Crunchy Ramen Chicken Salad (Printable)

Vibrant cabbage, chicken, and crunchy ramen with sweet sesame dressing. Ready in 20 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 4 cups shredded green cabbage
02 - 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, skin removed
03 - 1 cup shredded carrots
04 - 3 scallions, thinly sliced
05 - 0.5 cup sliced almonds, toasted
06 - 1 package (3 oz) instant ramen noodles, chicken-flavored, noodles only, crushed
07 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro leaves, optional
08 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

→ Dressing

09 - 0.25 cup vegetable oil or toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons honey
12 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
17 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, rotisserie chicken, carrots, scallions, toasted almonds, crushed ramen noodles, cilantro if using, and sesame seeds.
02 - In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together vegetable oil, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
03 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to combine, ensuring everything is well coated.
04 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch, or let sit for 10 minutes if softer noodles are preferred.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in 20 minutes with zero cooking required, which means actual free time on your hands.
  • The sweet sesame dressing tastes fancy enough to make you feel proud, but nobody needs to know how simple it actually is.
  • That ramen crunch stays satisfying through the first bowl and beyond, making it genuinely crave worthy.
02 -
  • Don't dress this salad more than an hour ahead unless you actually want soft noodles, because ramen absorbs liquid like it's been waiting for a purpose its whole existence.
  • Toasting your own almonds and sesame seeds takes five minutes and tastes so much better than skip ping that step, trust me on this one.
03 -
  • Toast your almonds and sesame seeds in a dry skillet for about five minutes before using them, it's the difference between good and people asking for the recipe.
  • Keep the ramen noodles separate until the last possible moment, then crush them right before tossing so they stay crispy and present instead of softening into submission.
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