Fresh and delicious sesame chicken salad packed with bright, crunchy vegetables, juicy chicken, and a flavorful sesame ginger dressing. This flavorful sesame chicken salad is easy to customize with your fav veggies and proteins for the perfect healthy lunch or dinner during the week!
This sesame chicken salad is packed with a rainbow of veggies, tossed with my go-to homemade sesame ginger dressing, and topped with that juicy grilled sesame chicken. I had this salad for lunch after perfecting the recipe and omg I was OBSESSED with that incredible crunch and all of the wonderful flavors and textures.
1. Sesame Chicken Cabbage Crunch Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken:
For the salad:
- 4 cups shredded green cabbage
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage
- 1/2 cup diced green onion
- 3/4 cup freshly diced cilantro
- 1 cup shredded carrots (bagged or cut into matchsticks for excellent crunch!)
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly julienned
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
For the dressing:
- 1 batch Sesame Ginger Dressing
For serving:
- 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
- 1/3 cup roasted cashews halves
- Sesame seeds
- Extra cilantro
- Extra green onion
- A few jalapeno slices
- Optional: Crispy wonton strips
Instructions
Marinate the chicken using this grilled sesame chicken breast recipe.
Make the sesame ginger dressing. Set aside.
Assemble the salad together: in a large bowl, add the green and red cabbage, green onion, cilantro, carrots, bell pepper and jalapeno. Pour dressing all over the salad and toss to combine and coat all the veggies. Cover and set aside while you bake or grill your chicken according to the recipe.
Serve the salad: add salad to a large platter. Garnish with toasted sliced almonds, cashews, extra cilantro, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, a few jalapeno slices and some additional chopped green onion, if desired.
Some Ways to Customize This Recipe
Feel free to mix and match ingredients to truly make this salad your own! Here’s what I can recommend:
Try a new dressing: I think this Healthy Thai-Inspired Peanut Dressing would be perfect.
Add sweetness: feel free to add fruits like mandarin oranges, mango, or pineapple for delicious bites of sweetness.
Pick your veggies: you can pretty much use any veggies you’d like in this salad. Shredded brussels sprouts, finely chopped broccoli, and even a leafy green like kale would be delicious.
Go nut free: simply omit the almonds and cashews to keep the salad nut free.
Choose a new protein: this salad would also be delicious with grilled shrimp or salmon! Feel free to marinate either one the same way that you marinate the chicken.
Make it a wrap: looking to make the sesame chicken salad even heartier? Wrap it all up in a tortilla and enjoy it as a wrap!
For a vegetarian/vegan option: This salad is just as fabulous without the chicken. Feel free to omit, or replace with tofu or a can of rinsed and drained chickpeas.
