Orange Sesame Chicken Salad: Fresh & Bright
This Chicken Salad Recipe with Orange Sesame could be my latest preference. Fresh orange is one of my go-to citrus fruits for salads—it’s bright, sweet, and refreshing without being overly acidic. A nutty and rich dressing goes well with crunchy green cabbage and seasoned chicken breast.
This combination makes a delicious dish that is hard to beat. Trust me, you will love this one!
Always Toast Your Nuts: A Game Changer
One of the best cooking tips I picked up during my time on MasterChef was to always toast your nuts. Honestly, I don’t know why I hadn’t been doing this all along!
Toasting nuts, like the slivered almonds in this recipe, brings out their natural oils and fats. These oils and fats give nuts their deep, rich flavors.A properly toasted nut transforms the texture too.
An untoasted almond can be dry and crumbly. In contrast, a toasted almond adds a nice crunch and snap. This makes it a great addition to any chicken salad recipe. Whether you’re working with sunflower seeds, walnuts, or almonds, toasting is key for enhancing flavors and textures.
The Perfect Dressing: Sweet, Tangy, and Nutty
A salad is only as good as its dressing, and this orange sesame chicken salad has a standout one. The perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors ties everything together beautifully. For me, a great vinaigrette should be light, fresh, and packed with flavor, and this one checks all the boxes.
The combination of sesame oil, maple syrup, and fresh ginger creates an incredible flavor profile. The sesame oil gives it a rich, nutty base, while the ¼ cup of maple syrup adds the perfect hint of sweetness. The ginger brings a bit of heat that pairs perfectly with the soy sauce and citrusy zest from the lemon juice.
Shake everything well in a jar or whisk it in a small bowl. You’ll have a dressing that works for any chicken salad.
The Star of the Show: Cabbage Deserves More Love
Cabbage is an underrated ingredient that often doesn’t get the credit it deserves, especially when eaten raw. For this chicken salad, cabbage serves as the perfect base. It stays crispy way longer than other greens like lettuce, making it a great option for meal prep. Plus, its light flavor lets the other salad ingredients shine.
When used raw, cabbage has a satisfying crunch that adds texture to every bite. But it’s not just for salads—cooked cabbage is just as versatile. You can grill, steam, or sear it, and it’ll hold up beautifully. Trust me, cabbage is the MVP of this orange sesame chicken salad.
How to Make the Best Orange Sesame Chicken Salad
Here’s how I build this chicken salad from beginning to end, ensuring every bite packs in flavor:
- Start with the Chicken: Using boneless skinless chicken breasts, season them well and cook in a hot pan until golden brown. I love the crisp, seasoned edges you get when cooking the chicken this way—it makes a significant difference in flavor and texture. Alternatively, you can use leftover chicken to save time. Just make sure it’s cooked chicken that’s still moist and flavorful.
- Make the Salad Base: In a large salad bowl, add thinly sliced green cabbage, toasted sesame seeds, and slivered almonds. Toast the almonds first for better flavor. Throw in some dried cranberries for a burst of sweetness and some thinly sliced red onion for a bit of bite.
- Mix the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup of soy sauce and ¼ cup of maple syrup. Add freshly grated ginger and a dash of red wine vinegar. Add a splash of toasted sesame oil, or you can use olive oil. This will bring everything together and create a classic, nutty flavor.
- Combine and Toss: Add the cooked chicken, sliced orange segments, and the dressing to your bowl of salad ingredients. Give everything a good toss to make sure all the flavors meld together. For that final touch, zest a bit of the orange directly over the salad for an extra pop of citrus flavor.
Tips for Nailing This Chicken Salad Recipe
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Freshly squeezed orange juice and zest are key here. What makes this orange sesame chicken salad stand out is its unique flavor. The bright, citrusy flavor pairs perfectly with the rich, nutty sesame dressing.
- Toast Your Nuts and Seeds: Whether it’s almonds or sunflower seeds, toasting brings out their flavor. Simply toss them in a dry pan for a few minutes until they start browning and becoming fragrant. Keep an eye on them—they go from perfectly toasted to burnt in an instant!
- Prep Ahead for Meal Prep: This salad holds up incredibly well, making it perfect for prepping in advance. You can store it in an airtight container and keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve. When packed this way, it’ll stay fresh and crispy for days, making it an ideal lunch option.
Why This Chicken Salad Recipe Stands Out
What sets this chicken salad recipe apart is its combination of flavors and textures. The orange segments bring a juicy burst of citrus, while the toasted sesame seeds and almonds add a satisfying crunch. The nutty sesame dressing ties everything together, creating a salad that’s anything but ordinary.
Plus, this recipe is perfect for those looking to switch up their meal routine with something fresh and vibrant. You can easily prepare it, pack it with protein, and customize it with different veggies or toppings based on what you have on hand.
A Salad for Any Occasion
This Orange Sesame Chicken Salad is great for lunch, dinner, or even as a side at a barbecue. The kind of dish feels like you’re eating out at a fancy restaurant, but remains simple enough to make at home. Click here for the full recipe and get ready to enjoy a salad that’s bursting with flavor!
Other recipes to check out!
If you liked the sound of this Orange Sesame Chicken Salad, here are a few other salads that I think might be right up your alley!
Looking for a new FRESH apron?
Ingredients:
- 2 large Chicken Breast Cubbed
- 5 cups Green Cabbage Shredded
- 2 Oranges Segmented
- 1 Avocado Diced
- 1 cup Green Onions Sliced thin
- 1/4 cup Cilantro Chopped
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/4 cup Slivered Almonds Toasted
- 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds Toasted
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup Sesame oil
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 1/3 cup Soy Sauce
- 3 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
- 3 tbsp Grated Ginger
- 1 Orange Zested
- 1 tbsp Orange Juice
Instructions:
- Into a large bowl, add 2 diced up chicken breasts. Into the same bowl add 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp of kosher salt and 1 tsp of black pepper. Mix well.
- Place a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add in 2 tbsp of olive oil and once heated, drop in your chicken. Cook for 8-10 or until all your chicken is golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Next up let's make the dressing. Into a mixing bowl add ½ cup of sesame oil, ¼ cup maple syrup, ⅓ cup soy sauce, 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 3 tbsp grated ginger, 1 orange zested and 1 tbsp of orange juice. Give that a mix and set aside.
- Into a large salad bowl, add 5 cups of thinly shredded green cabbage, your cooked chicken, 2 segmented oranges, 1 diced avocado, 1 cup of sliced green onions, ¼ cup of chopped cilantro along with ½ cup of toasted slivered almonds and 2 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds.
- Add in your dressing and toss well. Garnish with more toasted almonds and sesame seeds.
Similar recipes
Rate & leave a comment
3 Comments
— End of comments —
— No more comments to load —
Made this yummy salad for dinner last night. Family loved it. Only thing we didn’t care for was the avocado. It didn’t go with the rest of the ingredients. Too soft and fatty in texture. The rest was spot on and there’s nothing left, just like Andy said would happen. 🙂
I’m headed to the store for items to make the orange chicken salad.
Such an easy and delicious recipe! I will make it again. Loved it!