Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Printable Version)

Tender shredded chicken and crisp vegetables combined with 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)

# How to Make It:

01 - Prepare the noodles following package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cooked noodles, carrot, bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and cilantro.
03 - Whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, peanut butter, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes until smooth.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Transfer to serving dishes and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and lime wedges if using.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want something substantial but don't want to spend hours cooking.
  • The sesame dressing coats everything with just enough savory richness to make simple ingredients taste restaurant-quality.
  • You can prep it hours ahead, which means less stress when friends are coming over on a warm evening.
02 -
  • Rinse your cooked noodles completely under cold water, otherwise the starch coating will turn your salad gluey and sad by the time you serve it.
  • Make the dressing first and taste it before adding it to the salad, because sesame oil is intense and one tablespoon more or less changes everything.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds if you have time; they develop a nuttiness that pre-toasted versions sometimes lose sitting on a shelf.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for exactly 2 minutes, shaking the pan once halfway through, and you'll understand why people make such a fuss about this step.
  • If your peanut butter won't whisk smoothly into the dressing, warm it gently in the microwave for 15 seconds first to loosen it up.
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