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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Kale Apple Slaw with Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing

    UPDATED May 12, 2020 · PUBLISHED Nov 27, 2018 BY Marjory Pilley · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Easy Kale Apple Slaw Pin

    Easy Kale Apple Slaw with creamy honey mustard dressing will become your new obsession. It takes minutes to make this copycat of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's tasty salad.

    Kale apple slaw in bowl with apples in the background

    We loved the tangy, fresh taste of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Kale and Apple Salad so much that we created a copycat version. Now, we too can serve it alongside our favorite sandwich...or even inside a sandwich...anytime we want!

    The flavor is amazing and addictive and uses just a few simple ingredients that I almost always have on hand.

    To round out the meal, we whip up a Simple Strawberry Smoothie with Yogurt (another copycat from the same place) and sit back enjoy a fake-out, take-out dinner without driving anywhere!

    How to Prep Kale

    Kale takes center stage in this Kale Apple Slaw! Young and tender leaves are best, such as baby kale. We used curly kale because it presents so well in this recipe and doesn't require tenderizing first either. See Massaged Kale Salad - The Secret to Tender Leaves if you happen to use a heartier variety of kale or want to take the extra step to marinate the leaves.

    To prepare the kale, remove and discard woody stems and then chop or tear the leaves as small as you possibly can to achieve a slaw-like appearance.

    Tip: Use kitchen shears to quickly "snip" torn kale leaves into even smaller pieces. Simply place the torn kale into a bowl and then snip away.

    Kale being chopped with scissors

    Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing

    The dressing for Kale Apple Slaw starts with the Honey Mustard Sauce used in our Alice Springs Chicken Recipe. The ingredients in the dressing are:

    • Mayonnaise - any type that you have in the refrigerator or see notes on substituting below.
    • Honey - use agave nectar for a vegan version
    • Dijon mustard - not yellow mustard
    • Apple cider vinegar - to thin the dressing plus it helps soften the kale leaves.
    • Celery seed - gives the dressing a coleslaw twist.

    Whisk all the ingredients together or add them to a small jar with a lid and shake to combine.

    Note: A salad oil, like Canola oil or a mild tasting olive oil, may be substituted for the mayonnaise for a less creamy, but still very tasty, dressing.

    Easy Kale Apple Slaw mounded in bowl with apples next to it

    Putting it together

    In addition to kale and salad dressing, you'll need to prep apples and carrots for this salad.

    Note: Any type of apple will work, including green. We used a sweet Ambrosia apple. (We are big fans of this apple which really has staying power and doesn't quickly brown in dishes like this.)

    For a consistent appearance, dice the apples and carrots into small pieces too! Or, julienne them for a different look altogether.

    To assemble the salad, just toss all of the ingredients in a large bowl and it's ready to serve.

    Variations: Top with slivered almonds, use dried cranberries or raisins instead of apples.

    Kale Apple Slaw in bowl with apples fanned on top

    To make this recipe ahead of time, prepare kale, carrots, and dressing and store separately until ready to enjoy.

    Some types of apples can be prepped and stored overnight as well. If you're not sure that the apples will keep, lightly toss them in a lemon juice. It will not detract from the final dish.

    Kale and Apple Salad in small bowl with large bowl behind it

    Since kale is naturally hearty, it will hold up well if you have leftovers! Add it to fish tacos or top Carolina Style Burgers like these by Sugar Dish Me the next day!

    Please rate this recipe and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see what you are cooking up!

    Kale Apple Slaw in bowl with apples fanned on top

    Kale Apple Slaw with Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing

    Easy Kale Apple Slaw like you find at Tropical Smoothie Cafe takes minutes to make and you never have to leave the house! 
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 141kcal
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    Honey Mustard Dressing

    • 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 1 Tablespoon honey
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon celery seed

    Salad

    • 6 cups curly kale about 2 bunches; stems removed; leaves chopped or torn into small pieces
    • 2 apples diced
    • 2 cups carrots sliced

    Instructions

    Honey Mustard Dressing

    • Combine dressing ingredients in a small jar with a lid. Shake to thoroughly combine.

