Whole30 Kale Chicken Caesar Salad {Whole30 + Paleo + Keto Friendly}

This Whole30 kale chicken Caesar salad is SUCH a crave worthy Whole30 meal! Made with hearty kale, perfectly seasoned chicken, a delightfully creamy homemade Whole30 caesar dressing, and topped with a dairy free parmesan “cheese” made with hemp hearts. Like your favorite Caesar salad, but healthier! Whole30, Paleo, Gluten free, Dairy Free.

This healthy kale caesar salad has it all: nutrient dense greens, healthy fats, and clean energizing protein. A true Whole30 dream dinner! Just like your favorite Caesar salad, but a little bit healthier.

And Whole30 or not, it isn’t lacking one single thing that a good Caesar salad has. I would know, if there’s a Caesar salad on the menu – I’m ordering it 😉

Why you’ll love this Whole30 kale chicken Caesar salad:

This chicken Caesar salad is:

• Fresh
• Crisp
• Bright + lemony
• Garlicky
• Easy to make without anchovies
• Full of umami
• Satisfying
• Filling
• Keto friendly
• So crave-able!!

Whole30 kale chicken Caesar salad ingredients

This clean Caesar salad is made in a few separate parts that come together effortlessly. I’ll break everything down for you step-by-step so you can get to making yours right away!

You can skip the dairy free hemp heart parmesan if you want, but if you’re curious I would encourage you to give it a try! It’s a super delicious dairy free replacement for parmesan cheese.

(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full recipe!)

Here’s exactly what you need to make this whole30 kale chicken Caesar salad:

For the kale Caesar salad:

• A large bunch of kale – Any type of kale would work for this recipe – green curly kale, red kale, or lacinto (dinosaur) kale. You may want to use 2 bunches of kale if they are small
• Olive oil + sea salt – Just a tiny bit of olive oil and sea salt are all it takes to massage the kale leaves. This step wilts the kale slightly so it is more easy to bite into. It also lessens some of the bitterness that can come along with hearty greens.
• Red onion – Red onion is totally optional, but I love the added bite and brightness that it brings to this healthy kale Caesar salad!
• My Whole30 Caesar salad dressing – Of course I’m partial to my favorite homemade Whole30 Caesar salad dressing recipe (we make it even when we’re not doing a Whole30!), but you could also use a bottled version like Tessamae’s or Primal Kitchen.

For the dairy free hemp heart parmesan:

• Hemp hearts – Hemp hearts are a rich source of magnesium and contain an essential fatty acid called Linoleic Acid, which may act to reduce blood pressure.
• Nutritional yeast – Nutritional yeast is a power source of umami “cheesy” flavor. A staple in many vegan, paleo, and Whole30 kitchens! Our kitchen is never without it.
• Sea salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder

For the seasoned chicken breast:

• 2 medium sized chicken breasts – You could cook as much or as little chicken as you’d like for this salad, but 2 medium sized chicken breasts is about the right amount for 4 servings.
• Garlic powder + salt + pepper – Garlic powder, salt, and pepper is my go to seasoning blend for chicken, and it pairs perfectly with this kale Caesar salad.
• Avocado oil, Ghee, or coconut oil – For cooking the chicken.

How to make this Whole30 kale Caesar chicken salad

Now that you know all the ingredients you need to make this healthy kale Caesar, let’s move on to HOW to make it! It might seem like a lot of steps, but I promise they don’t take long and this tasty kale salad will be ready before you know it!

Here’s the step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Make the dairy free hemp heart parmesan

In a small bowl mix together all the ingredients for the hemp heart parmesan and set aside. 

Step 2: Make the Whole30 Caesar salad dressing

If you’re making my homemade Whole30 Caesar dressing recipe go ahead and do that here. If you’re using a bottled version you can skip this step!

Step 3: Massage the kale + add red onions

How do you massage kale for Caesar salad? It’s actually super easy. All you need to do is add your washed and cut kale to a large bowl, and drizzle it with a little olive oil and a bit of sea salt. Using your hands, massage kale until shiny and tender – about 30 seconds to a minute.

When kale is ready, add thinly sliced red onion and set aside (move to the refrigerator to keep it chilled if desired.)

Step 4: Season and cook the chicken breasts

Season chicken breasts evenly with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. 

Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot and oil is glistening, add chicken breasts and cook, undisturbed, for 6-7 minutes, until golden brown and they easily lift from the pan. Flip, and cook another 5-6 minutes on the other side, until cooked through. 

Transfer chicken to a cutting board to rest while you toss the salad. 

Step 5: Toss the Caesar salad

Drizzle kale and red onions with about 1/3 cup of the caesar dressing and toss to combine. Add more dressing if desired. 

Step 6: Top salad with chicken and serve!

