Citrus Kale Salad With Baked Chicken recipe – this sweet kale salad is bursting with orange, lemon, kale, sunflower seeds, craisins, and baked chicken flavor!

picture of sliced chicken breast over kale salad in a bowl

This citrus kale salad is fresh, bright, and bursting with flavor – full of crunchy sunflower seeds, sweet and tart dried cranberries, shaved brussels sprouts, broccoli slaw, baked chicken, and a knockout citrus poppyseed vinaigrette dressing.

This salad is one of my favorites of all time – and if we’re being honest, I’m not even a big fan of kale!

It is crunchy, sweet, tangy, and delicious – and it even tastes better if you make it about an hour or two ahead of serving – so it is a knockout recipe for picnics, cookouts, BBQs, and anytime you need a hearty and healthy salad that is perfectly portable!

Take Me To The Citrus Kale Salad With Baked Chicken Recipe Already

I have readers with all levels of comfort in the kitchen – and often get lots of questions on recipes.

I try to provide as much information as possible into my recipes after reader requests – if you’d prefer to get straight to this delicious citrus kale chicken salad, please scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find the easy printable recipe.

Easy Baked Chicken For Salad

If you’re looking for the perfect baked chicken for salads, this recipe is the best!

Baked chicken is my favorite salad topping – it is crazy easy to make in under 20 minutes, and is filling with lots of protein – but doesn’t drag down your calorie counts.

This is a super-simple baked chicken recipe that I use over and over for tons of dishes.

The adobo seasoning is the perfect way to add flavor without adding a tons of work for yourself – or empty calories!

Easy Baked Chicken For Salad Recipe

2 medium sized chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp adobo seasoning

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Generously coat chicken in olive oil and adobo seasoning.
Wrap in a foil pouch and bake until digital thermometer comes to 170 degrees internally.
Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes (chicken will continue to cook to 175 degrees in the foil pouch) before chopping into 2″ chunks.

The Best Chicken for Salads

If you’d prefer to go with another easy chicken recipe, I am rounding up some of my favorites for salads – especially my easy boiled chicken recipe.

This shredded boiled chicken is a total knockout for salads, enchiladas, tacos, and more – so you can make a big batch and get a ton of recipes out of one cooking session!

The Best Chicken Recipes for Salads

Name: Citrus Kale Salad with Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: For the Chicken (optional - can also use 2 pre-cooked chicken breasts, or 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken):; 2 medium sized chicken breasts; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp adobo seasoning; For the Salad:; 4 cups firmly packed shredded kale, finely chopped; 2 cups broccoli slaw; 2 cups finely shredded Brussels sprouts; 1/2 cup dried cranberries; 1/4 cup sunflower seeds; For the dressing:; 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice; 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice; 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice; 3 T. honey; 1/4 tsp. kosher salt; 1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

The best recipes for chicken salads - baked, grilled, or stir fried chicken breasts, chicken thighs, shredded chicken, and more - perfect for salads!

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The Best Easy Lemon Chicken Recipe

The Best Easy Lemon Chicken Recipe - the absolute best quick and easy lemon chicken recipe with simple ingredients and TONS of lemon chicken flavor! Recipe can be made with chicken thighs or chicken breasts, and is naturally low carb and keto diet compliant.

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The Best Boiled Chicken Recipe Ever

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Easy Whole Roasted Montreal Chicken

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Easy Poppyseed Citrus Vinaigrette Recipe

This dressing can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one week.

To store longer or make in bulk to freeze, I like to pour this dressing into ice cube trays, then let them defrost when I need it – go ahead and whip up a big batch of this dressing!

This citrus poppyseed dressing is fabulous on chicken, fish, steak, vegetables, pasta, rice, and in cous cous – and as a fabulously fresh marinade. The sky is the limit!

Chicken and Fruit Salad with Citrus Poppyseed Dressing

This dressing is also a knockout in my Chicken and Fruit Salad Recipe – be sure to check out all the fresh summer flavor in it here!

CITRUS POPPYSEED DRESSING RECIPE

1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 T. honey
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

In a small bowl, whisk ingredients together until well combined.

I personally love to make a big batch of this dressing and put it in an easy to use container for later in the week – find my favorite in my amazon must-haves list here!

Other Easy Salad Recipes You’ll Love:

If you love this easy and delicious citrus kale salad with chicken, be sure to check out some of my other favorite easy salads!

These recipes are all simple and easy – many of them keto or low carb – and all designed to fill you up without packing on empty calories!

Some dishes, like a stunning fig and chevre salad, a to die for spicy beef Thai salad, and a hearty low carb taco salad are my favorites!

You can also visit my salad recipe archives here.

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Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad Recipe is a light, delicious, and refreshing meal full of spicy sweet Thai shrimp flavors! Great for picnics, parties, or a busy lunch or weeknight – for a delicious spicy sweet low calorie salad that is bursting with delicious Thai shrimp salad flavor!

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Fig and Honey Fruit Salad

Sweet, salty, and delicious- this fig, chevre, pine nut, and honey fruit salad is a beautiful balance of fresh flavors and perfect for breakfast!

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Citrus Kale Salad With Baked Chicken Recipe

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Citrus Kale Salad with Chicken Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Citrus Kale Salad With Baked Chicken recipe - the most delicious citrus kale salad, bursting with orange, lemon, kale, sunflower seeds, craisins, and baked chicken flavor for a healthy, hearty salad the whole family will love!

Ingredients

For the Chicken (optional - can also use 2 pre-cooked chicken breasts, or 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken):
2 medium sized chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp adobo seasoning
For the Salad:
4 cups firmly packed shredded kale, finely chopped
2 cups broccoli slaw
2 cups finely shredded Brussels sprouts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
For the dressing:
1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 T. honey
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

Instructions

For the chicken:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Generously coat chicken in olive oil and adobo seasoning.
Wrap in a foil pouch and bake until digital thermometer comes to 170 degrees internally.
Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes (chicken will continue to cook to 175 degrees in the foil pouch) before chopping into 2" chunks.

For the dressing:

In a small bowl, whisk ingredients together until well combined.

For the salad:

Mix salad ingredients and toss gently to mix well.

As you're tossing, drizzle with dressing, and add in chicken.

Serve immediately.

Citrus Kale Salad With Baked Chicken Recipe