Description
Napa Almond Chicken Salad is a refreshing and crunchy salad featuring tender cooked chicken, crisp Napa cabbage, toasted almonds, juicy grapes, and fresh green onions. Tossed in a light, creamy sesame-inspired dressing made with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and toasted sesame oil, this salad makes for a flavorful, easy-to-prepare lunch or meal-prep option perfect for warm days and quick meals.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 4 cups Napa cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 cup red grapes, halved
- ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded or chopped cooked chicken, thinly sliced Napa cabbage, halved red grapes, toasted sliced almonds, shredded carrots, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, and sesame seeds. Gently mix to combine the ingredients.
- Prepare the dressing: In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, rice vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Dress the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Chill and meld flavors: Cover the salad and refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to blend and the salad to chill for a refreshing taste.
- Serve with garnish: Just before serving, sprinkle additional toasted almonds on top for an extra crunch and nutty flavor, enhancing the salad’s texture and presentation.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken works especially well for this recipe, providing tender and flavorful cooked chicken with minimal prep.
- Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes to bring out their nutty aroma and deepen the flavor.
- For a sweeter twist, consider adding mandarin orange segments or dried cranberries to the salad.
- For a lighter dressing, substitute some or all of the mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt to reduce fat content while maintaining creaminess.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, American
