If you’re craving a refreshing yet satisfying meal, a Cashew Chicken Salad with Soy-Ginger Dressing is the perfect choice. This dish combines tender, seasoned chicken with crunchy cashews and a mix of fresh vegetables, all brought together with a flavorful soy-ginger dressing. It’s a vibrant and well-balanced salad that offers a delightful blend of textures and tastes, making it ideal for lunch or dinner.
The chicken is the star of this dish. Marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and a touch of sesame oil, it becomes tender and flavorful. Grilled or pan-seared until golden and juicy, the chicken is sliced into bite-sized pieces, making it easy to enjoy in every bite. The addition of cashews brings a satisfying crunch and a slight sweetness that complements the savory chicken perfectly.
The fresh vegetables in the salad add brightness and color. Crisp greens like spinach or mixed lettuce form the base, while shredded carrots, cucumber, and bell peppers bring in both texture and flavor. These vegetables not only enhance the salad’s visual appeal but also provide essential nutrients, making this dish as nourishing as it is delicious.
The soy-ginger dressing is the key to bringing all the elements together. Made from soy sauce, fresh ginger, garlic, and a touch of honey or brown sugar, this dressing has a perfect balance of salty, sweet, and slightly tangy flavors. It’s the perfect complement to the savory chicken and the sweetness of the cashews, giving the entire salad an irresistible depth of flavor.
For added texture and flavor, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top of the salad just before serving. They provide a nutty crunch that pairs wonderfully with the cashews and further enhances the overall experience.
This Cashew Chicken Salad with Soy-Ginger Dressing is not only delicious but also a healthy meal choice. The chicken offers protein, while the cashews provide healthy fats, and the vegetables deliver vitamins and fiber. The light dressing adds flavor without being heavy, making this salad a refreshing, satisfying dish.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 2 cups mixed salad greens
- 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1/2 cup carrots shredded
- 1/4 cup Green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped fresh
- 1/4 cup cashews chopped
- For the Soy-Ginger Dressing:
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp ginger fresh, grated
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, and sesame oil to make the dressing. Set aside.
- Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then grill or pan-sear for about 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before slicing into strips.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, and chopped fresh cilantro.
- Add the sliced chicken to the salad bowl, then drizzle with the soy-ginger dressing. Toss well to combine.
- Sprinkle the chopped cashews over the top of the salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
meh. I think it needs more veggies? Like cucumber or something. Also cashews got soggy for me after a while.
Yeah, more crunch would help—cucumber sounds great. I might add bell pepper too. Also for the cashews, I toast them in a dry pan first and that keeps them from going soggy.
Kinda bland honestly. Needs more flavor or something. Maybe add cheese?
Delish! I switched out cashews for peanuts. Still just as good. Nutty goodness!
I love that you switched to peanuts! That’s a great idea! I might try that next time too. Thanks for sharing 🙂
meh.
I think it’s delicious! The dressing really brings everything together. 😋
I don’t know, it just seems like a lot of ingredients for a salad. Can’t a salad just be lettuce?
Delicious! My whole family loved it! Easy to make and fresh flavors. Will make again!
Too many greens. I’m more of a meat guy. Need steak next time!
I get it! Sometimes you just crave that big juicy steak, right? This salad sounds good but definitely needs some meat on it!
Nah, man! Salad’s all about the crunch and freshness. You can put meat but Cashew Chicken is already a flavor bomb!
This dressing sounds dangerously good—soy + honey + sesame oil is a combo I could drink. The cashews on top are a great touch for crunch.
Is soy sauce really healthy? I read somewhere too much isn’t good. Just saying.
You’re right to be cautious! Too much soy sauce can be high in sodium, so moderation is key. But a little in a healthy dish like this can be okay!
Like, why would you add honey to a savory dish? That doesn’t sound right. Just saying!!!
Tastes great but way too many greens. I like my salad with some meat!
Salad??? Just give me more meat. Haha!
I was skeptical about the soy-ginger combo but wow! This is so good. Even my kids loved it!
I followed the recipe but my chicken turned out dry. Maybe I cooked it too long?
I don’t know about this recipe, seems like too many ingredients for a salad. But hey, to each their own I guess.
I make this for my family a lot. they just love it! very fresh and healthy! 😍
I agree! It’s such a refreshing dish. Perfect for summer! ☀️
Looks good but are cashews really healthy? I thought they were high in calories…
This salad is sooo good! The dressing is to die for! Will definitely make again.
I made this for my family dinner, but my kids didn’t like the ginger. They said it was too spicy. 🤷♂️
Meh. Just another salad. Nothing special. Seemed a bit bland. Will not make again.
Love this recipe, but can we replace the chicken with chickpeas for a veggie version? 🤔
I dont like cashews, can I use peanuts instead? Also, took too long to cook chicken for me.
This salad is amazing! The dressing is so tasty! Totally adding it to my weekly meals.
I added some hot sauce to the dressing for a kick. Gotta say, it was better that way! 🌶️
I didn’t like it much. The dressing was too strong and the cashews didn’t fit in the salad. 2/5.
It was okay but I feel like something was missing? Maybe some fruit or something. Just not my fave.
Super easy. 5 outta 5. cashews make it
Such a quick and easy recipe! Perfect for a summer lunch.
Didn’t have some ingredients, but used what I had. Still turned out pretty tasty!
