Thai Peanut Chicken Crunch Slaw Salad Recipe

Zesty Thai Peanut Chicken Crunch Slaw Salad Recipe

Thai peanut chicken crunch slaw salad bursts with vibrant flavors that dance across your palate like a culinary symphony.

Bold ingredients marry together in a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that craft an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

Crisp vegetables provide a refreshing counterpoint to tender, succulent chicken dressed in a rich, nutty sauce.

Unexpected spices weave through each bite, creating layers of complexity that surprise and delight your senses.

The combination offers a perfect balance between creamy, crunchy, and zesty elements that make this dish truly memorable.

Bright, fresh components elevate this salad from simple side to show-stopping centerpiece that will impress even the most discerning food lovers.

Why Thai Peanut Chicken Crunch Slaw Salad Is Packed with Texture

  • Burst with Vibrant Freshness: Packed with colorful coleslaw mix, broccoli slaw, and crisp vegetables, this salad delivers a rainbow of nutrition and eye-catching appeal that makes every bite exciting.
  • Savor Complex Flavor Layers: The creamy Thai peanut sauce combined with zesty lime juice creates a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes that dance across your taste buds with incredible depth.
  • Enjoy Quick and Easy Preparation: Using rotisserie chicken and pre-shredded slaw mixes, this recipe offers a speedy meal solution that takes minimal effort but delivers maximum deliciousness in under 15 minutes.
  • Celebrate Texture Perfection: Crunchy peanuts and crisp vegetables provide delightful contrast against tender chicken, ensuring a satisfying eating experience with multiple interesting textural elements in every forkful.

Ingredients for Thai Peanut Chicken Crunch Slaw Salad

Salad Base:
  • Coleslaw Mix: Provides a crisp and fresh foundation for the salad with a classic cabbage blend.
  • Broccoli Slaw: Adds extra crunch and nutritional boost with its sturdy texture.
  • Matchstick Carrots: Brings sweet, vibrant color and additional crispness to the salad.
  • Green Onions: Delivers a mild, sharp onion flavor with a fresh green accent.
  • Red Bell Pepper: Introduces bright color and sweet, crisp vegetable element.
  • Cucumbers: Offers cool, refreshing texture and light hydration to the salad.
  • Cilantro: Provides bright, herbal notes and aromatic freshness.
Protein:
  • Rotisserie Chicken: Convenient, tender protein that adds rich, savory flavor to the salad.
Dressing and Garnish:
  • Thai Peanut Sauce: Creamy, tangy sauce that brings authentic Thai flavor and binds the salad.
  • Lime: Adds bright acidity and helps balance the rich peanut sauce.
  • Chopped Peanuts: Gives a delightful crunch and nutty flavor to complement the salad.

How to Toss Together Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad

Step 1: Gather Salad Ingredients

Collect all ingredients for a vibrant and fresh salad:
  • Coleslaw mix
  • Broccoli slaw
  • Matchstick carrots
  • Green onions
  • Red bell pepper
  • Cilantro
  • Rotisserie chicken
  • Cucumbers

In a large mixing bowl, combine these ingredients to create a colorful and nutritious base.

Step 2: Prepare Dressing

Whisk together Thai peanut sauce and freshly squeezed lime juice in a separate small bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss thoroughly, ensuring every ingredient is evenly coated with the zesty and creamy sauce.

Step 3: Add Crunchy Topping

Sprinkle chopped peanuts over the salad to introduce a delightful nutty crunch and additional texture. The peanuts will provide a satisfying contrast to the soft vegetables and tender chicken.

Step 4: Final Toss and Serve

Give the salad a final gentle mix to distribute the peanuts. Serve immediately to enjoy the crisp vegetables and vibrant flavors at their peak. This salad works beautifully as a standalone meal or a refreshing side dish.

Tips for Creamy, Crunchy Thai Chicken Slaw

  • Boost Crunch Factor: Reserve some peanuts to sprinkle just before serving to maintain maximum crispness and prevent soggy nuts.
  • Customize Protein: Swap rotisserie chicken with grilled tofu, shrimp, or sliced steak for a personalized protein option that suits your taste.
  • Prep Ahead Smartly: Chop vegetables and cook chicken in advance, storing separately to keep ingredients fresh and crisp until final assembly.
  • Balance Dressing Perfectly: Gradually add peanut sauce and taste as you mix, ensuring each ingredient is evenly coated without becoming overly saturated.
  • Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast peanuts lightly in a dry skillet before chopping to release their natural oils and intensify their nutty, rich flavor profile.

