Crunchy, colorful Bacon Blue Cheese Kale Salad is a quick, crave-worthy side dish for festive family dinners or fall holiday feasts!
When the occasion calls for a beautiful salad recipe that’s bursting with bold flavor, make this simple, easy Bacon Blue Cheese Kale Salad! Shredded kale; savory, crisp bacon; tasty toasted walnuts; sweet slices of apple; caramelized red onion; and robust bleu cheese drizzled with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette – this salad screams “scrumptious!”
…But I Don’t Like Kale!
Of course you don’t. Most of us don’t. Kale, by itself, is…Blah. Bitter. Bland. We only eat it because it’s ridiculously healthy. But this INCREDIBLE Bacon Bleu Cheese Kale Salad will turn your “Kale, NO!” into “Kale, YEAH!”
This salad works because it’s super crunchy and has a fantastic combination of competing flavors – the meaty crisp of bacon and walnuts, the subtle sweetness of apples and honey, the zesty tang of onion, blue cheese, and the vinaigrette dressing – such complexity and depth of flavor for just a few ingredients!
Other Recipes to Serve with a Crunchy Kale Salad
- For the perfect autumn “Soup & Salad” combo, try this creamy Pumpkin and Butternut Squash Soup paired with the crunchy Kale Salad!
- Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette is a sweeter version of the dressing that will carry this salad beautifully into the summer months!
Ingredients
Greens: We’re using only fresh kale in this salad for its incredible crunch!
Fruits & Vegetables: One Fuji apple and one red onion bring competing flavors to give this salad ZING!
Meat: Bacon! Crispy, lightly salty bacon adds the savory crunch and flavor that sets this salad apart from ordinary tossed salads.
Nuts & Cheese: Straight from the charcuterie board, toasted walnuts and crumbled bleu cheese are essential flavors and textures in this amazing salad!
Dressing: Olive oil, honey, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, and a sprinkle of sea salt make a delightfully sweet and tangy (and healthy!) dressing for this salad that’s indescribably
How to Make Bacon Blue Cheese Kale Salad
STEP ONE: Fry the bacon over medium heat. When the grease from the bacon releases into the skillet, add the diced red onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the onion is soft (about 10 minutes). Drain off fat and allow to cool.
STEP TWO: Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a serving bowl until smooth and creamy.
STEP THREE: Add in the kale and toss to coat with the dressing. When the bacon & onion have cooled a bit, add them in with the kale & dressing. Gently toss.
STEP FOUR: Add in the toasted walnuts, apple slices, and blue cheese crumbles. Toss everything together and serve!
Tips for Success
- Did you know there are different types of kale? We like the curly variety for this salad.
- Be sure to wash fresh kale before using.
- Serve this with grilled chicken or seared salmon for a truly delicious and21 nutritious dinner!
- Sliced pears, pomegranates, and dried cranberries can easily be traded for Fuji apple slices to enjoy a variety of flavors!
- Pumpkin seeds or roasted chickpeas make great additions (or substitutions if you’re dealing with a tree nut allergy).
- Real maple syrup can be used as a substitute for honey.
What’s the Best Way to Prepare Kale for a Salad?
Start by washing the raw kale thoroughly in cold water (or submerge it in a bowl of cold salty water) to minimize the bitterness. Rinse and pat dry or toss in a salad spinner. For a super crunchy salad, stop here. For a softer salad, tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces and toss in a mixture of balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and olive oil. (If using a vinaigrette, you can use the dressing to do this.) With your hands, toss the kale until it is well-coated. This process “wilts” the leaves, giving a more tender, milder-flavored salad.
What Other Cheese Can I Use Besides Blue Cheese?
The rich tanginess of blue cheese is absolutely perfect in this Bacon Kale Salad! But if you have an aversion to blue cheese, there are other options! Feta, gorgonzola, or goat cheese are all bold cheeses that would substitute nicely!
Other Scrumptious Kale Salad Recipes!
- Kale Quinoa Salad
- Southwestern Kale Salad
- Roasted Kale with Black Beans and Goat Cheese
- Lucky Green Smoothie
- Kale Salad with Papaya VinaigretteRoasted Sweet Potato Salad
*This post originally posted on 03/25/2015.
Equipment
Ingredients
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the sliced bacon to a large skillet over medium heat. Once the fat begins to render from the bacon, add the red onion. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- While the onions cook, whisk together the dressing ingredients in a large serving bowl until they are smooth and creamy.
- Add the kale to the serving bowl and toss to coat. Once the bacon and onions have finished cooking, let them cool for 1 minute. Then, add them to the bowl with the kale.
- Add the walnuts, sliced apple, and blue cheese to the salad and toss everything together to combine. Serve immediately.
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