Asian Chicken Salad
This Asian Chicken Salad is crunchy, tangy, lightly sweet, and emotionally healing (not kidding). Packed with shredded chicken, fresh veggies, zesty dressing, and that perfect peanut-sesame crunch — it’s the ultimate glow-up meal for your taste buds and your mood.
Equipment
- Large salad bowl
- Small bowl or mason jar for dressing
- Cutting board + sharp knife
- Grater for ginger
- Citrus juicer optional, but fab
- Whisk or fork for dressing
- Tongs or clean hands for tossing messy queens unite
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie totally counts—lazy girl win)
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage so pretty, so crunchy
- 1 cup shredded carrots I used a bag of matchstick ones because... energy
- ½ red bell pepper thinly sliced (adds the sweet crunch we live for)
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro non-negotiable—it’s in the name, honey
- 3 green onions sliced (optional but gives it that lil’ bite)
- ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts or almonds—go wild
- Sesame seeds for garnish because we’re fancy now
Dressing (aka the star):
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp sesame oil a little goes a long way, trust me
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp grated ginger optional but chef’s kiss
Instructions
Shred Like You’re Mad at Your Ex
- Start by shredding that chicken. If you’re using rotisserie, girl, bless your smart soul. Toss it in a big mixing bowl and pretend you’re hosting a cooking show for one.
Chop It Like It’s Self-Care
- Slice up your veggies and herbs like you’ve got your life together. Red cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, green onion, cilantro... they all go into the bowl. Don’t stress about perfect sizes—this salad is not a perfectionist.
Whisk It Like You Mean It
- In a small bowl or mason jar, throw in all your dressing ingredients. Shake or whisk until smooth. Taste it. Adjust. Add a lil’ more lime if you’re feeling zesty or more honey if it’s too salty. This is your moment.
Toss and Shine
- Pour that liquid gold over the salad and toss it like you’re at a beach party. Add peanuts, sesame seeds, and maybe a few extra cilantro leaves on top. She’s done, she’s gorgeous, she’s ready for her close-up.
Notes
- Too much sesame oil? Balance it out with extra lime juice or honey. Learned this the hard way.
- No chicken? Sub with tofu, tempeh, or even chickpeas!
- Want more crunch? Crispy wonton strips or broken ramen noodles on top = heaven.
- Meal prep tip: Store veggies and dressing separately until ready to eat so the salad stays snappy.