Kirbie's Cravings

Kale Caesar Salad with Marzetti

photo of a kale Kale Caesar SaladThis post is sponsored and written in partnership with Marzetti® Simply Dressed® and BlogHer.

I am so excited about the Marzetti® Simply Dressed® Caesar Dressing! It allows me to easily make a Kale Caesar Salad without having to make the Caesar dressing from scratch.

This was such a hit in our house that we’ve already had it three times in one week! It’s usually hard to get Mr. K to eat his vegetables, but he polished off a big bowl at lunch and requested more so I made it for lunch and dinner again.

photo of two bottles of salad dressing

close-up photo of fresh kale

Leafy kale greens, crunchy croutons, creamy Caesar and a sprinkle of Parmesan are all you need.

I’m always trying to make sure we eat enough vegetables with every meal I cook. For dinner, I paired the salad with some grilled salmon which I also brushed with Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate vinaigrette. I was drawn to its pinkish purple color. It added a tangy sweetness to the salmon. I plan on using it for a salad soon too. I imagine it would be great for a mixed greens salad with some pomegranate seeds and walnuts.

photo of a plate with salad and salmon

Caesar dressing is a difficult flavor to tackle in my opinion because it’s made up of so many ingredients like Parmesan garlic, anchovies, and more. I adore Caesar dressing but rarely make it at home because it does require so many ingredients. I also don’t often buy it at grocery stores because I have difficulty finding one that captures all the flavors. I thought Marzetti Simply Dressed version did a good job, with its garlicky, peppery, cheesy, tangy, and salty-briny notes. It was also creamy but not overly thick.

close-up photo of a Kale Caesar Salad

When I buy salad dressings, I prefer to buy the refrigerated ones as they should use fresher ingredients. Marzetti Simply Dressed refrigerated salad dressings are made with a minimal number of simple ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil (contains Omega-3 ALA) and sea salt. They contain no preservatives, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, added MSG, artificial flavors or colors. You can learn more about Marzetti Simply Dressed here. The bottles have a suggested retail price of $3.79 – $4.49 per 12-ounce bottle and can be found in the refrigerated section of the produce department. I purchased mine at Ralph’s while they were on sale for 2 for $6.

photo of salmon and salad on a plate

Kale Caesar Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
This salad is so easy to make with high-quality store-bought Caesar dressing. It’s a great dinner side dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale washed, and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 8 tbsp Marzetti® Simply Dressed® Caesar salad dressing
  • 4 heaping tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese

For the croutons

  • 4 thin slices day-old French bread sliced into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • First, make the croutons. Brush croutons with olive oil and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Bake at 400°F in toaster oven or regular oven for about 10-15 minutes until cubes are golden and completely crunchy.
  • Add kale, dressing and Parmesan to a large bowl. Toss until dressing is completely mixed in and evenly coating kale. Add in croutons and sprinkle additional cheese if desired.

The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Mention @KirbieCravings and tag #kirbiecravings!

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Recipe Rating




242 comments on “Kale Caesar Salad with Marzetti”

  1. I have a grilled chicken I make marinated in Caesar dressing. This sounds like the perfect dressing to try with it!

    Thanks!

    kcgmorris at gmail dot com

  2. I would make my family a Ginger Sesame Shrimp and Tropical Fruits Salad using the Simply Dressed® Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing.

  3. I’ll use Marzetti Simply Dressed with grilled chicken and packaged salad mix to prepare a quick and healthy meal.

  4. I would use the Simply Dressed Greek Feta Salad Dressing with a big family sized greek salad

  5. I will put this on mixed green and veggie salad

  6. I use the Blue Cheese Dressing now on my tossed green salads. We love the taste.

  7. I would use it on Caesar Salad to go with dinner.

  8. I’d like to use the strawberry poppyseed dressing to jazz up my Asian salad.

  9. I would add some to some egg noodles and diced chicken

  10. I tweeted here:  https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/582908326817718272 

  11. I would make a simple salad of butter lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and their Balsamic Salad Dressing.  Yummy!!  

  12. I would use ranch on gyros

  13. I would drizzle it on my tuna salads.

  14. My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/582863470489550849

  15. I would use the “Blue cheese salade dressing” with salad, pasta and grilled chicken !

  16. I would make a wrap sandwich and use the pomegranate dressing! Quick and easy!

  17. salad every night

  18. tweet  https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/582718641751261184

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  19. I would make a salad using rotiessered chicken

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  20. I would use it on a salad with grilled chicken to add flavor. 

  21. I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/582689507012558849

  22. I would use the Light Celery Seed Slaw dressing to make summer BBQ’s with healthy cole slaw.

  23. I’ll buy a bag of cole slaw and pour on the Marzetti slaw dressing – delicious.

  24. I love eating fresh salads in the warmer months. This salad dressing would be a perfect topping.

  25. We use the blue cheese dressing with our buffalo chicken concoctions.

  26. I like using dressing to marinate meat such as chicken or deer.

  27. Tweet: https://twitter.com/JustMarriedMom3/status/582650486123270145

    boylaneely at hotmail dot com

  28. I would use the ranch dressing to add some extra flavor to a taco salad.

    boylaneely at hotmail dot com

  29. tweet – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/582648839120678912

  30. I’d make a chicken Caesar salad with leftover grilled chicken and some day old homemade bread!

  31. I’d make a wrap with grilled chicken, veggies and simply ranch!

  32. Chicken Caesar Salad!

  33. Besides using this as salad dressing, I think I’d marinate some chicken with it.

  34. i posted a tweet:   https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/582506236723077120

  35. i’d like to use the ranch dressing on a grilled chicken salad 

  36. Caesar Salad is a family favorite accompanied by Steak!!

  37. I will make a sweet and savory salad for my family.

  38. I would grill some chicken and have a fresh salad waiting for it and top it with this delicious dressing (aka the Light Caesar Salad Dressing!)

  39. This spring I may pour Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate Vinaigrette over spinach, mango, strawberries, goat cheese, and walnuts.

  40. I would use it on a caesar chicken salad

  41. i love Caesar Salad and would use the Marzetti Light Caesar Salad Dressing

  42. i love a cobb salad with the dressing, it’s my favorite.

  43. I sent a tweet: https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/582224959033860096

  44. I would make a chicken salad with ranch

  45. I’d make a tossed green salad with strawberries, almonds, diced chicken and the pomegranite dressing.

  46. I would make a cobb salad.

  47. I would make a nice fruit salad.

  48. I eat a lot of salads and like to mix up the ingredients. Chicken is my favorite protein for salads. This dressing looks yummy.  Want to try the pomegranate on salmon.
    Thanks for the contest.

  49. Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/581867642014826496

  50. I would use the Pomegranate flavored dressing to make a delicious fresh salad with grilled chicken. 

  51. I’m not so creative in the kitchen, but I’d love to find recipes on their site. Maybe something with pasta!

  52. I would use their dressings in pasta and taco salads—

  53. I’d love to make the strawberry salad on Marzetti’s website for the family.

  54. i would use the Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing to make a stir fry for my family.

    kport207 at gmail dot com

  55. tweeted https://twitter.com/AdorableSweetp1/status/580108198398414848

  56. I would use it with grilled chicken. 

  57. I’d use the Marzetti Caesar dressing to make a Caesar salad with grilled shrimp

  58. I would love to try all of the Marzetti dressings on a chefs salad, we have one every week for dinner and I can’t wait to try the dressings.

  59. I would use the Marzetti Simply Dressed refrigerated salad dressings on my favorite caesar salad.

  60. I would use these on a chicken salad for dinner.

    lazybones344 at gmail dot com

  61. tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/577533588368957442

  62. I would love to use their coleslaw dressing to make fresh coleslaw!

  63. i would use it on salads and to dip veggies in.

  64. i would make lettuce warps 

  65. on a salad

  66. I love all the Marzetti dressings. I use it for veggie dipping, salad of any kind and coleslaw! Just love it!!!

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

  67. I would try the Strawberry Poppyseed on a summer fruit salad.

  68. Sounds like it would be delicious on a pasta salad.

  69. I’d use it on a Grilled Chicken Salad.

  70. I would make a nice Tuna salad with mixed greens with the Balsamic Salad Dressing.

  71. i sue the ranch dressing to make buffallo chicken salad

  72. i love marzetti’s dressings. And i can get my kids to eat pretty much anything if it’s paired with Ranch.

  73. I will use them in a variety of salads, in sandwiches, and as marinades for meat.

  74. i’ll use the ranch to make a baked potato style potato salad

  75. I would love to use it on a nice, hearty cobb salad!

  76. I would make pasta salads.

  77. I tweeted https://twitter.com/bdiane35/status/573626295688495105

  78. I would use it on my chicken salad. It looks so yummy!!

  79. The Steak Caesar Sandwiches With Tomato and Avocado looks good.

  80. I want to make these cucumber boats using the Simply Dressed Balsamic Salad Dressing https://www.marzettikitchens.com/kitchens/recipes/detail/143/cucumber-boats

  81. I would use to add flavor to my garden salad 

  82.    I would use it on a spinach salad with bacon and feta cheese

  83. I would use it on a pasta salad.

  84. I’d add the to our everyday meals!

  85. This is actually my favorite brand of dressing.  I would use it to create a spinach salad for my daughter’s lunch box.

