BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad with Brussels Sprouts & Kale

Shredded Brussels & carrots, chopped kale, crispy bacon, sweet golden raisins and toasted almonds come together in this BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad.

This post was created in partnership with our friends at Tessemae’s.

Tossed with a dressing made of Whole30 Approved BBQ & Ranch, this flavorful salad will make a tasty addition to your upcoming potlucks and grill-outs.

Even though Old Man Winter has plans to make another appearance this weekend in Minnesota possibly dumping more than 12 inches of snow in some parts of the state, I’m still craving all the salads. AND I’m really craving warmer weather and sunshine but that’s out of my control. What is in my control is this BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad and making it 4 times in the last month. Yeah, it’s that good! It comes together rather quickly, is chock-full of nutrient dense whole foods and and is made with less than 10 ingredients. If you’re not a kale lover, please don’t turn your nose up just yet. This salad may just turn you into a kale fanatic and before you know it you’ll be hash tagging #kaleyeah Okay maybe not…but everything is better with bacon, right?!

Another perk of this salad is that most of the ingredients you can prep the day before.

So if you’d like to make it really easy on yourself, I recommend you tackle the following tasks ahead of time: de-stem and chop the kale, shred the Brussels and carrots (if not purchasing them pre-shredded that is), dice the onion, cook the bacon and chop, toast the almond, measure out the golden raisins and lastly make the dressing (which is super simple and comes to gather with just a couple of shakes in a mason jar). Then, in a big container, combine but do not mix the kale, brussels, carrots, red onion and bacon (if it’s cooled). Place in the dressing that’s in the mason jar as well as the salad in the fridge. Right before serving the BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad, simply add the almonds and golden raisin and toss with the dressing. Top with the optional green onions and extra almonds and BAM…salad is served!

Speaking of dressing! The dressing is made simple by combining Tessemae’s Organic Creamy Ranch and Tessemae’s Matty’s Organic BBQ.

If you’re short on time or looking for convenience, let Tessemae’s come to the rescue. Tessemae’s dressings and condiments are 100% Real Food Dietitian approved. They’re made with organic ingredients and available in all sorts of flavors. If you’re Whole30’ing, several of the Tessemae’s dressings and condiments are Whole30 approved. I recommend starting with the Whole30 Starter Pack for those of you interested in giving Tessemae’s a try!

Leftovers for the win!

Based on my experience of making this BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad on four different occasions in the last month, I have discovered that due to the heartiness of the ingredients the salad keeps well and makes for tasty leftovers for I’d say at least the next two days. The only change is in the texture because the almonds soften a bit after absorbing the dressing. Add a little chicken, tuna, salmon, ground turkey, quinoa (if that’s your thing) and you’ve got yourself a lunch, a really tasty one! I also like to serve this salad over an avocado half for a delicious meal that’s full of healthy and satisfying fats.

BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad is chock-full of nutrient-dense whole foods…

For those of you interested, I’d like to take a quick moment to highlight a few of these nutrient-dense whole foods found in this salad.

• Kale – when prepared properly, kale can be an incredibly tasty addition to your diet and contains a host of nutritional benefits.
  • High in fiber – 5 gram per 1 packed cup
  • High in iron – essential for formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen throughout the body & proper liver function
  • High in Vitamin K – essential for bone health & blood clotting
  • High in Calcium – per calorie, kale has more calcium than milk
  • Great source of phytonutrients, antioxidants, Vitamin A, C & folate
• Brussels sprouts – in the same vegetable family as Kale (Brassicaceae family also known as cruciferous) and share a similar nutrient profile. 
  • Excellent source of Vitamin K & C, good source of Vitamin A & folate 
  • Contains antioxidant called kaempferol an anti-inflammatory
  • High in fiber – 4 grams per 1 cup cooked
  • Supports healthy digestion thanks to the fiber and a compound called Glucosinolates which helps to protect the lining of the digestive tract as well as a compound called sulforaphane which supports detoxification and can help prevent bacterial overgrowth from occurring in the gut.
• Carrots – we all know carrots are great for the eyes…but what else?
  • Excellent source of Vitamin A – One cup = 400% daily needs in the form of beta carotene a crucial nutrient for good eye health and also supports brain health, blood sugar control and detoxification & protects skin
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Immune booster thanks to Vitamin A, B6, C & E
  • High in fiber – 3 grams per 1 cup chopped

In short, BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad is incredibly nutrient-dense and full of all sorts of healthy goodness!

So there you have it, a new salad to try at your upcoming grill-outs, potlucks or…just because it sounds delicious and you want to try!

If you give this salad a try, please report back with how you like it and don’t forget to to snap a photo and post it on IG tagging @therealfoodrds and @tessemaes. We love seeing what you make of ours!

Video: How to make BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad

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Recipe

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BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad

Shredded Brussels sprouts & carrots, chopped kale, crispy bacon, sweet golden raisins and toasted almonds come together in this Whole30-friendly BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad. Perfect for your upcoming potlucks & grill-outs and incredibly nutritious.

Prep: 15 minTotal: 15 minutes

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Servings: 6 servings 1x

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Ingredients

• 4–5 cups chopped kale (about 1 bunch)
• 2 cups shredded brussels sprouts
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 3–4 strips no-sugar bacon, cooked and chopped (such as Applegate)
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 3/4 cup Tessemae’s Ranch dressing
• 3 Tbsp. Tessemae’s BBQ sauce 
• Optional – 2 green onions (whites and green parts), chopped

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Instructions

• In a mason jar combine the Tessemae’s Ranch and BBQ sauce. Place lid on tightly and shake the mason jar until dressing is mixed well. Set aside.
• To toast the almonds, place a small pan over medium heat. Add the almonds, toss often until nice and toasty and golden brown. Watch closely and adjust heat as needed to avoid burning the almonds.
• To shred the Brussels sprouts, trim ends and slice thinly with a sharp knife. You may also use a food processor or purchase Brussels sprouts pre-shredded.
• In a large serving bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients (except for the optional green onions and if you wish 2 Tbsp. of sliced almonds for adding to top).
• Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until evenly coated.
• Garnish with green onions and sliced almonds if you wish.

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Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1/6 of recipes (~1 cup)
• Calories: 200
• Fat: 11 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Carbohydrate: 23 g
• (Fiber: 6 g
• Sugar: 11 g)
• Protein: 8 g

Dietary

Dairy-FreeGluten-freeGrain-FreePaleoWhole30

© The Real Food Dietitians

Recipe By: Stacie Hassing

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