Crispy Chicken Kale Salad (Printer Friendly)

Golden crispy chicken atop fresh kale with tangy maple-Dijon dressing. A vibrant, satisfying main dish ready in 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon paprika
07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
08 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Salad

10 - 8 cups fresh kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 0.5 red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 0.33 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, optional
14 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional

→ Maple-Dijon Dressing

15 - 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
16 - 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
17 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
18 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
19 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
20 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets of uniform thickness.
02 - Place flour in a shallow dish. In a second dish, beat the eggs. In a third dish, combine panko, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
03 - Dredge each chicken piece in flour, dip in beaten egg, then coat thoroughly in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Heat 0.5 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry breaded cutlets 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and rest 5 minutes. Slice into strips.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
06 - Place kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with half the dressing and massage kale for 1 to 2 minutes to soften leaves. Add tomatoes, red onion, nuts, and Parmesan if desired. Toss gently with remaining dressing.
07 - Top salad with crispy chicken strips and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Crispy chicken straight from the skillet makes this feel like a treat, not a duty.
  • Massaging the kale turns it tender and sweet, no more bitter, tough greens.
  • The maple-Dijon dressing is the kind of thing you'll start putting on everything.
  • It's hearty enough to be dinner but light enough that you won't need a nap after.
02 -
  • Don't skip massaging the kale, it's the difference between chewy and silky, and it only takes two minutes.
  • Let the chicken rest after frying or all the juices will run out the second you slice it.
  • If your oil isn't hot enough, the breading will soak up grease and turn soggy instead of crispy.
  • Taste your dressing before you pour it all over the salad, you might want more maple syrup or vinegar depending on your mood.
03 -
  • Use one hand for dry ingredients and one hand for wet so you don't end up with clumpy, breaded fingers halfway through.
  • If you don't have panko, pulse regular breadcrumbs in a food processor with a tablespoon of melted butter for a similar crunch.
  • Double the dressing recipe and keep the extra in a jar, it's incredible on roasted vegetables and grain bowls too.
  • For a lighter version, bake the breaded chicken at 425°F for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway, and it'll still come out golden and crispy.
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