  86. I would use the Marzetti Blue Cheese Dressing to make a Pear, Blue Cheese, and Turkey Flatbread!

  87. I’d like to make different pasta salads with the dressings!

  88. Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/570563565922312192

  89. I’d love to do something with pasta & chicken & veggies 🙂  Make a pasta salad, maybe throw in some lettuce too.  I would definitely need to look up some recipes though because I’m not very creative and I know people have great ideas out there that I can use 🙂 

  90. I would love to pair the pomegranate with a spinach and strawberry salad topped with walnuts and feta cheese!

  91. I would use it to make Skinny Cobb Salad

  92. I’d use the Light Caesar Vinaigrette on a turkey sub sandwich on wheat bread with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and olives.

  93. i would make a great big healthy salad and top it was marzetti’s dressing

  94. This will add a good flavor to my chicken salad.

  95. I’d incorporate the dressing in potato salad. 🙂

  96. I’d use the dressings as marinades for chicken.

  97. We love a great Caesar salad with chicken. Or shrimp!

  98. I love to keep a bottle of dressing in the fridge at work for my lunch time salads.

  99. I will use the Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch dressing as a dip for my homemade chicken nuggets.

  100. I would use the Thousand Island Dressing on a salad.

  101. This will fit in perfectly with my world famous wedge salad.

  102. I would use Strawberry Poppyseed and make an amazing kale salad with blue cheese, almond slices and strawberries!
    stephanievollowitz at yahoo dot com

  103. I’d use the dressings not only for salads but noodle or spiralized veggies as well.

  104. i would make the chicken salad.

  105. I like to use the Caesar Salad Dressing to make Chicken Caesar salad for lunch or dinner for my family and I.

  106. I’ve never heard of these! Some sound like they’d make great marinades.

  107. I’d use as a marinade prior to grilling and also as a side for dipping vegetables !

  108. This salad looks delicious. I would make a cobb salad with this dressing.

  109. I like to use Marzetti Salad Dressings as a marinade for meat and vegetables when cooking for my family. The Pomegranate one sounds like it would be delicious on pork or chicken!

  110. I’d use it to marinate chicken.

  111. I’d use it on chicken sandwich and salad.

  112. I would use Marzetti’s in sandwiches as a healthy alternative to mayonaisse!

  113. We use their Ranch for BLT pasta salad!

  114. I would use the Marzetti® Light Caesar Vinaigrette Dressing to make a delicious Baby Romaine Salad for my family

  115. i would make a cobb salad

  116. I will use it to make a chicken salad. my favorite.

  117. I love seven layer salad with fresh veggies and cold Ranch dressing!

  118. Sounds like the Marzetti ‘s Simply Dressed Caesar dressing will be a perfect to use with an authentic Caesar salad including one of my favorites on it, anchovies.

  119. Sounds like the Marzetti ‘s Simple Dressed Caesar dressing will be a perfect to use with an authentic Caesar salad including one of my favorites on it, anchovies.

  120. I checked out some of their recipes and I’d use the Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing to make the Ginger Sesame Noodles. Yum!

  121. This sounds great. I would make my salad with kale onions and some strawberries. Add the Marzetti dressing on top.

  122. We love to have big salads for dinner and Marzetti dressings are delicious.

  123. I would make a kale caesar salad!

  124. I’d make some chicken wings and a light salad with ranch dressing.

  125. Tweeted  https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/565401416421097472

  126. I’d use the Ranch dressing for a cold pasta veggies and tuna salad.
    thank you

  127. I would love to marinate some chicken and use it over a caesar salad. with lots of veggies.

  128. I would use it in a simple salad, with lots of olives, carrots, and cucumbers!

  129. well I would love to make my HUSBAND a chicken salad ASIAN salad for me and probably chicken nuggets with dressing for the kids! believe it or not they love salad dressings on their nuggets. My crazy babies!!

  130. I would like to use the Balsamic dressing on a mixed greens salad topped with grilled salmon, kalamata olives and sliced red onions.

