Description
This Peanut Chicken Crunch Salad is a delicious and nutritious meal featuring juicy marinated chicken, fresh crunchy vegetables, and a creamy peanut dressing. It’s packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, making it perfect for meal prep, lunch, or a light dinner. This dish brings bold, Asian-inspired flavors and is super versatile, allowing for easy customization.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken & Marinade:
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
For the Salad:
- 3 cups shredded purple cabbage
- 3 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ cup shelled edamame
- ½ cup diced green onion
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts
For the Peanut Dressing:
- 3 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp sriracha
- 2 tbsp warm water (to thin)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients and coat the chicken. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together peanut butter, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sriracha, and warm water until smooth.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a pan over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Add the remaining marinade and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, mix cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, edamame, green onions, and cilantro. Add the cooked chicken and peanuts.
- Toss & Serve: Drizzle with the peanut dressing, toss to combine, and enjoy immediately!
Notes
- For extra crunch, toast the peanuts in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less sriracha.
- Make it vegetarian by swapping chicken for tofu or tempeh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stir-fry & Tossed
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired