Asian Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Posted: 03/11/2013
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Quick and easy meals don’t have to come out of a box. This delicious Asian chicken salad can be on the table in minutes.
You guys! Let’s talk.
Quick meals do not have to come out of a box.
Quick meals do not have to be laden with fat and sodium.
Quick meals do not have to be covered in cheese to make them taste good.
Quick meals do not have to consist of mushy, grey substances.
Quick meals can be colorful. Crunchy. Flavorful. Full of nutrients. Refreshing. Interesting.
Cilantro. Lime. Red bell peppers. Scallions. Peanuts.
This salad is not lacking in the flavor department.
You could make this salad even better for you, and lower in sodium by cooking your own chicken or making your own rotisserie chicken. A grocery store rotisserie chicken is super convenient though. Easy peasy! Or add this yummy Instant Pot Honey Sriracha Chicken to the salad and skip the dressing.
If you are looking for r-e-a-l-l-y easy, use prepared bags of salad mix. Buy one bag of coleslaw mix and one bag of romaine.
Add more veggies. Sugar snap peas would be so good!
I love the homemade cilantro lime dressing in this Asian salad. Isn’t it a beautiful color? Don’t like cilantro? Substitute parsley.
If you’re not crazy about peanuts, cashews would be so good, too. Or leave the nuts off and substitute crispy wonton strips or crispy roasted chickpeas.
Have a toddler? So do I! Make separate piles of the chicken and each vegetable on their plate with a little container of dressing for dipping. They’ll love it!
I apologize for these photos. They are blurry because in order to get enough light in Michigan, I have to go outside. And you know what, it’s kinda cold outside in the middle of winter in MI. I was probably shivering. Makes it hard to steady a camera. Bear with me — at the time I was too cheap to buy a tripod.
Update: Thank goodness, I now have a nice warm studio inside! Maybe someday I’ll update the blurry photos.
More great salads that totally count as a meal:
- Cabbage Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
- Southwestern BBQ Chicken Salad (best chopped salad!)
- Shrimp Salad with Mango and Avocado
- Steak Salad with Orange-Honey Dressing
- Farro Salad with Butternut Squash and Bacon
- Thai Freekeh Salad with Peanut Ginger Dressing
- Zucchini Noodle Mason Jar Salad with Farro and Mozzarella
- Farro Salad with Chicken and Beets
- Crunchy Kale Salad with Popcorn Shrimp
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
main dish servings
Quick and easy meals don’t have to come out of a box. This delicious salad can be on the table in minutes.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro (leaves and soft stems)
- ½ cup fresh lime juice (2-3 limes)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad
- 1 store-bought rotisserie chicken or about 4 cups of shredded chicken
- ¼ medium red cabbage, shredded (or buy the pre-shredded stuff to save time!)
- 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green)
- 1 medium carrot, shredded or julienned
- 1 large head of red romaine lettuce torn into pieces
- ½ cup lightly salted peanuts
Instructions
- In a blender or using hand blender, blend cilantro, lime juice, sugar and vegetable oil until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper and more sugar if needed.
- In a large bowl, or on individual plates/bowls, layer the lettuce, cabbage, chicken, and vegetables.
- Top with peanuts and serve with dressing.
Notes
- You may also toss the romaine with half of the dressing before serving, and then layer vegetables/chicken on and serve with remaining dressing.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1g, Calories: 436kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 115mg, Sodium: 358mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
I love meals like this! And rotisserie chicken is perfect for so many things like this. The salad looks great!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
This is a perfect “quick meal”! Full of flavor and nutritious!
Erika @ The Hopeless Housewife says
This looks so amazing!
carrian says
Don’t you hate worrying about lighting and going outside? Totally my life. But I still think this looks awesome!
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama says
I think your photos look great. I don’t own a tripod either… and I think I have some photos from time to time where you can see the shake in my hands!
As for your salad….looooove it. This is my kind of easy weeknight meal or a easy lunch.
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) says
I’ve been so disenchanted with salads lately, but this one looks like it has great flavors!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
I’m always so sad when I see peanuts in things but I love everything else about this!
Rachel Gurk says
Cashews would be amazing in place of the peanuts!
Karly says
I was with you on every point until the cheese. You’ll pry the cheese out of my cold dead fingers. ;)
Seriously, this salad looks amazing! So fresh and colorful!
Rachel Gurk says
Oh don’t get me wrong–I would die without cheese. I was trying to make the point that cheese makes even the grossest meals taste good. ;)
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
This is my kind of salad, I love all the Asian flavors! CAn’t believe E will eat salad (even if just piles dipped in the dressing), never in a million years can I get my 7 year old to do that. And isn’t for lack of trying!
natalie@thesweetslife says
the pictures are fine!! The salad sounds great–amen to your proof that quick meals don’t have to be storebought!
Sues says
This is such a pretty salad! The more pretty colors, the better for you :)
Joy @ Yesterfood says
Rachel, the colors in this salad are riveting! Even in the cold, even with shivers, these are great photos. Then I find that the salad SOUNDS fantastic, too! Double whammy! :) And I love your idea of giving the salad to your toddler as finger food with dipping sauce! <3
Have a great week!
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
I love quick meals that don’t come out of a box and these flavors are my favorite. I love this Rach!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
What a wonderful looking salad! Packed with flavor. Looks like the perfect quick and healthy weeknight meal to me!!
Audra | The Baker Chick says
I think your pictures look great! I hear ya about the low lighting thing though- I have a tripod actually but never use it because I’m lazy. :)
On another note- this salad looks fresh and delicious!