This vibrant Bang Bang Chicken Salad recipe combines tender marinated chicken, fresh veggies and a creamy, sweet chilli dressing. Perfect for meal prep, picnics or a quick lunch or dinner!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Ingredients
CREAMY BANG BANG DRESSING
250gwhole-egg mayonnaise
60gsweet chilli sauce
2tbsptamari or all-purpose soy sauce
1tbsprice wine vinegar or lime juice
1tbsphoney
1tbspsriracha or hot chilli sauce (optional)
½tspfreshly grated garlic
BANG BANG CHICKEN
600gboneless, skinless chicken breast (2 breasts, sliced in half to make thinner steaks), (or use 4 cups/640 g shredded leftover roasted chicken)
Make the dressing – Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
Marinate the chicken – Place the chicken in a large shallow bowl and add the sweet paprika, onion powder, pepper, tamari, sugar and olive oil (do not add the water to the marinade). Toss the chicken using tongs to coat it evenly in the marinade.
Cook and shred the chicken – Heat a large, deep, heavy-based frying pan over medium–high heat. Add the chicken (no extra oil required) and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Add the water to the base of the pan in the last 3 minutes of cooking to help deglaze the pan and scrape up any sticky bits. Set aside on a plate. Once cool enough to handle, shred the chicken using two forks. Toss well so the seasoned coating flavours all the meat.
Cook the noodles – Prepare the vermicelli rice noodles as per the packet instructions. Rinse with cold water and drain. (Are your noodles sticking? See note 2.)
Assemble the salad – Arrange the noodles on a large platter. Add the wombok cabbage, purple cabbage, carrot, bean sprouts and shredded chicken on top of the noodles, in that order, so they are layered.
Dress the salad – Drizzle generously with the creamy bang bang dressing.
Serve – Top with the spring onion, coriander and crispy fried shallots. Serve in the centre of the table for everyone to help themselves.
Notes
Note 1 – Vermicelli rice noodles are great for their light, chewy texture, but you can also use soba noodles, glass noodles, or even cooked rice for a variation.Note 2 – To stop the noodles sticking, ensure they are thoroughly cooled under cold running tap water. This removes the “sticky” starch and also stops the cooking process. If you like, as an extra precaution you can drizzle the noodles with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and toss to coat to stop them sticking (this is particularly handy when preparing the noodles ahead of time).
Make Ahead
Chicken – Marinate the chicken for up to 48 hours prior to cooking.Creamy bang bang sauce – Prepare the sauce and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 48 hours prior to cooking.
Leftovers
Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Tastes best if the dressing is stored separately and tossed just before serving. Not suitable to freeze.
Nutrition Facts
Bang Bang Chicken Salad
Amount per Serving
Calories
976
% Daily Value*
Fat
61
g
94
%
Saturated Fat
10
g
63
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
30
g
Monounsaturated Fat
19
g
Cholesterol
122
mg
41
%
Sodium
1977
mg
86
%
Potassium
926
mg
26
%
Carbohydrates
68
g
23
%
Fiber
3
g
13
%
Sugar
21
g
23
%
Protein
38
g
76
%
Vitamin A
3790
IU
76
%
Vitamin C
36
mg
44
%
Calcium
86
mg
9
%
Iron
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.