Kale Apple Slaw with Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing

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

Kale apple slaw with honey mustard dressing in a bowl with apple slices fanned on top.

My family 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 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 to enjoy a fake-out, take-out dinner without having to drive anywhere!

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Ingredients
How to Make Kale Apple Slaw
Serving Ideas
Frequently Asked Questions
📋 Recipe

Ingredients

Find details and substitutions for the ingredients of this kale and apple slaw and the creamy honey mustard dressing below:

Brown bowl filled with chopped kale topped with diced carrots on one side and diced apple on the other side.

Of special note:

Kale - We used curly kale because it presents so well in this recipe. Young and tender leaves, such as baby kale will always work. If you opt for a heartier variety of kale, such lacinato, consider massaging the leaves first as we do in our massaged kale salad recipe.
Apple - We used sweet Ambrosia apples, which tend to stay crisp and not brown quickly after dicing. However, any apple will work, including tart green apples. Commonly found sweet apples include Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious.
Carrots - Slice thin or use shredded carrots.

Honey Mustard Dressing

Mayonnaise - Use any type that you have in the refrigerator. A salad oil, such as canola oil, avocado oil, or a mild-tasting olive oil, may be substituted for the mayonnaise to create a less creamy, yet still very tasty, dressing.
Honey - Use agave nectar for a vegan version.
Dijon mustard - Don't use yellow mustard!
Apple cider vinegar - This ingredient helps thin the dressing, while also softening the kale leaves.
Celery seed - This spice adds a traditional coleslaw flavor profile to the dressing.

Love honey mustard? The dressing for this kale apple coleslaw recipe starts with the popular honey mustard sauce used in our copycat alice springs chicken recipe.

Please refer to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.

How to Make Kale Apple Slaw

The pictures and tips below will guide you in making this easy salad:

Chopped kale in a bowl with scissors snipping.

Step 1

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.

Chopped apple in a bowl and diced carrot in a bowl.

Step 2

Dice the apples and carrots into small pieces as well. Or, julienne them for a different look altogether.

Yellow bowl with unmixed honey mustard ingredients and a whisk.

Step 3

Whisk the honey mustard dressing ingredients (mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and celery seed) together or add them to a small jar with a lid and shake to combine.

Step 4

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

Variations: Top with slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, or dried apple chips.

Two salad bowls with kale and apple slaw with a larger bowl of it behind.

Serving Ideas

Tropical Smoothie kale apple slaw is incredibly versatile. We enjoy it with our blackened cod recipe and make fish tacos. It's also a fantastic side dish at a cookout, especially paired with pork tenderloin with red wine marinade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make kale apple slaw ahead of time?

Yes, kale apple slaw can be made ahead of time, which makes it perfect for meal prep or parties. For the best results, prepare the dressing, and chop the kale, carrots, and apples in advance, then store them separately. Mix in the dressing right before serving.

How do you prevent the apples in kale apple slaw from turning brown?

The best way to keep apples from turning brown in kale apple slaw is to coat them with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar used to make the dressing. It will not detract from the final dish. The acidity slows oxidation so the diced apple stays fresh, crisp, and bright.

Do I need to massage the kale before making slaw?

Yes, massaging the kale can make the leaves more tender. Rubbing the leaves with a little olive oil or lemon juice softens them and reduces bitterness. If you’re using baby kale, you can skip this step since it’s already tender and ready to use.

How do you store leftover kale apple salad?

Kale apple salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, if it is made with a hearty variety of kale, it will hold up pretty well until the next day. Store it in an airtight container.

Small red bowl is Tropical Smoothie kale apple slaw with a larger bowl of the salad behind it.

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📋 Recipe

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

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings: servings

Author: Marjory Pilley

Ingredients

Honey Mustard Dressing

▢ 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
▢ 1 Tablespoon honey or agave nectar for a vegan version
▢ 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. See notes below on the optional step of massaging kale.
▢ 2 apples diced; We used a sweet Ambrosia apple, but any type will work. See notes below to prevent browning.
▢ 2 cups carrots sliced or shredded

Instructions

Honey Mustard Dressing

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

Salad

Toss prepared kale, apples, carrots, and honey mustard dressing in a large serving bowl.

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Notes

See step-by-step pictures above.

Make ahead: Kale apple slaw can be made ahead of time. For the best results, prepare the dressing, and chop the kale, carrots, and apples in advance, then store them separately. Mix in the dressing right before serving.

Storage: Kale apple salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, if it is made with a hearty variety of kale, it will hold up pretty well until the next day. Store it in an airtight container.

Browning Apples: The best way to keep apples from turning brown in kale apple slaw is to coat them with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar used to make the dressing. It will not detract from the final dish. The acidity slows oxidation so the diced apple stays fresh, crisp, and bright.

Massaging Kale: Massaging the kale with a little olive oil or lemon juice helps soften the leaves and take away any bitterness. If you’re using baby kale, you can skip this step since it’s naturally more tender.

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Nutrition

Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

The recipe was originally posted on December 27, 2018 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.

Ingredients