Spicy Thai Chicken Salad Recipe

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Spicy thai chicken salad is loaded with shredded chicken, fresh veggies, and the perfect flavor from the spicy peanut dressing! Shredded chicken breast, cocktail cucumbers, matchstick carrots, thinly sliced cabbage, jalapeno, green onion, plus peanuts and crunchy ramen noodles add so much crunch and interest to this dish. No boring salads here!

Thank you to Pure Flavor for sponsoring this post and providing the Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers for this recipe.

Spicy thai chicken salad recipe

Thai peanut dressing with a little heat gives this super healthy chicken recipe something to get excited about! I’d give this recipe a medium heat level – you notice the spice, but it’s not too spicy for kiddos to enjoy as well.

The heat comes from the sriracha in the salad dressing, and even more heat is added to the salad with jalapeno.

You can definitely make this salad super spicy by upping the spices, or milder by omitting them. Make it work for you and your taste buds!

Can you meal prep this recipe?

Absolutely!

For a fresh healthy salad, combine the vegetables and chicken, but keep the thai peanut sauce, peanuts, and ramen in separate containers.

For best results, when it is time to eat, add the dressing, ramen, and peanuts with the rest of the salad ingredients, toss, and enjoy!

How to eat more vegetables

Recipes highlighting the flavors, textures, colors, and nutrition in vegetables are great to keep on hand. If you’re looking to eat more vegetables, like the tasty Pure Flavor Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers, try any of these other healthy recipes!

• Cucumber celery juice
• Spring roll salad with shrimp
• Peanut cucumber shrimp salad
• Healthy turkey salad

These tasty cocktail cucumbers are the perfect snack to take along too. They are hydrating, great to use with dips, and perfect for lunchboxes!

My kids love them, and so do I!

What you need for spicy Thai salad

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions.

• shredded cooked chicken breast
• green cabbage
• Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers
• matchstick carrots
• green onions
• jalapeno
• dry roasted peanuts
• creamy peanut butter
• coconut aminos
• rice vinegar
• maple syrup
• sriracha sauce
• ramen square

How to make asian chicken salad

1. In a small bowl add the peanut butter, coconut aminos, rice wine vinegar, maple syrup, and sriracha. Whisk until fully combined. You can also shake the dressing to combine in a mason jar or blend it in a blender or food processor until smooth.
2. In a large bowl add the cabbage, chicken, carrots, cucumber, green onion, and jalapeno.
3. Add the peanut dressing, and toss to combine. Top with crushed ramen noodles, peanuts, and optional fresh cilantro or fresh mint!

Watch me make this delicious recipe

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

How to serve this to kids

You can absolutely serve this salad as is to kids. However, if your kid is learning to like salads or foods mixed together, maybe they would prefer it to be served a different way.

Try placing all the prepped vegetables, dressing, peanuts, ramen, and chicken in bowls and let them add them to their plates. They can then decide if they want to mix foods together or try each on their own.

This is a great way to expose kids to new foods and textures, and let them explore in a way that feels safe, inviting, and exciting!

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this healthy thai chicken salad recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Shredded chicken – Alternatives for shredded chicken are to use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or cooked and shredded boneless chicken thighs. This recipe could also be made vegetarian by substituting bean sprouts, garbanzo beans, or pan-seared tofu for the chicken.

Green cabbage – Red cabbage and napa cabbage are both good alternatives. You can also use lettuce like romaine lettuce, but it won’t be as hearty as crunchy cabbage.

Cocktail cucumbers – Mini cucumbers would also work great in this recipe!

Matchstick carrots – You can use whole carrots and shred them. Or try other colorful vegetables here like red bell peppers, green peppers, or red onion.

Jalapeno – Opt for a different spicy chili pepper, or go for green bell pepper for a more mild flavor.

Peanut butter – Almond butter works well here and is super delicious! For a nut-free alternative, try sunflower seed butter.

Coconut aminos – Soy sauce is a good option to use in place of coconut aminos. Add a little fish sauce for some extra umami flavor.

Rice vinegar – Rice vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice or lime juice will work here too.

Maple syrup – Honey is a good alternative to maple syrup.

Sriracha – Use your favorite hot sauce or chili paste to replace sriracha. You can also add some red pepper flakes for heat!

Peanuts – Chopped almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and pine nuts are all delicious alternatives for dry roasted peanuts. Have a different nut or seed on hand? Use it for some great crunch!

More healthy eating recipes you’ll love

• Greek chicken meatball bowls
• Healthy chicken burger recipe
• Homemade beef pad Thai
• Salmon tacos with slaw

If you try this recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather