Spicy Peanut Chicken Zoodle Salad (Printable)

Tender chicken meets crisp zucchini noodles in a zesty peanut dressing with fresh vegetables.

# List of ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 14 ounces)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Zoodle Salad Base

05 - 3 medium zucchinis, spiralized
06 - 1 large carrot, julienned or spiralized
07 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly shredded
09 - 3 green onions, sliced
10 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
12 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Spicy Peanut Dressing

13 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
14 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
15 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
16 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
17 - 1 to 2 teaspoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
18 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
19 - 2 tablespoons warm water, plus more as needed
20 - 1 garlic clove, minced
21 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until fully cooked and juices run clear. Set aside to cool, then slice thinly.
02 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha, sesame oil, water, garlic, and ginger until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional water if needed.
03 - Spiralize zucchinis and carrots. Thinly slice bell pepper, cabbage, and green onions. Combine all vegetables in large salad bowl.
04 - Add sliced chicken to vegetable bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated.
05 - Top with chopped peanuts, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or refrigerate 20 minutes for chilled salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way the creamy peanut dressing clings to every single strand of zucchini means no boring bites
  • You get that perfect crunch to crash ratio with raw vegetables and tender chicken
  • Its one of those rare dishes that actually tastes better after sitting for twenty minutes
02 -
  • Zucchini releases water as it sits, so dress this salad right before serving if you want it crisp
  • The dressing thickens in the fridge, whisk in a splash of warm water to loosen it up
03 -
  • Use room temperature peanut butter for easier whisking
  • Taste your zucchini noodles first, bitter ones can ruin the whole salad

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