This vegetarian kale Caesar salad delivers everything you love about the classic—bold, creamy dressing, crunchy croutons, and big flavor—without the meat or anchovies. Sturdy kale holds up beautifully to the rich Caesar dressing, making this salad hearty enough to serve as a main dish or a satisfying side. Massaging the creamy garlic dressing into the kale makes it extra tender and delicious.
Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or entertaining, it’s a meatless Caesar that never disappoints.
Table of Contents
Plus, you can add toppings like sous vide chicken breasts, air fryer chicken thighs, instant pot hard boiled eggs, air fryer shrimp, or chopped up almonds to turn this salad into a full meal. More topping ideas below.
Ingredients needed
- Kale – You can slice the kale into ribbons with a chef’s knife. Or, save time by buying pre-shredded kale.
- Caesar dressing – I’ll call the dressing for this salad “caesar-like” because it’s not really traditional in that it doesn’t have lemon juice or anchovies. Instead, this dressing can easily be made with ingredients you probably already have on hand – garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil and mayonnaise. Want to make a vegan Caesar salad instead? Try my 5-Minute Vegan Caesar Dressing!
- Croutons – I always make my own croutons for Caesar salads because they taste much fresher than store-bought ones. All you need to make them is a loaf of day-old or slightly dried-out crusty bread (think sourdough, ciabatta, or a French baguette), plus some seasonings, like olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. So simple yet so good!
Is raw kale good in salads?
Yes! But only if you take one important step.
Massage the kale.
The massaging of the kale is what makes it nice and tender. It turns the kale from something you have to almost gnaw at, into a more delicate texture, much more similar to traditional lettuce.
All those flavors from the dressing really get worked into every little crevice, ensuring that each bite you take is super flavorful. As an added bonus, that olive oil and mayonnaise really gives your hands a nice moisturizing. At home spa day anyone?
How to make it
Step 1
Make the Croutons
- Toss the bread cubes with the oil and seasonings, then lay them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the croutons until they turn golden.
- Set aside to cool.
- Tip: You can also make air fryer croutons!
Step 2
Make the Dressing
- In a large bowl, whisk the garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil and mayonnaise until creamy and well combined.
Step 3
Massage the Kale
- Add the kale to the bowl of dressing and, using your hands, firmly massage the kale for 3-4 minutes, until tenderized slightly.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Step 4
Top and Serve
- To the bowl of dressed kale, add the croutons and parmesan cheese.
- Toss gently to combine and serve.
Variations
This salad is delicious just as it is—but it’s also easy to customize. Here are some creative ways to make this recipe your own:
- Add even more hearty veggies – Consider tossing the kale with shredded brussels sprouts, radicchio, cauliflower, or green cabbage for bulk. Chopped avocado, roasted red peppers, shaved fennel, radishes, cucumber, olives, or marinated artichoke hearts would also pair really well with the dressing.
- Make it vegan – If you’d like a recipe that’s vegan, be sure to try my Vegan Caesar Salad!
Topping ideas
- Avocado
- Chopped Almonds
- Quick Pickled Radishes (recipe below)
- Breaded Chicken Cubes (recipe below)
You can even turn the salad into a main dish by topping it with the protein of your choice. Sliced chicken breasts are a classic option, while juicy shrimp, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or a flaky salmon filet would also be fantastic. You can even add cooked quinoa, farro, or Italian white beans to bulk it up even more.
Quick Pickled Radishes
- Add 6 thinly sliced radishes, 2 TBSP red wine vinegar and 1 TBSP olive oil to a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
- Watermelon radishes are really pretty in this salad!
Breaded Chicken Cubes (for a non-vegetarian version)
- Cut 6 chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces and place in a large Ziploc bag with 4 TBSP flour and a pinch of salt and pepper. Seal the bag and shake to coat the chicken pieces evenly.
- In a large nonstick pan, heat a thin layer of oil on medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
Make ahead and storing
You can prep almost every component of this salad in advance:
- Bake the croutons and keep them in an airtight container on the kitchen counter for up to 3 days.
- Make the Caesar dressing and store it in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Store the leftover Caesar salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The kale will hold up well, but the croutons will get soggy over time. If possible, store the croutons separately from the salad.
Erin’s wine pairings
- Vinho Verde
More recipes using kale
- More → 20+ BEST Kale Recipes
More salad recipes
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Full Recipe
Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad
Ingredients
- 2 bunches kale (tough stems removed and roughly chopped (or 1 16-oz bag chopped kale))
Caesar Dressing:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin )
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced or grated)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
For Topping:
- Homemade Croutons
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 cup grated parmesan. Whisk to combine.
- Add the 2 bunches kale and, using your hands, firmly massage the kale for 3-4 minutes, until tenderized slightly. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To the bowl of dressed kale, add the croutons and 1/4 cup grated parmesan . Toss gently to combine and serve.
Notes
-
Bake the croutons and keep them in an airtight container on the kitchen counter for up to 3 days.
-
Make the Caesar dressing and store it in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2015. It was updated in 2026 to add new information. The vegetarian kale caesar salad recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
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