Crunchy Ramen Chicken Salad (Printable)

Shredded cabbage, rotisserie chicken, and crunchy ramen noodles tossed in a 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 instant ramen noodles (3 oz, 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing 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 the prepared dressing over salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to combine, ensuring all components are evenly coated.
04 - Serve immediately to maintain maximum crunch, or allow to sit for 10 minutes if a softer noodle texture is preferred.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing hits that perfect sweet and salty spot that makes people keep coming back for seconds
  • It comes together in twenty minutes but tastes like you put way more thought into it
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that adding the dressing too far in advance turns this into something entirely different—the noodles become chewy and the cabbage collapses
  • The salad really needs that handful of toasted almonds, so don't skip them even if you're short on time, because they provide crunch that stays satisfying even as the noodles soften
03 -
  • Crush the ramen noodles while they're still in the package using a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy pan for mess-free breaking
  • If your honey has crystallized, warm the whole jar in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes before measuring
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