Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Printable Version)

Tender chicken, crisp veggies, and sesame dressing combine in a fresh chilled noodle dish perfect for warm days.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ 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)

# Preparation Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's cooling and satisfying without making you feel sluggish on a warm day.
  • The sesame dressing is so good you'll find yourself making extra just to keep in the fridge.
  • Everything comes together in less than an hour, no complicated techniques required.
02 -
  • Rinsing the noodles in cold water isn't just about temperature—it stops them from overcooking and prevents them from clumping into a starchy mass.
  • Don't add the dressing until you're ready to serve; premature dressing turns everything into a soggy, one-note texture instead of a salad with different elements.
  • The toasted sesame seeds make a disproportionate difference; regular seeds are pale and forgettable by comparison.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds if store-bought ones taste flat; the difference is shocking.
  • Make the dressing a few hours ahead and let the flavors marry in the fridge—it tastes noticeably deeper by lunchtime.
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