    Salad

    • Toss kale, apples, carrots and honey mustard dressing in a large serving bowl. 
    • Sprinkle almonds over the top of the salad.
    Grab 5 Low-Carb Saucesand get more easy, healthy recipes! JOIN HERE

    Nutrition

    Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 530mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 13855IU | Vitamin C: 85.7mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

    More Salad Recipes

    • Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe
    • Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad with Chicken
    • Sweet Red Wine Vinegar Dressing - Easy Recipe!
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Salad
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Britni

      November 27, 2018 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      I love this dressing recipe!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        November 27, 2018 at 11:05 am

        I'm so glad you like it! Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    2. Renee Goerger

      November 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      This is a perfect winter salad! The dressing is the perfect compliment for the hearty kale!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        November 27, 2018 at 11:04 am

        Thanks for commenting. I a bit obsessed with this combo right now!

        Reply
    3. Sarah

      January 26, 2019 at 12:52 pm

      Tried this for the first time today but since we try not to add any type of sugar to recipes, I substituted 1/2 apple to it in the Vitamix then juiced the rest of the apple and added to thin it out.

      Reply
      • Marjory

        January 27, 2019 at 9:05 am

        Great idea! Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
    4. Marlene Gunderson

      April 17, 2019 at 11:12 am

      Haven't made this yet. Excited to make it. Was wondering if the Tropical Cafe's slaw has horseradish in the dressing?

      Reply
      • Marjory

        April 17, 2019 at 3:38 pm

        Unfortunately I don't have their recipe! Love to know what you think!

        Reply
    5. Jenny

      May 23, 2019 at 5:00 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! I substituted white wine vinegar for the apple cider vinegar (because I'm a big dummy and forgot to buy some last time I shopped) and even with the substitution, it was amazing! Thank you so much for posting the recipe. I'm sure it'll be a part of our regular rotation.

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        May 25, 2019 at 8:23 am

        Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and glad that substitution worked!

        Reply
    6. Sue

      August 31, 2019 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      This Kale Apple Slaw recipe is fantastic!! We even like it better than the one from TS. It's truly on a weekly rotation in our home. I double the dressing recipe so we have some left over. Try putting leftover rotisserie chicken on top - yummy!

      Thank you for publishing this gem 🙂

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        August 31, 2019 at 6:17 pm

        Thanks for your feedback! I LOVE the idea for the dressing...will be trying that right away.

        Reply
    7. Gief

      December 23, 2019 at 6:21 pm

      5 stars
      Everyone loved this, even those who don't like kale. I used pecans instead of almonds and 3 teaspoons of mustard.

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        December 24, 2019 at 7:32 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    8. gme mom

      February 01, 2020 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make! I added shrimp! Delicious!

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        February 02, 2020 at 8:35 am

        Love the addition! Thanks for your comment!

        Reply
    9. April

      April 26, 2020 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      Tastes just like the one at tropicak smoothie

      Reply
    10. Grace

      October 18, 2020 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      Sooo good! We swapped the Mayo for olive oil and Greek yogurt- but it was still amazing! So healthy!

      Reply
    11. Mar'ti Thomas

      April 16, 2022 at 10:51 pm

      5 stars
      We all loved it! Thank you!

      Reply
    12. Dianne Murray

      April 30, 2022 at 4:07 pm

      Love the TS kale/apple slaw. Two questions: 1.Do I detect a spice that gives a little bit of heat or a kick of flavor to the dressing?
      2. Does your recipe also have this flavor?

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        May 01, 2022 at 9:03 am

        Hi! Dijon mustard gives it a bit of a kick!

        Reply
    13. Mandy

      June 05, 2022 at 5:03 pm

      It doesn’t seem to make very much dressing, only about 1/4 C. Is that enough for the salad or should I be doubling or tripling the dressing recipe? I’m excited to try it!

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        June 06, 2022 at 7:50 am

        There should be enough dressing to cover the greens, but it's definitely not super wet. You can definitely double it if you think you might like a little extra. It's very tasty so I don't think you'll have a problem using it on something!!! Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    14. Holly

      July 24, 2022 at 10:39 am

      Is it real mayo or do I buy mayonnaise

      Reply
      • Marjory Pilley

        July 25, 2022 at 7:33 am

        Hi! One of the ingredients is mayonnaise. Use any type!

        Reply
    15. Lillian

      January 08, 2023 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for providing this recipe!

      Reply

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