Divide kale Caesar between 4 bowls. Slice chicken breasts against the grain and add to the top of the salad.

Finish with a generous sprinkle of hemp heart parmesan and serve!

How to season and cook chicken for kale Caesar salad

For this healthy kale caesar recipe the chicken breasts are seasoned with a super basic blend of garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This simple trifecta is my favorite (easy!) easy way to season chicken – it’s always a hit!

After seasoning the chicken all you need to do is pre-heat a skillet with some avocado oil, ghee, or coconut oil over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for approximately 6 minutes per side, until it is golden brown and releases easily from the pan!

Is kale Caesar salad healthy?

This Whole30 kale Caesar chicken salad is absolutely healthy! It includes a perfect balance of hearty + nutrient dense greens, healthy fats from the Whole30 Caesar dressing, and clean protein.

How long will this kale Caesar keep in the refrigerator

The best part of this kale Caesar salad is that it will keep in the refrigerator for leftovers the next day, even after the salad is dressed! Since kale is heartier than romaine, it won’t wilt the same way a tender green would. This makes it perfect for lunch leftovers the next day!

Some substitutions & swaps

This kale Caesar salad could also be made with:

• Salmon
• Shrimp
• Or (if you’re not doing a Whole30) fried tofu or roasted chickpeas

Love this Whole30 Kale Chicken Caesar Salad? Here’s some other whole30 recipes to try!

• Healthy Whole30 Chicken Pot Pie Soup
• The Best Dairy Free Ranch Dressing
• Super Easy Nut Free Gravy
• Creamy Whole30 Smothered Pork Chops
• Super Easy Crispy Pork Stir Fry

If you love this easy dairy free salad please let us know by leaving a REVIEW and RATING below!

And make sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more Nyssa’s Kitchen recipes! And if you make an NK recipe be sure to snap a picture & tag @nyssas_kitchen! I LOVVVE seeing what you’re making from the blog 🥳

Whole30 Kale Chicken Caesar Salad

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Nyssa Tanner
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This Whole30 kale chicken Caesar salad is SUCH a crave worthy Whole30 meal! Made with hearty kale, perfectly seasoned chicken, a delightfully creamy homemade Whole30 caesar dressing, and topped with a dairy free parmesan “cheese” made with hemp hearts. Like your favorite Caesar salad, but healthier! Whole30, Paleo, Gluten free, Dairy Free.

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Ingredients

For kale Caesar

• 1 large bunch of kale or 2 small bunches, ribs removed and cut into bite sized pieces
• 2 teaspoons olive oil 
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 
• 1/4 of a small red onion, thinly sliced
• about 1/3 cup Whole30 Caesar dressing – or a store bought version

For the seasoned chicken

• 2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts – about 1 pound
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil, ghee, or coconut oil – for cooking

For the dairy free hemp heart parmesan 

• 1/3 cup hemp seeds 
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast 
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

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Instructions

1. In a small bowl mix together all the ingredients for the hemp heart parmesan and set aside. 
2. Prepare the Whole30 Caesar salad dressing. If using a store bought variety, skip this step. 
3. Add cut kale to a large bowl and drizzle with 2 teaspoons olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. Using your hands, massage kale until shiny and tender – about 30 seconds to a minute. Add thinly sliced red onion and set aside (move to the refrigerator to keep it chilled if desired.)
4. Season chicken breasts evenly with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. 
5. Heat avocado oil in a large cast iron or non stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot and oil is glistening, add chicken breasts and cook, undisturbed, for 6-7 minutes, until golden brown and they easily lift from the pan. Flip, and cook another 5-6 minutes, until cooked through. 
6. Transfer chicken to a cutting board to rest while you toss the salad. 
7. Drizzle kale and red onions with about 1/3 cup of the caesar dressing and toss to combine. Add more dressing if desired.
8. Divide kale Caesar between 4 bowls. Slice chicken breasts against the grain and add to the top of the salad.
9. Finish with a generous sprinkle of dairy free hemp heart parmesan and serve!

Equipment

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cutting board

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Notes

This recipe makes more Caesar dressing and hemp heart parmesan than you’ll need. You can store them in the refrigerator for the next time you make this recipe, or double the kale and chicken to have lots of leftovers!

The best part of this kale Caesar salad is that it will keep in the refrigerator for leftovers the next day, even after the salad is dressed! Since kale is heartier than romaine, it won’t wilt the same way a tender green would. This makes it perfect for lunch leftovers the next day!

This kale Caesar salad could also be made with salmon, shrimp, or (if you’re not doing a whole30) fried tofu or roasted chickpeas.

• Category: salad
• Method: stove top
• Cuisine: whole30

Keywords: whole30, chicken, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, caesar salad, kale, kale salad, healthy, dinner, lunch, meal prep