What’s soy sauce? Can I just use ketchup instead?
Soy sauce is a flavorful seasoning made from fermented soybeans. Ketchup would change the taste a lot! You might want to give it a try as it is.
Ketchup? Really? That’s just weird! Why would you mess it all up when you can get soy sauce easily?
Is it really healthy if you put cashews? Aren’t those fatty?
Honestly, I didn’t think it would taste so good. But wow, it was amazing! Perfect for summer!
I made it with leftover rotisserie chicken and it still slapped. Only thing: I added a little extra ginger because I like it spicy-gingery.
I tried this with leftover chicken, turned out great! My kids loved it.
That’s awesome! Using leftover chicken is a great idea. I’m glad your kids loved it!
This salad is delish! The soy-ginger dressing really brings it to life. Will make again!
This salad is AMAZING! The dressing is so flavorful! Will make again!
This salad is amazing! The dressing gives it a unique flavor that’s just perfect. I’ve made it twice this week already!
Just tried this recipe, not that great. My sister makes hers different and it’s better. 🤷♂️
I found the chicken too dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? 🤔
Not enough chicken!! I used one whole rotisserie, and it was still kinda light, u know? 😒
I didn’t really like the taste of soy in this salad. It was a bit overpowering for me.
Why only 5-6 minutes per side? Chicken breast thickness varies a lot… mine took longer. But the salad base is solid and flavorful.
Yeah 5-6 min per side felt short for me too. Also I think my pan was hotter than “medium-high” cuz it browned fast. Still tasted great though—soy-ginger is fire.
Good point on thickness! I usually add like 2-3 minutes and check temp—breast sizes are all over the place. Glad the salad base worked for you 😊
I followed it pretty much exactly, but my chicken took longer than 5–6 minutes per side. Still turned out juicy though, so not a dealbreaker.
Chicken salad? Not my thing. I guess some folks like it tho. What’s with the cashews??
This salad was so refreshing! The dressing is absolutely delicious. Will be making again!
Absolutely delicious! I added some avocado and it was perfect.
Avocado? That’s a great idea! I never thought to add that, but it sounds yum! Can’t wait to try it! 🥑
Cilantro? Not for me. Can I substitute with something else?
The chicken was dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? Not gonna try again.
Very fresh! I added some avocado too and it took it to another level! Yummy!
I don’t like salads. But my wife loved it. So I guess it’s good.
Salads are just a bunch of leaves, in my opinion. But if she loved it, then that’s good enough! 🤷♂️
Happy your wife liked it! Maybe give it another shot, you might be surprised! 😊
Super easy and quick! I added some avocado and it was even better! 😊 4 stars!
I’m glad you liked it! Avocado sounds like a tasty twist! 😋
This is a real winner! So easy to make, and it tastes just like the one I had at a restaurant! I’m loving it!
My partner loved this! I don’t usually cook but this was easy.
I don’t know, it seems a bit complicated. Why not just use a store-bought dressing?
Yeah but that’s just lazy! This dressing ain’t hard to make and tastes way better than the bottled stuff.
Store-bought dressings can be easier, but making your own really takes the flavor up a notch! Trust me, it’s worth it.
I forgot to add ginger and it still tasted alright. Will try it again with ginger next time.
Not sure about the honey with soy sauce and vinegar. Seems kinda weird but I guess ginger helps? I’d taste before dumping it all in.
This sounds like a perfect lunch—sweet-savory soy ginger dressing on crisp greens is exactly my vibe. The cashews add the right crunch too!
I thought it needed more chicken. I like my salad hearty!
I dunno, isn’t cashew salad supposed to be light? More chicken kinda defeats the purpose, no?
I totally agree! More chicken would make it so filling. I usually add an extra breast myself.
I messed up and used the wrong vinegar. Tasted fine but not what I expected! LOL.
Where’s the recipe for fried rice? Chicken salad is nice but rice is better!
Tasty! I used peanut butter instead of honey, didn’t have any, still good!
I left out the cashews because I’m allergic, but it was still good.
I made this and it was shockingly good. Dressing clung to everything and the cilantro made it pop. Would totally make again.
The instructions are fine but I wish they said how much salt/pepper. Also ‘serve immediately’—yeah, I tried, but my family ate it too fast.
Quick and easy, perfect for a busy weeknight! Thank you!
Looks simple enough, but I’m not sure about the cashews. Aren’t they kinda unhealthy? Would roasted peanuts work instead?
I tried this last night and it was great! So flavorful and easy to make. My kids even loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Never use cashews! I prefer almonds, tastes better. Just sayin’
I tried this recipe and it came out super bland! Maybe I missed something?
I didn’t think it was bland at all! Maybe you just need to use fresh ingredients?
I found it bland too! You could try adding more spices or some chili flakes for a kick.
I don’t like cashews, can I use peanuts instead? Not sure if it will be as good.
Peanuts might work, but they will definitely change the flavor a lot. Cashews are creamier. Try it if you like! 😋
Wasn’t that great. My kids didn’t eat it! 😞
“Enjoy!” 😄 Honestly, it’s so good. I even ate it cold the next day and it was still tasty.
Yum! The ginger in the dressing is so good. My kids loved it! 🍴
Yummy! I added some avocado and it was fabulous! Thanks for sharing!