Cubby's Copycat Kale and Wild Rice Salad

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Utah is home to one of my favorite restaurants–Cubby’s. If you’ve never been to Cubby’s, it is a restaurant that serves everything from burgers to sandwiches, to salad, to mac & cheese. I have several favorite menu items at Cubby’s. The kale salad and sweet potato fries together are a meal I could eat weekly and never get sick of. Sadly, since we no longer live in Utah, the Cubby’s visits are few and far between! That’s why this Cubby’s Copycat Kale and Wild Rice Salad is a regular in our meal rotation. Even if you do live within driving distance of Cubby’s, $14 per salad adds up quickly. You can save yourself money by making your own salad at home– not to mention you will likely have leftovers to enjoy for several days.

This recipe has a base of shredded kale mixed with wild or brown rice and topped with chopped chicken breast, dried cranberries, crisp apples, creamy avocado, and roasted almonds. All of these ingredients are then tossed in a smooth cilantro balsamic dressing. If kale isn’t typically your BFF, the way the kale is prepared in this salad makes all the difference. Trust me and give it a try!

What ingredients do you need?

Chopped Chicken Breast

The chopped chicken breast gives this salad an added boost of protein. You can use any method you like for cooking the chicken breast. My preference for this salad is grilled chicken. Rotisserie chicken is also an option if you’re looking for a quick option.

You could also bake the chicken. For this method, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Take the chicken breasts and cut them in half or “butterfly” them, so they are half the thickness when you bake them. Add the chicken to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil on top and sprinkle with salt and lemon pepper. Bake these in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Set the chicken aside and let it cool. Once the chicken is cool, dice it into small pieces.

Kale

As I mentioned earlier, the preparation of kale in this recipe is everything! Kale is a tricky vegetable; it can either be your worst nightmare or best friend, depending on how it’s prepared. It may sound strange, but the trick is to massage the kale by applying force to the leaves with your hands, breaking down the leaves. Massaging kale can help to break down the tough fibers in the leaves, making it more tender and easier to chew. Additionally, massaging kale can help to release some of the bitter compounds in the leaves, making the kale taste sweeter. This is why it is often recommended to massage kale before using it in a salad or other dish.

Almonds

For this recipe, you will want to use roasted slivered or sliced almonds. The almonds add a crunch to the salad. You can also toast your own almonds in a nonstick pan on the stove. 

Dried Cranberries

Dried cranberries provide sweetness and a chewy texture to the salad. Cranberries can be quite bitter if they aren’t sweetened– which is why most restaurants use sweetened and dried cranberries.

Apple

For this recipe, I prefer to use a honeycrisp or pink lady apple because they tend to be crisper and more tart. Avoid red delicious or granny smith apples for this recipe.

Avocado

Prepare the avocado by removing the pit and skin and dicing it into small bite-size pieces.

Wild or Brown Rice

Cubby’s uses wild rice in their salad, and I also prefer wild rice. However, it can be more difficult to find wild rice. If you are looking for a shortcut, you can purchase precooked and frozen brown rice from the frozen section. 

Lime

A fresh squeeze of lime is the last addition to this salad and is essential!

The Dressing Ingredients

• Lemon juice
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil
• Cilantro
• Dijon mustard
• Pure maple syrup or honey
• Salt

What equipment do you need?

For this recipe, you will need:

• A large mixing or salad bowl
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Blender or immersion blender

How is it done?

For the salad:

Rinse and dry the kale and remove the stem so that only the leafy part remains. Using your hands, “massage” the kale by applying pressure to the leaves to break up the texture and make the kale less fibrous. Next, using a sharp knife and a cutting board, cut the kale until you have small shreds or pieces.

Next, add the kale to a large mixing bowl. Add the almonds, dried cranberries, diced apple, diced avocado, brown rice, and diced chicken. Mix the ingredients until well combined.

For the dressing:

Prepare the dressing next. Add all of the ingredients to a blender or a bowl. If using a blender, pulse the mixture until well combined. If you’re using a bowl, use an immersion blender to blend the ingredients until smooth.

At this point, the salad is ready to serve. Add the dressing to the individual servings to prevent the salad from getting soggy if you plan to have leftovers. Squeeze fresh lime over the salad when serving as well.

Anything else to consider?

If you plan to have leftovers from this salad, I would recommend adding the dressing to each individual serving to prevent the salad from getting soggy.

Is it GF/DF?

Yes, this recipe is gluten and dairy-free! It can also be made vegan/vegetarian simply by excluding the chicken from the recipe. As always, ensure that each individual ingredient meets your dietary restrictions.

If you make this kale and wild rice salad, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!

The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Cubby’s Copycat Kale Salad (without dressing)" and the dressing can be found by searching "BWB Balsamic Cilantro Dressing".

The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.