Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

This Thai Chopped Chicken Salad is both healthy and flavorful (thanks to fresh, bright, crunchy veggies and a ridiculously tasty peanut sauce) and will be a lunch that you’ll look forward to all morning long!

Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (1)

Table of Contents

  • This recipe is…
  • What is Thai Chicken Salad?
  • Thai Chicken Salad Ingredients
  • How to Make Thai Chopped Chicken Salad
  • Thai Chopped Chicken Salad Frequently Asked Questions
  • Video
  • More Favorite Lunch Recipes
  • Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe

This recipe is…

GFGluten FreeDFDairy FreeLCLow Carb

The only thing better than a delicious, healthy lunch is an already-made, ready-to-eat, delicious, healthy lunch! While this salad can absolutely be enjoyed on its own for two days worth of meal prepped lunches, it was created to work in tandem with our Southwestern Quinoa Salad to give you an entire week of lunches – it’s Cook Once, Eat All Week: Lunch Style, if you will! After just thirty minutes of prep (that consists of mostly chopping + tossing), you’ll have a week’s worth of ready-to-enjoy salads (3 quinoa + 3 Thai) for your midday lunch break!

Do note that this salad will make for a really yummy light dinner too! However you choose to eat it, you won’t be disappointed!

What is Thai Chicken Salad?

The bulk of most Thai chicken salad recipes is made up of crunchy shredded cabbage (rather than a flimsier romaine lettuce base) and tons of fresh, crunchy veggies, and (typically) a little bit of extra crunch thanks to chopped peanuts or slivered almonds.

Thai Chicken Salad Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list so that you can whip up this Thai salad ASAP!

  • 1 1/2 cups each of shredded green and purple cabbage
  • 1 cup of shredded carrots
  • 1 diced red bell pepper
  • 1/2 of a diced cucumber
  • 2 cups of shredded chicken (about 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken or chicken thighs)
  • 1/2 cup of roughly chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup of sliced green onions
  • 1/4 cup of crushed peanuts
  • 1/4 cup of natural peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons of honey
  • 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (2)

How to Make Thai Chopped Chicken Salad

This is essentially a chop, shred, slice, blend, and toss situation…SO easy!

  1. Shred the Chicken – shred 2 cups of rotisserie chicken. Alternatively, shred 2 cups worth of chicken breast (here’s a guide to making shredded chicken in the slow cooker or Instant Pot!)
  2. Dice the Bell Pepper – dice the bell pepper into ¼ inch pieces.
  3. Shred the Cabbage – shred about 1½ cups of both the purple and green cabbage.
  4. Chop the Cilantro – give half the head of cilantro a rough chop!
  5. Slice the Green Onions – thinly slice the green onions and…
  6. Dice the Cucumber – …dice half a cucumber into ¼ inch chunks.
  7. Make the Peanut Dressing – blend together the peanut butter, coconut aminos, water, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth.
  8. Assemble – toss together the cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, cucumber, chicken, cilantro, and green onions, and then divide evenly between 3 meal prep containers. When you’re ready to enjoy your salad, top with the peanut dressing!
Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (3)

This colorful, delicious, and good-for-you Thai Chopped Chicken Salad is sure to turn around even the bleakest of days! Enjoy!

Thai Chopped Chicken Salad Frequently Asked Questions

What can you top a salad with?

We’ve included tons of veggies in this recipe already, but feel free to add ANY veggie that you love to the mix! Mung bean sprouts and edamame would be especially delicious. If you’re not sold on the idea of shredded chicken here, feel free to use cooked shrimp in its place!

How do you store Thai Chopped Chicken Salad?

The salads will save best (and stay super crunchy) stored in airtight containers (we like thissame-sized glass set) in the fridge. To prevent a wilted, soggy salad, store the peanut dressing separately. If you’re taking your lunch to-go, thesesmall containersare the perfect size for your peanut dressing!

Video

Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad

4.87 — Votes 107 votes

By Cassy Joy Garcia

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 3 Servings

Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (8)

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This Thai chopped chicken salad is filled with fresh, vibrant veggies and the creamiest peanut sauce! It makes a perfect make-ahead lunch for the week.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 1 1/2 cups shredded green cabbage*
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded purple cabbage*
  • 1 cup shredded carrots*
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 cup diced cucumber
  • 2 cups shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken or about 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions1/4 cup crushed peanuts for garnish

For the Peanut Dressing:

  • 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoon coconut aminos
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • For the peanut dressing: blend all ingredients until smooth.

  • For the salad, add all ingredients but crushed peanuts to a large bowl and toss to combine, then drizzle the peanut dressing over top and toss again. Top with crushed peanuts and serve. If you are planning to eat later, leave the dressing on the side and pour it over when you are ready to eat so that the cabbage doesn’t get soggy. This will last for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

  1. You can use 4 cups of coleslaw blend in place of the shredded cabbage and carrots for this recipe!
  2. You can substitute sunbutter, almond butter, or cashew butter in place of the peanut butter, if desired.
  3. For a vegetarian salad, substitute the chicken with chickpeas, or another favorite vegetarian protein!

