Description
A refreshing and vibrant Thai Chicken Salad featuring shredded rotisserie chicken, crisp vegetables, and a creamy, tangy peanut dressing. This salad balances crunchy textures from cabbage, carrots, peanuts, and optional chow mein noodles with the bold flavors of lime, ginger, chili crisp, and fresh herbs like cilantro or Thai basil, making it a perfect light meal or snack with a delightful Asian-inspired twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 3–4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (approx. 1 entire rotisserie chicken)
- 1/4 cup scallions, chopped
- 1 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1 cup red cabbage, chopped
- 1 cup shredded carrots, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup peanuts, crushed
- 1/4 cup cilantro or Thai basil, chopped
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chow mein noodles, for crunch (optional)
Dressing
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (natural or regular)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp chili crisp or chili crunch
- 1½ Tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1–2 Tbsp honey or granulated sugar, to taste
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
- 1 small garlic clove, grated or minced
- 3 Tbsp warm water (plus more as needed)
- Optional heat: sriracha or red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, mayonnaise, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, chili crisp, ginger, and garlic until smooth. Gradually whisk in warm water until the dressing reaches a creamy and pourable consistency. Adjust flavors by adding more lime juice for brightness, honey for sweetness, or soy sauce for salt. Add sriracha or red pepper flakes for extra heat if desired.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped scallions, celery, red cabbage, shredded carrots, crushed peanuts, chopped cilantro or Thai basil, and sesame seeds. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste and toss gently to combine.
- Dress the salad: Pour the peanut dressing over the salad gradually while tossing to coat the ingredients evenly. Use as much dressing as desired for your preferred consistency. Note that any leftover salad and dressing should be stored separately from the chow mein noodles to prevent sogginess if preparing in advance.
- Finish and serve: Just before serving, top the salad with chow mein noodles to add a crunchy texture. This salad can also be enjoyed wrapped in a tortilla or wrap for a portable meal option.
Notes
- For freshness and crunch, add chow mein noodles just before serving to avoid sogginess.
- Adjust the heat by modifying the amount of chili crisp, sriracha, or red pepper flakes.
- Store salad, dressing, and crunchy noodles separately if preparing ahead for meal prep.
- Use fresh herbs like cilantro or Thai basil according to preference for authentic flavor.
- May substitute mayonnaise with a vegan alternative to make the dressing dairy-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Thai
Keywords: Thai Chicken Salad, Peanut Dressing Salad, Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Asian Salad, Healthy Salad, No-Cook Salad
