Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad (Printable Format)

Tender chicken meets sweet cranberries and crisp vegetables in a zesty Asian-inspired dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups napa cabbage, thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
04 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Add-ins

06 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries
07 - 1/3 cup roasted cashews or almonds, roughly chopped
08 - 1/2 cup mandarin orange segments

→ Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
13 - 2 teaspoons honey
14 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
16 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the chicken, napa cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, green onions, dried cranberries, nuts, and mandarin orange segments.
02 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to mix and coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately for maximum crunchiness, or refrigerate for 10–15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The dressing strikes that perfect balance between tangy and creamy, clinging to every crunchy bite instead of pooling at the bottom
  • Come together in under 20 minutes with ingredients you can keep stocked in your fridge and pantry
02 -
  • The cabbage releases water as it sits, so dress this right before serving unless you do not mind a slightly softer salad
  • Toast your nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for about two minutes, watching closely so they do not burn
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create quick carrot ribbons instead of julienne cuts
  • Let the dressing sit for five minutes before tossing, the garlic and ginger need time to bloom

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