Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad

The beauty of this sesame chicken salad lies in its balance of flavors—tangy, savory, and just a hint of sweetness. The sesame dressing, with its rich, nutty undertones, coats each tender bite of chicken beautifully. It’s not overpowering, but it provides that perfect touch of creaminess. When you toss in the crunchy vegetables, like the crisp lettuce and the snap of fresh cucumbers, the salad transforms into something more than just a meal; it’s an experience. The pop of toasted sesame seeds sprinkled over the top adds a delightful crunch, giving each forkful a satisfying texture that contrasts perfectly with the juicy, tender chicken.

One of my favorite things about making this salad is how customizable it is. Sometimes, I’ll throw in a few thinly sliced carrots or a handful of edamame for extra color and bite. If you’re in the mood for a little extra heat, a dash of chili flakes or a drizzle of sriracha works wonders to balance the sweetness of the dressing. And let’s not forget about the sesame oil—just a tiny splash in the dressing can elevate the whole dish, adding a smoky richness that pulls everything together. It’s those little tweaks that make this salad so fun to play with, and every time I make it, it feels like a personal creation.

Key Ingredients in Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad

Every great recipe starts with great ingredients, and this sesame chicken salad is no exception. The magic happens when these fresh, vibrant ingredients come together to create a dish bursting with flavor, texture, and color. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: The star of the salad, providing a lean, juicy base for the dish. Grilled or pan-seared, they soak up all the flavors of the sesame dressing and add that satisfying protein punch.
• Olive Oil: A staple for cooking the chicken. It helps to achieve a crispy, golden exterior while keeping the chicken tender inside.
• Sesame Oil: A key ingredient in the dressing, it imparts a smoky, nutty richness that ties all the flavors together beautifully.
• Soy Sauce: Adds a salty depth to the dressing, balancing the sweetness of the honey and bringing that umami flavor we all crave.
• Honey: This natural sweetener offers a delicate sweetness that works wonders with the tangy soy sauce and vinegar. It helps to mellow out the savory flavors and brings the dressing to life.
• Rice Vinegar: A light, tangy acidity that adds a refreshing brightness to the dressing, cutting through the richness of the sesame oil and balancing out the sweetness.
• Sesame Seeds: These tiny, toasty little seeds are the perfect finishing touch. They provide a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor that complements the dressing and the chicken beautifully.
• Fresh Ginger: Grated ginger gives the dressing a zingy, slightly spicy kick, and a refreshing bite that brightens the whole dish. It’s a small but mighty ingredient!
• Garlic: Minced garlic infuses the dressing with its savory aroma and depth of flavor, elevating the overall taste of the salad.
• Mixed Salad Greens: The perfect base for the salad, providing a variety of textures and a mild, fresh flavor that lets the other ingredients shine. You can use anything from spinach to arugula, depending on your preference.
• Cucumber: Thinly sliced for a cool, refreshing crunch that contrasts perfectly with the richness of the chicken and dressing. It adds a light, crisp bite to the salad.
• Red Bell Pepper: Adds a pop of color and sweetness, balancing out the savory flavors and giving the salad some extra crunch.
• Red Onion: Thinly sliced for a slight sharpness that adds bite and depth to the dish. Its flavor mellows out when tossed in the dressing, but it still provides a bit of zing.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro brings a herbaceous note that brightens up the dish, adding a touch of earthiness that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
• Sliced Almonds: These toasted almonds add a satisfying crunch to the salad, and their nutty flavor pairs beautifully with the sesame seeds and dressing.
• Toasted Sesame Seeds: A sprinkle of these seeds at the end adds a delightful texture and enhances the sesame flavor, making each bite even more satisfying.
• Sesame Dressing: The heart of this salad, the dressing is creamy, nutty, and tangy all at once. It brings everything together, coating the chicken and veggies in a layer of rich flavor that’s just irresistible.

How to Make Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad

Serving Suggestions for Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad

1. Make it a Wrap
Feeling like you want something a little more portable? Take that delicious sesame chicken salad and wrap it up in a soft whole wheat or spinach tortilla for a quick, satisfying lunch. You get all the vibrant crunch and flavor in every bite, plus it’s easy to take on the go!

2. Serve it with a Side of Crispy Noodles
For an extra hit of texture, pair this salad with a side of crispy fried noodles. The crunch of the noodles adds another layer of excitement, and they soak up a little bit of the dressing, making each bite even more irresistible. It’s like an added crunch factor that takes the salad from amazing to next level.

