Kale Cranberry Salad with kale, broccoli slaw, tart cranberries, and sweet maple pecans. Toss with a tangy-sweet honey-mustard dressing.
author’s note
Skip The Salad Kits At The Grocery Store And Make This!
I’ll be the first to admit those Costco salad kits are SO good. They’re convenient, loaded with toppings, and make eating kale feel surprisingly easy. But the ingredient lists can be a little questionable, and once everything is tossed together, the salad gets soggy so fast.
I wanted to create my own version with fresh ingredients, plenty of texture, and a homemade dressing I could control.
This Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad has all the best parts of those salad packs, but it tastes fresher and holds up so much better. The tart cranberries, sweet maple pecans, crunchy broccoli slaw, and creamy honey-mustard dressing make every bite ridiculously good!
Kale Cranberry Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Helpful Tips & Swaps |
|---|---|
| Kale | Remove the thick stems and finely chop the leaves. Massage with a spoonful of dressing to soften the kale and improve the flavor. |
| Broccoli Slaw | Find this pre-shredded mix near the packaged salads. Can’t find it? Combine thinly sliced broccoli with shredded carrots and red cabbage. |
| Dried Cranberries | Add sweet-tart flavor and a chewy bite. Dried cherries, blueberries, or golden raisins also work well. |
| Maple Pecan Mix | Sahale Maple Pecans add the BEST sweet crunch. Candied pecans, candied walnuts, or another glazed nut mix will also work. |
| Honey-Mustard Dressing | A creamy, tangy-sweet blend of honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, mayo, salt, and pepper. Use good-quality Dijon and mayo since their flavors really stand out. |
How To Make Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad (Tips)
- Emulsify dressing: Shake or whisk hard until smooth. If honey settles, shake again.
- Marinate kale (optional): Let kale sit in dressing 10 minutes to soften and boost flavor.
- Adjust dressing: Start with a few tablespoons, toss, then add more or less to taste.
- Use quality ingredients: Fresh kale, soft dried cranberries, and good Dijon and mayo make a difference.
- Customize: Add roasted nuts, feta or goat cheese, sliced apples, or thin red onion.
What To Serve Alongside Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad
- Chicken: Add rotisserie, grilled, baked, or blackened chicken.
- Soup: Pair with butternut squash, creamy chicken soup, or lentil soup.
- Bread: Serve with a baguette, French bread, or no-knead bread.
- Vegetables: Add roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts.
Storage
Store the kale cranberry salad and dressing separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add the pecans just before serving to keep them crunchy.
More Easy Salad Recipes:
Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad
Video
Equipment
- Wide-mouth Mason Jar or small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 4 cups finely chopped kale tightly packed in measuring cups
- 1 (16-ounce) package broccoli slaw
- 1/3 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
- 1 (4-ounce) package maple pecan mix coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard see note 1
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons mayo
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a glass jar or a small mixing bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients. Season with salt and pepper (I add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper). Seal and shake until ingredients are well combined and emulsified. (Make sure the honey doesn’t pool and settle at the bottom.) Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before using. Refrigerate until ready to use, shaking or whisking again before using.
- Add chopped kale to a very large salad bowl. Add in 1 tbsp dressing. Scrunch firmly with both hands for about 15 seconds which will help soften and add flavor to the kale. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, coarsely chop the nut mix. Combine the chopped kale and broccoli slaw in a large salad bowl. Toss together with tongs. Sprinkle the cranberries and chopped nut mix over the salad. Lightly toss to combine, then add a few more tablespoons of the dressing (to desired preference) and toss until nicely coated.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this for a dinner party, we have fresh Kale in our garden. Salad was a great success, ladies asked for the recipe.
I tossed it together before serving meal. Keeping veggies crisp and toppings crunchy. Super easy recipe.
Delish! I’m so thrilled this Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad was a hit! Thanks for your comment Joy!
I love the way you photograph food, it looks fantastic!
That is so kind! Thanks Christopher!
I love these salads! It’s just a holiday of health!
Thanks so much! So thrilled you enjoy! 🙂
Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use vegan mayo i never had kale cranberry pecan salad before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Can’t wait for you to try! 🙂 Thanks Ramya! 🙂