Edamame Crunch Chicken Salad (Printable)

Protein-packed salad with shredded chicken, edamame, crisp vegetables, and zesty ginger dressing. Ready in 35 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup shelled edamame, cooked and cooled
03 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
04 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
05 - 1 cup shredded carrots
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

→ Crunch & Garnish

08 - 1/2 cup roasted cashews or sliced almonds, optional
09 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

→ Ginger Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup rice vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
12 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
13 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
17 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce, optional
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Method:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, lime juice, and sriracha if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine shredded chicken, edamame, green and red cabbage, carrots, green onions, and red bell pepper.
03 - Pour the ginger dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle with roasted cashews or almonds and toasted sesame seeds.
05 - Serve immediately, or chill for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of textures from crisp vegetables and tender chicken creates a satisfying bite in every forkful
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like something from a fancy lunch spot
  • The dressing doubles beautifully as a marinade for grilled chicken or a sauce for grain bowls
02 -
  • The salad gets soggy if dressed more than a few hours before serving, so keep the dressing separate if meal prepping
  • Room temperature ingredients absorb the dressing better than cold ones straight from the fridge
  • Leftovers, if any, are perfect wrapped in a lettuce cup or tucked into a whole wheat wrap the next day
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 2 minutes, watching constantly so they don't burn
  • Make double the dressing and store it in a jar in the fridge, it keeps for two weeks and elevates any simple green salad
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