CopycatSpices
Copycat Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad
Toss together Applebee's famous Oriental Chicken Salad with crispy chicken, crunchy almonds, wontons, and a tangy Asian sesame dressing.
copycat · applebees · casual-dining · salad
🕑Prep20 min
🍳Cook15 min
⏱Total35 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/2 cup crispy wonton strips
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- 1.Make the dressing. In a jar or bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, Dijon mustard, vegetable oil, and grated ginger. Shake or whisk until emulsified and set aside.
- 2.Cook the chicken. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-sear over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
- 3.Toast the almonds. Place the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Remove immediately to prevent burning.
- 4.Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, shredded red cabbage, and shredded carrots. Toss with about two-thirds of the dressing.
- 5.Plate and top. Divide the dressed greens among plates. Top with sliced chicken, toasted almonds, crispy wonton strips, and sliced green onions. Drizzle with the remaining dressing and serve immediately.
Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad has been one of the chain’s top sellers for years. The combination of crispy chicken, crunchy almonds and wontons, colorful vegetables, and that signature Asian-inspired sesame dressing creates a salad that is satisfying enough to be a full meal. This copycat version is fresher and tastier than the restaurant original.
Why This Recipe Works
The dressing is the heart of this salad. The combination of sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey creates that sweet-savory-tangy Asian flavor profile that ties everything together. Fresh ginger adds a sharp, aromatic note that bottled dressings lack. The variety of textures — tender chicken, crunchy almonds, crispy wontons, and fresh greens — keeps every bite interesting.
Pro Tips
- Make the dressing ahead of time — it keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week and actually improves as the flavors meld.
- Buy crispy wonton strips or make your own by cutting wonton wrappers into strips and frying them for 30 seconds.
- Add the crunchy toppings right before serving so they do not get soggy.
- For a crispy chicken version, bread and fry the chicken tenders instead of grilling.
