Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Print view)

A light dish featuring shredded chicken, crisp veggies, noodles, and a savory sesame dressing.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Noodles & Protein

01 - 9 oz thin egg noodles or rice noodles
02 - 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (10 oz)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cucumber, deseeded and julienned
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced
07 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sesame Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
10 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter or tahini
13 - 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 tsp chili flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
17 - Lime wedges (optional)

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Cook the noodles following package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cooked noodles, julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, julienned cucumber, spring onions, and chopped cilantro.
03 - Whisk together toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, peanut butter, grated ginger, minced garlic, and chili flakes until smooth.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Transfer the salad to a serving dish, garnish with toasted sesame seeds and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately or chill up to 2 hours before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, making weeknight dinners feel effortless on nights when cooking feels like too much.
  • The sesame-ginger dressing tastes restaurant-quality but lives in your pantry, ready to elevate any bowl.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and endlessly adaptable, so everyone at your table gets to eat what they actually want.
02 -
  • Underseasoning the noodles themselves before the dressing goes on is the one mistake that ruins everything—taste them plain and adjust with a pinch of salt.
  • The moment you add wet vegetables to warm noodles, they start releasing moisture, so if you're not eating right away, keep the components separate and dress just before serving.
03 -
  • Buy pre-shredded rotisserie chicken and store-cut vegetables on busy weeks—this isn't cheating, it's being realistic about your time.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes if you have them whole, since the aroma that fills your kitchen is half the reason to make this dish.
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