Name: Kale Cranberry Salad from the Pot
Yield: 6

Kale Cranberry Salad with kale, broccoli slaw, tart cranberries, and sweet maple pecans. Toss with a tangy-sweet honey-mustard dressing.

Overhead image of the Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad

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 straightforward. 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 from-scratch 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!

Ingredient shot-- image of all the ingredients used in this recipe

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.

Process shots of Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad-- images of the dressing being mixed together and a little dressing being mixed with the kale

How To Make Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad (Tips)

Emulsify dressing: Shake or whisk hard until smooth. If honey settles, shake again.
Marinate kale (skippable): 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.

Process shots-- images of the broccoli slaw, nut mix, cranberries, and dressing all being tossed together

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.