Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing
Make this fresh, flavorful Thai Chicken Salad featuring tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and a homemade, tangy peanut dressing. It is a satisfying and healthy meal perfect for lunch or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 large carrot, julienned
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shelled edamame, cooked
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts (for topping)
- 2 tablespoons crispy fried wonton strips or chow mein noodles (optional, for crunch)
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup warm water (or more, to thin)
- 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the peanut dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and sriracha.
- Slowly whisk in the warm water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency. Set aside.
- Prepare the salad components: In a large bowl, combine the shredded romaine lettuce, red cabbage, julienned carrot, sliced red bell pepper, and cooked edamame.
- Add the shredded chicken to the bowl with the vegetables.
- Pour about half of the peanut dressing over the chicken and vegetables. Toss gently until everything is lightly coated. Add more dressing as needed to reach your preferred level of coating.
- Divide the salad among serving bowls.
- Top each serving with fresh cilantro, chopped roasted peanuts, and crispy wonton strips, if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For meal planning, store the dressing separately from the salad ingredients to maintain maximum crunch. Toss just before eating.
- If you do not have pre-cooked chicken, you can quickly poach or bake chicken breasts and shred them while the dressing ingredients come to room temperature.
- This recipe is a great alternative to heavy options often found in meal delivery companies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 19
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 110