This Asian Chicken Salad makes the perfect weekday lunch! You can toss everything except the avocado ahead of time if you want. Gluten Free & Dairy Free with a Vegan option.
If you’ve been around here long, you know that I love salad.
But this Asian Chicken Salad….
I L-O-V-E.
I first threw this salad together on a whim late last year. It was one of those days when my holiday to-do list was getting to me. I knew I needed to make something healthy, but I was also in dire need of something yummy.
I pulled out some rice noodles from the pantry and dug around in the produce drawer to see what I could find, and before I knew it, I was one happy girl.
I’ve lost track of home many times I have made this Asian Chicken Salad or some variation of it in the last two months.
It has become my go-to lunch because it is the perfect blend of a healthy salad and a touch of pasta that I find so satisfying. (Because pasta makes any meal better.)
This salad is fabulous as is, but if you want to mix things up a bit, mandarin oranges, red pepper, wontons, and almonds would all be great additions.
This salad is fabulous if you are trying to meal prep, because everything but the avocado holds really well in the fridge. I’ve even tossed the salad ahead of time before and it was still amazing.
Do you have a go-to salad? Do share!
Tips for Making This Recipe:
- If you are making this ahead of time but don’t plan on tossing it until the last minute, I would recommend tossing the rice noodles with a touch of olive oil to keep them soft. Alternatively, you can store them in a container filled with water and drain at the last minute.
- Easily make this a vegan Asian Salad by substituting cooked tempeh for the chicken. This Marinated Peanut Tempeh looks amazing.
If You Like This Asian Chicken Salad You May Also Like:
- Pear Quinoa Salad with Walnuts & Goat Cheese
- Asian Quinoa Salad
- Avocado Pesto Quinoa Pasta
- Cranberry Avocado & Blue Cheese Salad
- Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai
Asian Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounces Napa Cabbage shredded, about 1/2 head
- 3.5 ounces Kale shredded, about 1 small bunch
- 16 ounces chicken cooked and shredded
- 1 cup carrots grated
- 4 ounces rice noodles cooked according to package directions
- 2 scallions sliced
- 1 avocado peeled, pitted and diced
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Asian Dressing for Serving
Instructions
- Combine cabbage, kale, chicken, carrots and rice noodles in a large bowl.
- Toss with Asian Dressing.
- Top with scallions, avocado and sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
- If you are making this ahead of time but don’t plan on tossing it until the last minute, I would recommend tossing the rice noodles with a touch of olive oil to keep them soft. Alternatively, you can store them in a container filled with water and drain at the last minute.
- Easily make this a vegan Asian Salad by substituting cooked tempeh for the chicken. This Marinated Peanut Tempeh looks amazing.
- Short on time? Use a purchased salad dressing. I really like Newman’s own Sesame Ginger Dressing.
This salad sounds so fresh and fragrant, besides being full of vitamins and antioxidants. I always add avocado in my salads as well, no matter what kind I make. It’s definitely a great lunch meal.
Oh now this sounds delicious, I always think chicken goes so well with salad and I love the idea of making it this way.
I love avocados on salad. The dressing sounds delicious.
This salad looks enticing. 🙂 I would love to try your recipe, I love avocados but I’m afraid I have to wait for the ‘avocado season’ before I can make this. Thanks for sharing 🙂
That salad is a feast for the eyes and it looks so healthy too. I love the idea of adding mandarins and almonds.
I love salads like this! Packed full of flavor and healthy to boot!
This salad is worthy of my list! I love the ingredients you chose!
This salad looks so yummy! I need to try making this soon.
My kind of salad!! DELISH!!!
I am a huge fan of salads, especially ones with fresh grilled chicken! I have never had Asian chicken salad so I’m definitely pinning this one for later!
This looks absolutely amazing! I haven’t ever mixed cabbage with kale as a salad base, but it looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it!
You have amazing photos! That salad looks delicious and satisfying! I can’t wait to try this at home.
Though i’m Asian, I’ve never tasted a fabulous salad like this before. Maybe when it is absorbed into your Western countries, it has gone through major transformations. Anyway, the chicken salad looks amazing, healthy and definitely delicious. Thanks for the ingredients.
oh em gee this looks so delicious! I was going to go grocery shopping after work and now i know what i will get!
I always look forward to your treats. This Asian chicken salad is just what I’ve been craving — a healthy version of Asian dishes.
Oh wow I love the incorportion of the rice noodles in the salad. I have to make this this week..its so up my alley. yum!
Salads and asian foods are two of my favs too. We could be besties!
This Chicken salad looks delicious and healthy. I will definitely give this a try. Glad that you shared this recipe. Will add this to my recipe book.
This salad looks great! Otherwise, I like Asian food and salads, so this is a great combination for me.