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.9g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 16.9g | Saturated Fat: 3.3g | Cholesterol: 110.3mg | Sodium: 414.1mg | Fiber: 5.4g | Sugar: 11.6g

Additional Info

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: Thai

Servings: 3 Servings

Calories: 404

Keyword: cabbage, gluten free, lunch, meal prep, salad, Thai

Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (9)

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Thai-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

FAQs

Why is chicken salad so good? ›

It is a simple meal yet packed with nutrients like Vitamins C and E, folic acid, folate, fiber and beta-carotene. These are the key components to ensuring a healthy immune system and overall well-being.

What are ways to eat chicken salad other than sandwich? ›

Three Ways to Enjoy Chicken Salad
  1. Put it in a sandwich: A chicken salad sandwich is a classic dish that you truly can never go wrong with. ...
  2. Eat it on lettuce wraps: Want a lower-carb way to enjoy this chicken salad? ...
  3. Scoop it with crackers: My favorite way to eat this chicken salad is alongside crackers.
Apr 25, 2023

How can I make my salad more flavorful? ›

Add spices and flavours such as paprika, chilli flakes, curry powder, harissa or parmesan. Add acidity or sourness with vinegar, lemon juice or pomegranate molasses to transform your salad. Discover more salad recipes below, or check out these salad recipes for dinner, or the whole collection of salad recipes.

What are the ingredients for chicken salad? ›

Image of What are the ingredients for chicken salad?
Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world. Owing to the relative ease and low cost of raising chickens—in comparison to mammals such as cattle or hogs—chicken meat and chicken eggs have become prevalent in numerous cuisines.
Wikipedia

Will I lose weight if I eat chicken and salad everyday? ›

Although chicken and salad are healthy nutrients, you can gain weight due to the way the chicken is prepared, or the salad is made with high-calorie sauces. Moreover, you can't shed weight with only one food in your diet. Salad with chicken supports your diet in this way, but it isn't enough on its own.

What not to do when preparing chicken salad? ›

To ensure that your chicken salad tastes the way that it should, you should avoid using overcooked or dry chicken in your recipe. Unfortunately, as we cook chicken, the moisture of the bird slowly evaporates.

Is chicken salad healthier than tuna salad? ›

If your iron levels are solid but you could use some more zinc, potassium, or phosphorus, then chicken is a better choice. In the end, the choice between tuna and chicken boils down to what you need. Whichever you choose, you're guaranteed lots of lean, low-calorie protein, with vitamins and minerals galore.

What is the best thing to eat with chicken salad? ›

What to Serve with Chicken Salad - 15 Magical Ideas - Jane's...
  • Meat. • 1 Bacon tomato soup.
  • Produce. • 1 Asparagus & lemon.
  • Canned Goods. • 1 Cucumber soup. • 1 Quinoa soup.
  • Condiments. • 1 Dill pickles.
  • Snacks. • 1 Potato chips. • 1 Potato chips, Fried.
  • Dairy. • 1 Cheese straws.
  • Deli. • 1 Broccoli salad. • 1 Coleslaw.

Is it better to put warm or cold chicken on salad? ›

Cold meat just doesn't smell or taste as flavorful as it does at room temperature or warmer. This is why chilled chicken, even on salads, isn't as delicious as it could be. Warming that chicken before adding it to your salad would return it to its juicy, satisfying best.

What is best to eat chicken salad on? ›

There's so many ways to eat it, like as a chicken salad sandwich, on a bagel, over a salad or in lettuce wraps. It's is my go-to lunch to keep on hand in the refrigerator to eat throughout the week, or to bring to potlucks and it's dairy-free, gluten-free, high protein, and low-carb.

How do you make chicken taste more flavorful? ›

Marinating is good for flavouring and tenderising your chicken at the same time. It's best to marinate your chicken overnight to give the flavours plenty of time to infuse. A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking.

Why does my chicken salad have no taste? ›

Citrus juice and zest

Citrus juice does wonders to brighten the flavor of foods — including lackluster chicken salad. The acidity in citrus juice balances out the fat in the mayonnaise dressing while adding a tangy pop of flavor. The extra moisture from the juice can also help to make the salad tastier.

How to jazz up store bought chicken salad? ›

What do I do with bland chicken salad? There are so many options. Cooking in seasoned water helps, but since yours is made, it's time to up the seasonings. I always use a splash of soy sauce and lemon juice, along with salt, pepper, and onion powder (or grated onion).

What to add to a bland salad? ›

7 Ways to Spice Up Your Boring Salad
  1. 1) Get Creative with Dressings. Salad dressings can really make or break a salad. ...
  2. 2) Top It Off With Something Crunchy. ...
  3. 3) Throw in Some Fruit. ...
  4. 4) Mix in Some Grains. ...
  5. 5) Experiment with Different Proteins. ...
  6. 6) Try Some Different Veggies. ...
  7. 7) Add Some Cheese. ...
  8. The Bottom Line.
Feb 21, 2023

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