  131. I will use Marzetti Simply Dressed Balsamic salad dressing over a caesar salad to make fresh and simple meal for my family.

  132. I have a great recipe for potato salad using the regular Marzetti dressing.

  133. tweeted https://twitter.com/cep1981/status/564830822310486016

  134. i’d love to try Marzetti Strawberry Poppyseed dressing on my spinach salad

  135. -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/564636245565771776 

  136. I would use Marzetti Simply Dressed refrigerated salad dressings to make Spicy Shrimp Rolls for my family.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com 

  137. I would make chicken salad for my book club (and my family). Its good with dressing!

  138. pasta salad

  139. Caesar Salad is the best!

  140. I need ranch dressing to make an avocado wasabi aioli I just found!

  141. Their strawberry dressing is so good. It’d make  great easy chicken-centered salad.

  142. I would pair them with chicken and salad.

  143. They make excellent marinades for quick and flavorful chicken! 

  144. I would make a grilled chicken salad 

  145. This looks great! I would make a Caesar chicken salad wrap.

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

  146. I think the Pomegranate Vinaigrette would make a good marinade for some chicken kabobs.

  147. I like the poppyseed on a mandarin orange salad I make

  148. I’d make chicken salad with rotisserie chicken. Yum!

  149. Here’s my tweet: https://twitter.com/pic_links/status/563023249509208067

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  150. The Pomegranate vinaigrette would be perfect for my Asian style salad with the secret ingredient: plum powder!

  151. The Caesar dressing would be great for a side salad for dinner.

  152. tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/562778964595597312

  153. I’d love to make a cobb salad.

  154. i would love to do some food prep with lentil salad and the balsamic!

  155. i use dressing. make salad.

  156. I would use the Mazrzetti’s italian dressing whcich tastes so fresh for salads as well as a marinade  for chicken. 

  157. I love their Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate Vinaigrette on greens!

  158. Salad dressings work great as a chicken marinade before grilling for a healthy protein option!

  159. I love their dressings as a marinade, can’t wait to try the caesar

  160. I’ve tried them all. I love the unique flavor they are offering.

  161. I would make a green bean salad for my family with Marzetti dressings.

  162. my family has gotten into salads lately, so these dressings will be added to our slaws with some nuts and dried fruit!

  163. I use the Italian dressing to marinate chicken before I bake in oven or grill. Very tasty and moist

  164. I would make a chicken caesar salad.

  165. I enjoy a fresh salad each day so I will use Marzetti Caesar salad dressing on my Caesar salad.

  166. I use them 3 ways: over greens as a salad dressing, as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken or steak, and as a marinade for chicken or fish.

  167. I posted a tweet too: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/562488788531036160 

  168. Marzetti makes a Pomegranate Dressing which if you toss some arugula, add some goat cheese, pomegranate pips and walnuts to – makes a great salad.

  169. Any dressing with kale sounds like a quick and easy lunch to me! 

  170. I’d marinate some zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, mushrooms & onions in Marzetti’s Italian  and grill ’em up! 

  171. Love Caesar Salad and could eat it everyday.  I change it up and add either grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a complete meal.

  172. I’ll be using it to make some delicious homemade coleslaw!

  173. I would use the Light Raspberry Acai Salad Dressing  flavor Marzetti Simply Dressed salad dressing to drizzle over a chicken salad with romaine lettuce, strawberries, blueberries, pecans and pineapple chunks for a family dinner.

  174. i’d use the dressings as marinades for fish and/or chicken.

  175. I would use the ranch flavor Marzetti Simply Dressed salad dressing to make some ranch flavored chicken with fresh veggies.

  176. I would use the Simply Dressed dressing to add flavor to my garden salad.

  177. I would make a nice cold pasta salad with Italian dressing.

  178. I love using salad dressings in pasta salads. I’d make a chicken pasta salad with mine!

  179. I would use Marzetti Strawberry Poppyseed dressing for my favorite grilled chicken and apple salad

  180. I’d use Marzetti Simply Dressed to add some flavor to the salads I take to work for lunch!

  181. Salad is plain but dressing jazzes it up! We need encouragement on adding greens to our meals and this would help!

  182. I would use the Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing to make a chicken and veggie dinner.

  183. I will make a Caesar Salad and use the Marzetti Light Caesar Salad Dressing to make a tasty salad for my family! We love these fresh dressing for numerous salads!

  184. Marzetti Pomegranate vinaigrette is one of my favorite salad dressings. I usually use a spinach/romaine mix, slivered almonds and grated parmesan with it.