Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Printable)

Cold noodles with shredded chicken, crisp veggies, and a savory sesame dressing for a light meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles & Protein

01 - 9 ounces thin egg noodles or rice noodles
02 - 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (about 10 ounces)

→ 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 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sesame Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter or tahini
13 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
17 - Lime wedges (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cooked noodles, julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and chopped cilantro until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate small bowl, 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 the combined salad ingredients and toss gently to coat all components evenly.
05 - Transfer mixture to serving platter or individual bowls; garnish with toasted sesame seeds and optional lime wedges.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sesame ginger dressing hits every flavor corner—salty, sweet, nutty, and just enough heat to wake up your palate
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant kitchen
  • Leftovers actually improve as the noodles soak up more dressing overnight
02 -
  • Overcook your noodles by just one minute and theyll turn mushy after sitting in the dressing
  • The dressing thickens as it chills, so add a splash of water or more vinegar before serving leftovers
  • Cucumber releases water as it sits, so seed it thoroughly or add it right before serving
03 -
  • Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking constantly until golden and fragrant
  • If making ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss right before serving to prevent sogginess
  • For a spicy version, add sriracha or sambal oelek to the dressing
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