How to Store and Serve Thai Peanut Chicken Salad Again

Store and Reheat Leftovers:
  • Refrigerate: Transfer leftover salad to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing separate to prevent soggy vegetables.
  • Drain Moisture: Before serving, drain any excess liquid and gently mix to redistribute the dressing and ingredients.
  • Reheat Chicken: Warm shredded chicken separately in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, then fold back into the salad to maintain its fresh texture and prevent overcooking.

What Matches with Thai Peanut Crunch Salad

  • Pair with Crisp Riesling: Complement the spicy, nutty Thai peanut sauce with a chilled, slightly sweet Riesling that balances the salad's bold flavors and provides a refreshing contrast.
  • Match with Ginger Kombucha: Enhance the salad's Asian-inspired profile by serving a zesty ginger kombucha, which adds probiotic benefits and echoes the ginger notes in the dressing.
  • Serve alongside Sesame Edamame: Create a complete meal by adding a side of warm, lightly salted edamame pods, which provide additional protein and a complementary nutty undertone to the chicken slaw.
  • Combine with Jasmine Green Tea: Cool down the salad's spiciness with a light, fragrant jasmine green tea that cleanses the palate and supports the dish's Southeast Asian flavor profile.

Thai Chicken Slaw Variations You’ll Want to Try

  • Asian-Inspired Veggie Swap: Replace chicken with tofu or edamame for a vegetarian protein-packed version. Add crisp snap peas and julienned cucumber for extra freshness and crunch.
  • Spicy Southwest Remix: Transform the salad by substituting peanut sauce with chipotle-lime dressing. Incorporate black beans, grilled corn, and swap cilantro for fresh chives to create a southwestern-style slaw.
  • Mediterranean Fusion Bowl: Switch out the Thai flavors for Greek-inspired ingredients. Use grilled chicken, replace peanuts with crumbled feta, and dress with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette. Add kalamata olives and diced cucumber for an authentic Mediterranean touch.
  • Quick Protein Power Slaw: Use canned tuna or rotisserie turkey instead of chicken. Increase protein content by adding sliced almonds and hemp seeds. Drizzle with a lighter sesame-ginger dressing for a quick, nutritious meal.
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Thai Peanut Chicken Crunch Slaw Salad Recipe

Thai Peanut Chicken Crunch Slaw Salad Recipe


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4.6 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Spicy Thai peanut chicken crunch slaw delivers a symphony of bold Asian flavors and crisp textures. Zesty lime, crunchy cabbage, and tender chicken combine in one irresistible salad that promises a delightful culinary adventure you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Protein:

  • 1 ½ cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • 1 cup chopped peanuts

Vegetables and Herbs:

  • 2 cups coleslaw mix
  • 2 cups broccoli slaw
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots
  • 2 cucumbers, seeded and chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • ½ red bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Dressing and Seasoning:

  • 1 cup Thai peanut sauce
  • 1 lime, juiced

Instructions

  1. Assemble the foundation of your slaw by combining crisp coleslaw mix, broccoli slaw, and matchstick carrots in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a vibrant vegetable medley that promises texture and nutrition.
  2. Introduce shredded rotisserie chicken, diced green onions, julienned red bell pepper, fresh cilantro, and cucumber fragments to enhance the salad’s complexity and provide a balanced protein profile.
  3. Whisk together tangy Thai peanut sauce and freshly squeezed lime juice, ensuring a harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and acidic notes that will elevate the entire dish.
  4. Drizzle the prepared sauce over the vegetable and chicken mixture, gently tossing with precision to guarantee every ingredient receives a generous coating of the aromatic dressing.
  5. Sprinkle a generous handful of roughly chopped peanuts across the surface, adding a delightful crunch and nutty undertone that complements the salad’s soft and crisp elements.
  6. Plate the slaw immediately to preserve its dynamic textures, presenting a visually appealing and palate-pleasing dish that balances freshness, protein, and vibrant flavors.

Notes

  • Customize this vibrant salad by swapping rotisserie chicken with grilled tofu or shrimp for different protein options.
  • Prep ingredients ahead of time and store separately to keep the slaw crisp and prevent soggy textures.
  • Leftover salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, though best consumed fresh for maximum crunch.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 680 mg
  • Fat: 26 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 18 g
  • Cholesterol: 65 mg
Isabella Rossi

Isabella Rossi

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Liam is the voice behind many of Craft Meats’ most flavorful features. With roots in Dublin’s smoky barbecue scene and a culinary degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology, he brings time-tested cooking techniques to life. 

His training at Ballymaloe Cookery School sharpened his farm-to-table approach, giving him a deep respect for every ingredient he writes about.

He’s not about overcomplicating the process, just helping you cook meat that’s worth talking about. When he’s not writing or grilling, he’s out foraging or nerding out on regional spice blends to add to his next recipe.

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