If you enjoy the superfood salad from Chick-Fil-A, You’ll love this copycat version you can make at home. I’ve made a couple tweaks, like using broccoli florets instead of broccolini (simply because the florets are easier to source) and replacing the walnuts with sunflower seeds (just personal taste), but the spirit of the salad remains the same. A sweet and tangy Maple-Cider Vinaigrette gives this salad it’s signature flavor that will keep you coming back for more!
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
Salad
- Fresh broccoli florets – You can also use broccolini if you can find it.
- Kale – One of the keys I discovered to not hating kale was to massage it. Just put the clean kale in a big bowl and grab it with your hands and scrunch it up until it’s softens a little. This helps break down the toughness and helps it hold onto the dressing a little better.
- Dried tart cherries – If you can’t find dried cherries, Craisins will work as well.
- Salted, shelled sunflower seeds – The original salad uses walnuts, which you are welcome to add if desired. I personally prefer sunflower seeds. Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) are also delicious.
Dressing
- Apple cider vinegar
- Green onion
- Creole or mild course-grain mustard
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Real maple syrup
- Extra virgin olive oil
How to Make a Copycat Chick-Fil-A Superfood Salad
- Make the dressing: In the jar of your blender, combine apple cider vinegar, onion, mustard, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. Blend until smooth. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Set aside.
- Assemble the salad: Massage your clean kale in a large serving bowl to soften it a bit. Make sure your broccoli is broken into very small bite-sized pieces and toss those in. Then add some dried cherries or cranberries and some sunflower seeds.
- Drizzle about 3/4 of the dressing onto the salad. You can always add more dressing if desired, but this is a good place to start. Toss everything together and Refrigerate for up to 24 hours before serving.
Storing and Other Tips
- Store finished salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This salad is best if chilled for at least a few hours and up to 24 hours. You can certainly still enjoy it after that 24 hour mark, but the greens will begin to soften eventually.
- If you have leftover dressing, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4-5 days for best results.
- If you’d like to add a little extra flavor or protein, try crumbling a little feta or mild goat cheese over the salad right before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may be surprised by how delicious kale can be when marinated in a good dressing! I would recommend giving it a try. I have not tried replacing the kale in this recipe, but you could always try thick shredded cabbage if desired, as it holds up well to dressing in a similar way. You could always try another leafy green, such as spinach, arugula, collard greens, Swiss chard, or mustard greens. Just be aware that some of these will wilt quickly and should be eaten right away after dressing the salad.
Broccolini is a hybrid vegetable created by crossing Chinese kale and broccoli. This results in a more tender, milder floret. It can sometimes be hard to find and more expensive than regular broccoli, which is why I usually use broccoli in this recipe.
Copycat Chick Fil A Superfood Salad
Ingredients
Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup cider vinegar if you can, use something murky like Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 green onion trimmed about 1″ on top and the “hairy” root end on the bottom
- 1 teaspoon Creole or mild coarse grain mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- A few cracks of fresh black pepper
- ⅔ cup real maple syrup
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil I use our garlic olive oil
SALAD
- 4 cups broccoli broken into small pieces
- 8-10 cups about 8 ounces kale, massaged
- 6 ounces tart dry cherries or Craisins
- ⅓ cup salted shelled sunflower seeds
Instructions
Dressing
- In the jar of your blender, combine the vinegar, onion, mustard, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. Blend until smooth. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Set aside.
Salad
- In a very large bowl, combine the broccoli, kale, cherries, and sunflower seeds. Drizzle about 3/4 of the dressing onto the salad and toss to coat evenly. Add more dressing if desired. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Notes
- Nutrition information was calculated using 3/4 of the dressing.
- Store finished salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This salad is best if chilled for at least a few hours and up to 24 hours. You can certainly still enjoy it after that 24 hour mark, but the greens will begin to soften eventually.
- If you have leftover dressing, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4-5 days for best results.
- If you’d like to add a little extra flavor or protein, try crumbling a little feta or mild goat cheese over the salad right before serving.
Questions & Reviews
Hi there! I am a long time follower, but I don’t think I have ever commented before..until now. This salad is UNBELIEVABLE!!! I am eating it as we speak and I think I could eat the entire bowl! I have never had the original, and don’t think it could be any better than this! Delicious!!! Thank you soo much!!
Yaaaaay!!! I’m so impressed that you had everything to make it and so glad that you love it!!
I have the same thoughts on Kale… I have tried it cooked completely, cooked crisp, raw, with garlic, with other spices, in smoothies, etc. and I just cannot bring myself to like it… I almost always replace it with spinach. I really want to try the salad, but I cannot get past the kale!!!
I would try replacing it with spinach. 🙂
Do you mean you can refrigerate if you don’t eat it all, or you should refrigerate before eating it the first time?
Yes, just refrigerate any leftovers. 🙂
Yum! I’ve been wanting to try this salad! I’ll have to make it at home soon!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
The kale massage… you guys are my favorite. Thank you for the food and the morning giggles.
The way you feel about kale is how I feel about quinoa. I KNOW it’s some amazing food that is SO good for me…but I just hate it! I hate the texture. I’ve tried to like it but I just can’t.
Yay! I have been waiting for this. I love their salad but I think it’s a little pricey. The large isn’t very big.
that salad is so darn good…. I am getting some today! thank you for posting your version!!!!!
Thank you! I am really liking the Chick Fil A Super Salad too…and no I don’t like kale either…haha. Thank you for this recipe…I will be making this often and soon.
I hadn’t been a fan of kale either until I tried the chick-fil-a salad myself. Looking forward to massaging some kale for myself at home-thanks! 😉
Thank you!