Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Printable)

A cold noodle dish with shredded chicken, fresh vegetables, and a savory sesame dressing for light meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles & Protein

01 - 9 oz thin egg noodles or rice noodles
02 - 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (about 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)

# Steps:

01 - Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cooked noodles, julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, julienned cucumber, sliced spring onions, and chopped cilantro.
03 - Whisk together toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, peanut butter, grated ginger, minced garlic, and chili flakes until smooth.
04 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Transfer to serving platter or individual bowls; garnish with toasted sesame seeds and lime wedges if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving for best flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes restaurant-quality but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • The sesame dressing somehow makes simple ingredients taste intentional and sophisticated.
  • You can prep it ahead and it actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a bit.
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles properly under cold water or they'll clump into a solid mass once the dressing hits them.
  • The dressing tastes good while it's warm, but tastes even better after a few hours in the cold—the flavors settle and deepen instead of fighting each other.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds if you have five minutes; they taste noticeably better than anything pre-toasted and sitting in a jar.
  • If the dressing breaks or looks separated, whisk in a tablespoon of cold water and it will come back together.
Go Back