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If your idea of salad is sad lettuce and bottled ranch, it’s time for a glow-up. This Thai Chicken Salad with Honey Peanut Dressing is the opposite of boring. It’s bold, bright. and crunchy. And thanks to the rotisserie chicken and an outrageously good dressing, it tastes like something you’d get at your favorite Thai spot—without ever leaving your kitchen.
Even better? It’s ridiculously easy to throw together and filled with nutrient-dense ingredients that’ll leave you feeling satisfied instead of snacky 30 minutes later.
Let’s start with the real MVP: the honey peanut dressing you make in a blender. Creamy peanut butter gets whisked with lime juice, honey, fish sauce, and a touch of toasted sesame oil. Fresh garlic and ginger bring the zing, while Thai chiles add a whisper of heat. It’s salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy all in one bite.
This dressing isn’t just a salad topping. It’s a reason to look forward to eating vegetables. Drizzle it over rice bowls, grilled chicken, or literally anything that needs a flavor upgrade.
Good-for-You Ingredients, No Fuss Required
This salad skips the usual prep drama. There’s no cooking required if you grab a rotisserie chicken (or use leftover chicken). Just chop, toss, and drizzle. Here’s what you’re getting with every forkful:
Cabbage: The unsung hero of fiber and crunch. It holds up to the dressing and delivers antioxidants with every bite.
Carrots and bell peppers: A rainbow of beta-carotene and vitamin C.
Chicken: Hello, lean protein. Keeps you full and energized.
Peanuts: Healthy fats and a little crunch candy for your salad.
Green onions and cilantro: Herbaceous, fresh, and full of zing.
It’s a complete meal with balanced macros and bold flavors. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and can easily be made paleo or Whole30 by swapping soy sauce for coconut aminos and skipping the honey-roasted peanuts.
Meal Prep Goals, Met
This Thai chicken salad holds up like a champ in the fridge. The cabbage stays crisp for days, and the dressing can be made in advance and stored in a jar. It’s ideal for meal prep, weeknight dinners, or when you want to impress guests without actually working too hard.
Pro tip: Serve with lime wedges on the side. A final squeeze of citrus before serving wakes up all the flavors like magic.
One Salad, Endless Possibilities
You can eat this salad straight out of the bowl, tuck it into lettuce cups, or pile it into rice paper wraps for a DIY spring roll situation. Leftovers (if you have them) are amazing for lunch the next day.
This is not diet food. It’s feel-good food—full of flavor, texture, and all the stuff your body actually wants.
Ready to make your salad era your main character moment?
Thai Chicken Salad with Honey Peanut Dressing is the opposite of boring. It’s bold. It’s bright. It’s crunchy. And thanks to the rotisserie chicken and an outrageously good dressing, it tastes like something you’d get at your favorite Thai spot—without ever leaving your kitchen.
Ingredients
UnitsScale
FOR THE DRESSING
1/2cup creamy peanut butter
1/4cup honey
1/4cup fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 tsp. soy sauce or coconut aminos
2 fresh Thai chiles, seeded and minced (about 2 tsp.)
1 tsp. grated garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger (about 1-inch] piece)
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
FOR THE SALAD
4 cups finely chopped green and red cabbage (about 1 small head total)