3. Top it with Grilled Shrimp or Tofu
If you’re looking to switch things up or add a bit more protein, grilled shrimp or crispy tofu makes an excellent addition to the salad. The shrimp’s sweetness or tofu’s savory crunch blends perfectly with the sesame dressing, bringing a whole new dimension of flavor. You can never go wrong with adding a little extra protein to make the dish feel more hearty!

Every time I serve this salad, I love playing around with these options—it’s one of those dishes that’s as versatile as it is delicious!

How to Store Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers of this tasty sesame chicken salad (though it might be hard to resist), storing it properly ensures it stays fresh and delicious for the next day. The key is to keep the dressing separate from the veggies and chicken until you’re ready to dig in. This way, the vegetables stay crisp and the chicken remains tender, without getting soggy.

Once the salad is assembled, store the chicken and veggies in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure to keep the sesame dressing in a separate jar or small container. When you’re ready to enjoy your leftovers, just give the dressing a good shake or stir, drizzle it over the salad, and toss everything together. The flavors will still be vibrant, and the textures will remain as fresh as possible.

For those days when you don’t want to deal with assembling the salad from scratch, you can also prep the chicken, veggies, and dressing separately in their own containers. This way, when you’re ready to eat, it’s just a quick toss and you’re good to go. Fresh salads that stay fresh? Yes, please!

Conclusion

And there you have it—the ultimate sesame chicken salad that’s as easy to make as it is delicious! It’s the perfect combination of tender chicken, crunchy veggies, and a rich, flavorful sesame dressing that brings everything together. Whether you’re enjoying it as a refreshing lunch, turning it into a wrap, or serving it alongside crispy noodles, this dish is sure to become a favorite.

I hope you’ll try it out and make it your own by adding your favorite twists. There’s something so satisfying about making a meal that’s both healthy and bursting with flavor, don’t you think? I’d love to hear how it turns out for you—drop me a comment or share any feedback you have. And if you need help with anything along the way, I’m always here for you!

Until next time, happy cooking!

Print Recipe

Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad

Author: Maria Bennet Courses: Dinner

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 15 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 35 mins

Calories: 450

Description

This Incredible Sesame Chicken Salad bursts with flavor! Tender chicken, crispy greens, and crunchy toasted sesame seeds are drizzled with a tangy, slightly sweet sesame dressing. Each bite is a perfect balance of fresh, savory, and satisfying goodness.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 cups mixed salad greens

• ¹⁄₂ cucumber, thinly sliced

• ¹⁄₂ red bell pepper, thinly sliced

• ¹⁄₄ red onion, thinly sliced

• ¹⁄₄ cup cilantro, chopped

• ¹⁄₄ cup sliced almonds

• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

• 1 tablespoon sesame dressing

Instructions

1. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat.
2. While the skillet heats up, drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of sesame oil into the pan.
3. Season the boneless skinless chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Place the chicken breasts into the heated skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside to rest for about 5 minutes.
6. While the chicken is resting, prepare the dressing by whisking together two tablespoons of soy sauce, one tablespoon of honey, one tablespoon of rice vinegar, one tablespoon of sesame seeds, one tablespoon of grated fresh ginger, and two cloves of minced garlic in a small bowl.
7. In a large salad bowl, add four cups of mixed salad greens.
8. Thinly slice half a cucumber, half a red bell pepper, and a quarter of a red onion, then add them to the salad bowl with the mixed greens.
9. Chop a quarter cup of cilantro and add it to the salad bowl as well.
10. Once the chicken has rested, slice it into thin strips.
11. Add the sliced chicken to the salad bowl with the greens and vegetables.
12. Toss the salad gently to combine the ingredients.
13. Drizzle the prepared sesame dressing over the salad and toss again to evenly coat the ingredients.
14. Top the salad with a quarter cup of sliced almonds and two tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds.
15. Serve immediately and enjoy your incredible sesame chicken salad.

Note

• Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy.
• For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in soy sauce and sesame oil for 30 minutes before cooking.
• Feel free to swap mixed greens with spinach or arugula for a different texture.
• Add a dash of chili flakes to the dressing for a spicy kick.
• Toasting the sesame seeds enhances their nutty flavor, so don’t skip that step.

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