Description

This refreshing Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad combines tender cooked chicken breast with a crisp mix of greens, red cabbage, and shredded carrots, accented by dried cranberries and toasted almonds. Tossed in a tangy sesame-soy dressing and topped with crunchy chow mein noodles, it’s a flavorful, healthy lunch option that comes together quickly with no cooking required.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or chopped)
4 cups mixed greens or shredded Napa cabbage
1 cup red cabbage (thinly sliced)
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds (toasted)
2 green onions (thinly sliced)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
1/2 cup crunchy chow mein noodles (optional for topping)

Dressing Ingredients

3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, add the shredded or chopped cooked chicken breast, mixed greens or Napa cabbage, thinly sliced red cabbage, shredded carrots, dried cranberries, toasted sliced almonds, thinly sliced green onions, and optional sesame seeds. Gently toss to evenly distribute all ingredients.
Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, sesame oil, olive oil, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and salt and pepper until the dressing is smooth and well-combined.
Toss Salad with Dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Toss everything thoroughly to ensure each bite is coated with the flavorful dressing.
Add Crunchy Topping and Serve: Sprinkle the optional crunchy chow mein noodles on top of the salad just before serving to maintain their crisp texture. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.

Notes

For meal prep, store the salad and dressing separately and toss just before serving to keep the salad crisp.
Rotisserie chicken is a convenient option to save preparation time.
Substitute sunflower seeds for almonds if a nut-free option is preferred.
To make this salad vegetarian, replace chicken with tofu or tempeh and use a vegetarian-friendly soy sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired