Crunchy Ramen Chicken Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad featuring shredded cabbage, tender rotisserie chicken, and crunchy ramen noodles in sweet sesame dressing.

# 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

# How to Make It:

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 dressing over salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating of all components.
04 - Serve immediately for maximum noodle crunch, or allow to rest 10 minutes if softer texture is preferred.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The ramen noodles stay satisfyingly crisp while the cabbage stays fresh, creating this incredible texture that keeps you going back for just one more bite
  • You can throw everything together in the morning and let it hang out in the fridge until dinner time, which honestly saved me more than once
02 -
  • The noodles will continue to soften the longer they sit in the dressing, so if you are making this ahead, add the noodles right before serving
  • I learned the hard way that crushing the noodles inside their unopened package with a rolling pin keeps the tiny pieces contained instead of flying all over my kitchen
03 -
  • A mesh laundry bag actually works beautifully for crushing the noodles without making a mess, just give it a few gentle whacks with a rolling pin
  • If you make this ahead, keep the crushed noodles in a sealed bag and add them just before serving to maintain that perfect crunch
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