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This grilled kale salad is paired with avocado, lemon, garlic, toasted pecans, and parmesan. Grilling kale makes it SO flavourful and a little crispy – it’s one of my favourite salad recipes to date!

overhead shot white serving plate with grilled kale salad topped with avocado, pecans, parmesan, lemons

So I know I’ve said in the past that massaged kale salads are the BEST way to enjoy kale. Well, I wasn’t wrong, but I clearly had never tried GRILLING kale before.

Let’s just say…the two cooking methods are now tied for the best way to eat kale haha.

Anyway – if you haven’t tried grilling kale before, you are in for a serious treat! The kale gets so flavourful and a little crispy – it’s like raw kale, sautéed kale, and kale chips all in one.

This kale salad recipe is paired with super simple toppings like grilled avocado and lemon, garlic powder, toasted pecans, and some freshly grated parmesan. It’s just 9 ingredients, but it tastes SO good. I can’t wait for you to try it!

Let’s get cooking.

white serving plate with grilled kale salad topped with avocado, pecans, parmesan, lemons

Ingredients Needed

All you need to make this grilled kale salad are 9 simple, healthy ingredients (many of which you likely have already!):

How To Grill Kale

Grilling kale is incredibly easy and SO worth the extra little bit of effort! The flavour of it is just incredible.

Start by washing kale leaves and drying them well with a towel. Slice off any large stems that don’t have any leaves on them.

Place kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and gently toss them with olive oil and salt. I just mix things up with my hands. It’s a little messy, but no need to be perfect here!

Next, place the kale leaves in a single layer on your grill (heated to medium). Grill them for 1-2 minutes each side, depending on your grill and the size of the leaves.

You want them to be charred, but not burnt to a crisp. Work in batches if you need to.

Remove kale leaves from the grill and set aside to cool for a few minutes (during this time you can toast the pecans for this recipe).

Once cool enough to touch, tear kale leaves off of stems into smaller pieces. Add the rest of the salad ingredients, toss, and enjoy!

white plate with grilled kale, avocado, and lemon

Storage Notes

Leftovers of this grilled kale salad will keep for 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

The best thing about kale is that it doesn’t go soggy. That said, I doubt leftovers of this salad will last that long 😉

Note – if you’re intentionally planning to eat this salad at a later date, I would advise NOT grilling the avocado with the kale and keeping the toasted pecans separate. Instead, add slices of fresh avocado and toasted pecans right before eating!

wood cutting board with salad ingredients

What To Serve With Grilled Kale Salad

While you can definitely enjoy this grilled kale salad on it’s own, I would highly recommend pairing it with your favourite protein!

It would taste great with a simple baked salmon or chicken. Or, you can throw a hard-boiled egg or some roasted chickpeas on there too.

Here are some more easy protein ideas to pair it with:

close up white serving plate with grilled kale salad topped with avocado, pecans, parmesan, lemons

Recipe Modifications

To make this recipe vegan or dairy-free, simply swap the parmesan for a vegan alternative OR sprinkle some nutritional yeast over top for the same cheesy effect!

For a nut-free version, omit the toasted pecans. You can add some extra crunch with some hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds instead.

This recipe is naturally gluten-free.

white bowl with grilled kale salad topped with avocado, pecans, parmesan, lemon

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Kale

I probably don’t have to tell you that kale is healthy, but let me show you why!

Just one cup of kale provides over 100% of your daily needs for:

  • vitamin A (206%)
  • vitamin K (684%)
  • vitamin C (134%)

Kale is also a good source of other micronutrients like:

  • manganese
  • magnesium
  • potassium
  • calcium
  • copper
  • vitamin B6

That same cup provides 2 grams of dietary fibre, helping to keep your gut and heart happy.

In addition to micronutrients, kale is also loaded with antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage and provide a multitude of health benefits. Kale is truly a superfood!

white serving plate with grilled kale salad topped with avocado, pecans, parmesan, lemons

More Delicious Kale Recipes

Did you give this Grilled Kale Salad Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!

If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Kale Salad With Avocado, Lemon & Parmesan

This healthy grilled kale salad is paired with avocado, lemon, garlic, pecans, and parmesan. It's one of the best ways to eat kale!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
overhead shot white serving plate with grilled kale salad topped with avocado, pecans, parmesan, lemons
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5 from 8 votes
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat grill to medium.
  • Wash kale leaves and pat dry with a towel. Slice avocado and lemon in half.
  • In a large bowl, toss kale leaves with about 2 Tbsp of olive oil (enough to coat) and salt (as desired).
  • Place avocado and lemon face-down on the grill and leave them there while you add the kale. Grill pieces of kale 1-2 minutes each side, keeping an eye on them to avoid burning. You want them slightly soft and browned (a little crisp is totally ok/recommended)! Work in batches as needed.
  • Remove kale, avocado, and lemon from grill and set aside on a plate. Let cool.
  • Meanwhile, heat pan on the stove over medium. Toast pecans for about 5 minutes (stirring frequently), or until they are lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Once kale is cool to touch, tear leaves off of hard stems. Add smaller pieces of kale leaves to a serving platter or bowl. Slice avocado and add to salad, along with 1/4 cup olive oil, toasted pecans, freshly grated parmesan, garlic powder, and extra salt + pepper (as desired). Squeeze lemon juice over top, toss well, and enjoy!

Notes

*Leftovers of this grilled kale salad will keep for 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. The best thing about kale is that it doesn’t go soggy. That said, I doubt leftovers of this salad will last that long 😉
*Note – if you’re intentionally planning to eat this salad at a later date, I would advise NOT grilling the avocado with the kale and keeping the toasted pecans separate. Instead, add slices of fresh avocado and toasted pecans right before eating!
*To make this recipe vegan or dairy-free, simply swap the parmesan for a vegan alternative OR sprinkle some nutritional yeast over top for the same cheesy effect.
*Serve this salad with your favourite protein (e.g. baked salmon, chicken, hard-boiled egg, or crispy chickpeas) to make it a complete meal!

Nutrition

As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.

Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Keyword: avocado, garlic, kale, lemon, olive oil, pecans
Author: Carrie Walder

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Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!

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