This kale Caesar salad is crisp, creamy, and ready in minutes. It’s great for meal prep or lunches, and it makes the best hearty low-carb side.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: This kale Caesar salad brings smoky bacon, bold Parmesan, bright lemon, and garlicky dressing together to create a savory bite with a vibrant, lemony finish.
- Skill Level: This is a beginner friendly recipe. Simply whisk the dressing, prep the kale, then toss and serve.
- Serving Suggestions: Make it a main and top with salmon, grilled chicken, or even hard-boiled eggs
- Make-Ahead: Kale Caesar salad tastes best when chilled, so it’s great to make ahead of time. Keep the salad ingredients separate from the dressing.
Caesar Staples, Kale Twist
- Kale: Use curly kale for this recipe, but remove the tough stems first. Bagged, chopped kale, or prewashed kale will also work.
- Bacon: Freshly fried bacon tastes best, but pre cooked bacon saves time. Bottled bacon crumbles will work in a pinch. Try other salty proteins, such as chopped Black Forest Ham, sliced pepperoni, or diced ham.
- Cheese: Salty Parmesan is a classic choice for Caesar salad because it’s tangy and dry. Most cheeses are keto-friendly, so try crumbled feta, blue cheese, or shredded mozzarella.
- Homemade Caesar Dressing: Full fat mayonnaise, Parmesan, and Worcestershire create that classic depth of flavor. Lemon juice adds a clean, zesty note that enhances the garlic, and Dijon adds tang, while anchovies add a briny punch. If using a bottled brand, be sure it’s low-carb and low-sugar.
- Lemon Wedges: Add a squeeze of lemon at the table to brighten the rich dressing and wake up the kale.
- Swaps: No anchovies or anchovy paste? No problem. Use chopped capers or olives instead. Add in spinach, romaine, or arugula for a softer texture. Don’t worry if you need to omit the bacon, the dressing and Parmesan carry plenty of flavor.
How It Comes Together
- Whisk dressing ingredients.
- Chop and massage kale (full recipe below) and add to a large bowl.
- Top kale with dressing, Parmesan cheese, and bacon. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.
Serving & Saving Kale Caesar
- Serve kale salad as a side on its own or topped with extra protein to make it a hearty main dish.
- Once mixed, the salad is best served the same day, though massaged kale will hold up better than romaine.
- Refrigerate leftover dressing in an airtight container for up to 3 days and toss just before serving. If stored longer, there is a risk that the garlic, which has extremely low acidity, may produce botulism, a serious toxin, and that is not a risk worth taking.
More Low Carb Salads to Love
Did you enjoy this Kale Caesar Salad recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Kale Caesar Salad
This kale Caesar salad is a quick, low-carb side with smoky bacon, lots of Parmesan, and a creamy lemon-garlic dressing.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale washed and dried
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 4 lemon wedges for serving
Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon anchovy paste or finely chopped capers
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, anchovy paste, and pepper together.
- Remove woody stem from kale. Chop leaves into ½ to 1 inch pieces. Place into a large salad bowl and massage with clean hands until kale is tender and has turned a dark green color.
- Top kale with dressing as desired and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle with ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese and bacon bits. Serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Top it with extra protein like chicken or salmon, to serve it as a hearty main dish meal.
- Keep the dressing and salad ingredients separate in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If stored longer, there is a risk that the garlic, which has extremely low acidity, may produce botulism, a serious toxin, and that is not a risk worth taking.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 409mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2264IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
©Easy Low Carb. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
REPIN this Kale Caesar Salad recipe
Recipe adapted from SpendWithPennies
