Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Print View)

A cool mix of shredded chicken, crunchy veggies, and sesame dressing over noodles.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 - Cook noodles according to package instructions; drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside.
02 - Mix shredded chicken, cooked noodles, julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and chopped cilantro in a large bowl.
03 - Whisk together toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, peanut butter, grated ginger, minced garlic, and optional chili flakes until smooth.
04 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss gently to ensure even coating.
05 - Transfer to serving platter or individual bowls; garnish with toasted sesame seeds and optional lime wedges.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving for a chilled option.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, making it perfect for those days when you want something nourishing without spending hours cooking.
  • The sesame dressing is silky and deeply satisfying—it tastes like you've unlocked some secret restaurant technique when you actually just whisked a few things together.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and flexible enough to adapt to whatever proteins and vegetables you have on hand.
02 -
  • Rinsing the noodles thoroughly under cold water is not optional—it stops them from cooking further and removes excess starch so they don't clump together.
  • The dressing should taste slightly over-seasoned before you toss it with the noodles, because the noodles will mellow it out as everything sits together; this is the single most important thing that separates good versions from forgettable ones.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes over medium heat and you'll unlock a nutty depth that changes how the whole dish tastes compared to buying them pre-toasted.
  • If you're short on time, use a rotisserie chicken from the store and let that convenience free you up to julienne your vegetables by hand—that little bit of attention to texture makes a bigger difference than you'd expect.
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