A cool and crunchy main dish salad that will feed a family and then some. Helloooo lunch box! The creamy peanut butter dressing is snap to make and packs a big flavor!
This is a noodled up version of my Crunchy Thai Salad. You can make this spicy or not so much. I fall in the ‘not so much’ category, so you will find this recipe on the mild side and family friendly. For you hotties, a bigger pinch of chili flakes or a slug of sriracha added to the peanut sauce and you are good!
If you are a follower, you know I love easy meals with tons of flavor. This is no exception. The ingredient list may look a little daunting but it’s all stuff you most likely have hanging in your pantry. A little bit of this and a little bit of that…..
I used dry ‘chinese noodles’ that I found in the asian section of my regular old supermarket but spaghetti will work just fine. Thin spaghetti, even better. The chinese noodles take only 5 minutes to cook so that was a bonus.
Make your sauce first. Like all my recipes that include a sauce or dressing, it makes a ton! I hate coming up short in the sauce department. Better to be over sauced than under sauced…true?
NOTES:
- Use grilled or baked chicken thighs, breasts or store bought rotisserie chicken will work just fine.
- Sub store-bought cabbage slaw in lieu of napa or savoy cabbage.
- You can use spaghetti or thin spaghetti in place of chinese noodles.
- Subs for coconut milk: half and half, chicken stock, almond milk. (regular milk could curdle, not advised).
- If you like spicy, heat up the sauce with additional chili flakes or hot sauce.
A few more Thai inspired dishes you might like!
Thai Chicken Coconut Curry Skillet
To crunchy tasty and fresh meals!
Kathi
Thai Chicken and Noodle Salad with Easy Peanut Dressing
Ingredients
- For Peanut Dressing
- 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth or chunky will work
- 1/3 cup coconut milk - lite is fine
- 1 clove large garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped ginger or 2 teaspoons ground
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- juice of one lime
- pinch of red chili flakes - adjust for your taste
- For Salad
- 1 pound cooked sliced chicken thighs (chilled or room temp)
- 4 cups sliced savoy or napa cabbage bagged store bought in a pinch
- 1 carrot julienned
- 1/2 large red pepper sliced
- 1 english cucumber seeded and sliced
- 8 ounces pasta - chinese noodles or spaghetti
- Chopped peanuts for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions - drain and rinse. Chill in refrigerator while making remaining salad.
- For Dressing:
- Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend for about 10 seconds. Taste for seasoning, adjust. Add additional coconut milk to thin if necessary.
- Plate up noodles, cabbage and chicken.
- Drizzle with peanut dressing and sprinkle with additional chopped peanuts if desired.
Nutrition
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
I like my food extra spicy- but sometimes I’m feeding people who don’t!! I love that this is so easy to customize, and the sauce sounds delicious.
Kathi Kirk says
Thank you Sara! Hoping you get a chance to try it!
Tania @ COOKTORIA says
This salad looks scrumptious! I am saving the recipe for later. 🙂
Kathi Kirk says
Thank you Tania! Big fan of your site!
Melissa says
I’m a hottie (hubs is Cajun, not much choice!) and I LOVE peanut sauce. I want to try this with the crunchy version you mentioned. The Chinese noodles you used here, are they rice noodles or ramen?
Kathi Kirk says
They were just called “Chinese Noodles”…I know! Not much help! They were wheat not rice, that much I know because I checked the back of the package. I got them at Safeway, they can’t be too hard to find. I think Ramen would work really really well, in fact I was kinda wishing I would have used them for the extra color!
Hanady says
But really can there ever be too much peanut dressing? I think not! Looks spectacular and your shots make me what to grab the chopsticks and dig in! Nice!
Kathi Kirk says
Thank you! I am such a sucker for photography compliments :). I struggle so much with the lighting in my house. Really appreciate your note!
Tamara says
It’s always better to be “over sauced” at our house! Haha. I’m one of the hotties you refer to, and I love the way you suggest ways to customize this recipes. It looks and sounds delicious!
Kathi Kirk says
I actually used the sauce to dip my chicken in for a few days as a condiment. Love that stuff! Thank you for your note!