We're inching towards fall, and you know what that means — a warm kale salad recipe like this Warm Kale, Apple, and Sweet Potato Salad!

If you've been a longtime fan of Do You Even Paleo, you know that wilted kale salads are among my favorite. Starting two years ago with a Warm Winter Kale and Delicata Squash Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, I've created a handful of warm kale salad recipes since. And I'm happy to add to the collection this winter season!

Warm Kale, Chicken, Apple, and Sweet Potato Salad on a white plate with a wooden spoon and dark linens by DoYouEvenPaleo.net

We slowly slipped into autumn a few days ago. I didn't even realize it was the autumn equinox — I was photographing a wedding all day, so I was understandably preoccupied!

Right on cue, though, the weather turned chilly. Suddenly, I have to wear slippers around the apartment to keep my toes warm. Anyone else have ice-cold toes while the rest of you is toasty?

So, now that it's fall, let's get to this salad.

Oooh, gosh, what a salad. We start with wilted kale, then add roasted sweet potatoes, pan-fried chicken breast, chopped granny smith apples, carrot ribbons, and slivered almonds.

Warm Kale Apple Sweet Potato Salad Recipe by DoYouEvenPaleo.net

Loaded, right? But this kale, apple, sweet potato salad gets even better, because then you'll slather the whole thing in a creamy sunbutter dressing to really bring home that warm fall flavor.

Unlike my previous fall harvest salads, this one includes chicken to round it out as a full meal. With the amount of prep that goes into these roasted salads, it just makes sense to throw in some protein to make it an easy, nourishing meal.

More Warm Salad Recipes

Paleo Warm Kale, Chicken, Apple, and Sweet Potato Salad on a white plate with a hand pouring dressing onto the salad. Background shows a wooden spoon and dark linens by DoYouEvenPaleo.net

📖 Recipe

Warm Kale, Apple, and Sweet Potato Salad

5 from 4 reviews

Author: Chelsea at Do You Even Paleo
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings 1x
Category: Entree
Method: Roasted
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

This hearty kale, apple, and sweet potato salad is perfect for lunch or dinner on chilly autumn days! It does require a bit of work, but you can prep the kale, sweet potatoes, and dressing in advance to make this salad a cinch to make before eating. Serve this salad warm — you won't regret it!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Salad:

2 cups cubed sweet potato
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
4 cups kale, roughly chopped
1 carrot, ribboned
1 large chicken breast
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 ½ cups chopped granny smith apples (1-2 apples)
3 tablespoons slivered almonds

For the Dressing:

¼ cup sunflower seed butter
2 tablespoons coconut aminos or tamari
½ teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon coconut milk
(optional) ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss the cubed sweet potato with 1 tablespoon olive oil and arrange in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until sweet potato is tender and browned at the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before transferring to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, prepare kale for the oven. In a large bowl, massage kale with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Transfer to the baking sheet used to bake the sweet potato. Bake for about 10 minutes or until wilted and crisped at the edges. Transfer to the same bowl as the sweet potato.
Use a vegetable peeler to ribbon the carrot by “peeling” the carrot lengthwise down the carrot until you can no longer peel anymore. Add the carrot ribbons to the bowl along with the chopped apples.
Preheat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pound the chicken breast to uniform thickness and season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken breast to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes on each side before transferring to a plate or cutting board to rest. Once the chicken breast has rested for 2-3 minutes, slice thinly.
To make the dressing, combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add additional coconut milk, as necessary, to thin out the dressing to your liking.
Toss the kale, sweet potato, carrot ribbons, and apples together. Split the mixture between two plates or bowls. Place half the chicken on each salad, then sprinkle with slivered almonds. Drizzle half the dressing on to each salad, and eat immediately.

Keywords: Warm Kale Apple Sweet Potato Salad