Description
A vibrant and flavorful Bang Bang Chicken Salad featuring warm shredded chicken tossed in a creamy peanut butter dressing with a hint of sriracha, served over a bed of fresh mixed greens, cucumber, red onion, carrots, cilantro, and topped with crunchy peanuts and sesame seeds. This quick and easy salad combines savory, spicy, and tangy flavors with a satisfying crunch, perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
Salad
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Heat chicken: Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once warm, add the shredded chicken and sauté for 2-3 minutes until heated through, then remove it from the pan and set aside.
- Prepare dressing: In a small mixing bowl, combine rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sriracha sauce, creamy peanut butter, and mayonnaise. Whisk thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and free of lumps.
- Assemble salad base: In a large salad bowl, arrange the mixed salad greens as the base. Layer the sliced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, shredded carrots, and chopped cilantro evenly over the greens.
- Add chicken and dressing: Place the warm shredded chicken on top of the salad. Drizzle the prepared peanut butter dressing evenly over the chicken and vegetables.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle the chopped peanuts and sesame seeds over the salad for added texture and flavor. Toss gently to coat everything with the dressing, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken—rotisserie or leftover roasted chicken works well.
- Adjust sriracha to taste for desired spice level.
- For a lighter dressing, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Chilling the salad greens prior to assembly enhances freshness.
- Peanut allergies? Substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter and omit peanuts.
