This Asian chicken salad is full of rainbow-colored, crunchy veggies, and is tossed with a punchy sriracha peanut dressing. It’s quick to assemble and makes a wonderful, fresh weeknight meal.
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I’ve been off my game for the last couple of weeks. Feeling frazzled, drained, and uninspired. Happens now and again, even to the best of us! So, that’s why it’s been so quiet around here for the last little while. HOWEVER. There may still be several feet of (dirty, crusty) snow on the ground, and another snow storm on the way, but spring is JUST around the corner.
I’ve been in need of a pick-me-up to get my creative juices flowing again, and a fresh, rainbow-colored salad was exactly what the doctor ordered. This Asian chicken salad is full of crunchy veggies, and if “sriracha peanut dressing” sounds like it can ONLY be awesome, that’s because it is.
Peanut sauce is one of my favorite things. Unfortunately the stuff I get with my takeout dumplings is usually a pale, bland reflection of what real peanut sauce should be: punchy, balanced, and intensely-favored. The dressing for this Asian chicken salad is all that. It’s a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and A LOT peanutty.
Best of all, this Asian chicken salad can be assembled quickly on a weeknight. Just cook up a chicken breast or two (or use a rotisserie chicken), whizz together the dressing ingredients, chop up your veggies, mix and you’re good to go.
By the way, do you have an immersion blender? I love mine and use it all the time, especially for soups and salad dressings. I have one similar to this that comes with a handy measuring cup so you can measure your ingredients AND blend them in the same cup. It saves me so much time and you don’t end up having to scrub all those lil measuring cups.
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Products I used to make this Asian Chicken salad
Asian Chicken Salad with Sriracha Peanut Dressing
Ingredients
Asian Chicken Salad
- 1/2 small head of red cabbage chopped
- 1 romaine heart chopped
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 2 carrots julienned, grated, or slivered with a vegetable peeler
- 1 cup snow peas
- 2 green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 2 cups sliced, cooked chicken breast
- 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts chopped
- 2 cups crispy dry chow mein noodles
Sriracha Peanut Dressing
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 cup canola or peanut oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (more or less, to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Blend all dressing ingredients together using an immersion blender or whisk. (The dressing can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. Whisk to combine again when ready to use.)
Toss vegetables and greens together in a large bowl. Toss with as much dressing as desired, plate and top with chicken, chopped peanuts and chow mein noodles.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Carlsbad Cravings Crunchy Asian Salad with Sriracha Peanut Dressing
Heidi Smith
Hi! I made this dressing tonight. Although the flavor was amazing I somehow ended up with a really thick dressing ( almost spreadable) and I followed recipe to a T. I even added extra water. Any ideas to thin it out ?
Ann
Hi Heidi! Although I haven’t personally had this issue, it does have quite a bit of peanut butter in it, so possibly the brand you use can make it more or less thick. I would add water, as you did (but not too much or it may dilute the flavor), maybe 1-3 tablespoons, and whisk it in gently at the end, rather than blending it with the other ingredients. I hope this helps!! 🙂
Janette | Culinary Ginger
Asian salads are one of my favorites and I’m loving the sound of the dressing, I have to give it a try.
Ann
Thanks Janette! Would love to hear about it if you do 🙂
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
Wowee-kazowee! This looks so delicious! I love Asian food and this salad is right up my alley, even if it didn’t have a delicious peanut sauce to go with it, though I would mourn the loss! I too have been feeling the doldrums and feel like a boost in my mood and this chicken salad does it for me. It will give me the energy to go outside and shovel the darn foot of snow that just dropped on us! Great recipe!
Ann
Haha thank you so much Elaine!! I’m so done with the snow too, but this salad was seriously the best therapy for the doldrums!
Dana
Oh goodness gracious — this is SO up my alley and I’ve just been reminded that I haven’t cooked anything with Sriracha and peanut butter in way, way too long. I need to fix this stat. Because this looks IN-credible.
Ann
Thank you so much Dana!! 🙂
Natalie
This salad looks absolutely amazing! I love how colorful and rich it is – so flavorful and healthy. Can’t wait to try it for dinner soon!
Ann
Thanks Natalie! I hope you love it as much as we do!
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This salad sounds amazing and looks like the perfect Yummy pick me up for sure. Loving the sound of the homemade peanut butter sriracha dressing.
Ann
Thanks Stephanie! The dressing is a revelation!