil. Then add the remaining ingredients (sugar, salt, ground mustard, minced onion and poppy seeds) and mix everything together.

You can add as much or as little as you want to the salad and toss the kale salad dressing throughout. You can also add all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk vigorously to emulsify.

Can Kale Salad be Made Ahead?

Yes! Kale salad is one salad that is better to make and dress ahead of time to tenderize the kale.  Once you have added the dressing, it is best eaten within a day. I also save the bacon and almonds to add just before eating so they don’t get soft and soggy.

What is the Best Kale for Salad?

Lacinato Kale (aka Dinosaur Kale, Tuscan Kale or Black Kale) is the best for a salad. This kale is flat, not curly kale, and has tender leaves. It also has a mild, nutty flavor that is so tasty. Even though the leaves are more tender than other types of kale, they are still on the tough side, so slice it into thin ribbons for ease of eating.

Is Kale Salad Good for You?

Kale on its own is quite healthy. It is a great source of vitamin C and iron and contains fiber, antioxidants, calcium and vitamin K. The nutrients in kale can also help boost well-being. This kale salad recipe also contains bacon and almonds which have delicious protein and the apple and broccoli also add flavor as well as even more nutrients.

And let’s not forget the smoked chicken! It is so tender, juicy and packed with smoky flavor. As with all things, a good balance is key for a healthy diet, but this kale salad is a great addition to a healthy diet.

How Many Calories in Kale Salad?

Scroll down to the recipe card to see all the nutritional information for this raw kale salad recipe.

How Long Will Kale Salad Keep in the Fridge?

Kale salad is great for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. If you add the dressing, it is best eaten within a day. I like to save the almonds and bacon to add right before eating.

How Do You Store Kale Salad?

Kale salad should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

We have a couple of other fantastic recipes on the blog that use kale. You should definitely try our Harvest Cobb Salad and Roasted Chickpea and Garlic Caesar Salad Pitas! But this kale salad with smoked chicken and cranberries is my new favorite! I will find any way to eat this smoked chicken, and this best kale salad recipe is just the ticket!

More SALAD RECIPE You’re Sure to Love:

• Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Best Broccoli Salad
• Southern English Pea Salad
• Harvest Cobb Broccoli Salad
• Grilled Peach Avocado Caprese Salad
• Balsamic Glazed Grilled Chicken Salad
• Harvest Cobb Salad with Maple Poppy Seed Dressing
• Grilled Flank Steak Summer Salad
• Easy Teriyaki Chicken Salad
• Double the Meat Hold the Bread BLT Salad
• 7 Layer Pea Salad

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