Grilled Thai Chicken Noodle Salad is one of those dishes that hits every craving at once, it’s light, fresh, tangy, savory, and just the right amount of spicy. Perfect for warm weather or whenever you want something vibrant and satisfying, this salad brings together bold Thai flavors with the heartiness of grilled chicken and rice noodles.
At the heart of the dish is tender grilled chicken, marinated in a flavorful blend of garlic, lime juice, soy sauce or fish sauce, and a touch of brown sugar for balance. After a quick char on the grill, the chicken develops that irresistible smoky-sweet coating that pairs beautifully with the cool noodles and crisp vegetables.
The noodles, usually thin rice noodles, soak up the tangy dressing made from lime juice, fish sauce, rice vinegar, chili, and a bit of honey. It’s zippy and bright, bringing everything together with a signature Thai kick.
Fresh veggies like shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, red cabbage, and bell pepper add color, crunch, and even more freshness. Toss everything together with the grilled chicken, then top with crushed peanuts, fresh cilantro, Thai basil, and mint for a dish that’s as fragrant as it is flavorful.
What’s great about this salad is how versatile it is. You can enjoy it warm, room temp, or cold from the fridge. It makes a great meal-prep option, too, just keep the dressing separate until ready to serve for maximum crunch.
Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, a summer lunch, or something different for a potluck, Grilled Thai Chicken Noodle Salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s light but filling, healthy but indulgent, and always bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup carrot shredded
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup mint chopped
- 1/4 cup Thai basil chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts chopped
- 2 Green onions sliced
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 red chili minced
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into thin strips.
- Cook rice noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice noodles, shredded cabbage, shredded carrot, chopped cilantro, chopped mint, chopped Thai basil, chopped peanuts, and sliced green onions.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic, and minced red chili.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Serve the salad topped with grilled chicken strips.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
This salad is soooo good! I made it for my family, and they loved it. The flavors are just perfect.
I don’t know, I tried it and it wasn’t that great. Maybe it needs more seasoning or something? 🤔
So glad to hear that! This salad is a family favorite here too! The dressing really makes it pop.
Very fresh and light! I added some extra veggies I had. Yum!
That sounds delicious! I bet the extra veggies add a nice crunch. Can’t wait to try it! 😋
Too many herbs in my opinion. I like simple stuff. Next time, just chicken and noodles for me.
My kids loved it! Finally a salad they eat! Will make again for sure. 🥗
Fish sauce? Yuck! I swapped it for ketchup. Still turned out okay. 😂
I don’t know, it seems like too many ingredients. Can’t I just use dressing from a bottle? Maybe I’ll try it, but I’m skeptical.
Grilled chicken is the best. But fish sauce? Eww. Can I switch that for ranch dressing? 😂
This was so good! The flavors were amazing and the chicken was juicy. Definitely making it again.
I dunno, grilled chicken with noodles? Sounds kinda weird to me. But if you liked it, that’s cool I guess.
I’m so glad you liked it! This salad sounds super refreshing. I can’t wait to try it myself!
Tried it yesterday and the chicken was a bit dry. Maybe I overcooked it? Not bad overall, but needs tweaking.
Why do u use so many herbs? They all taste the same to me! It was okay I guess.
This was super delicious! The flavors were so bright and fresh. I could eat this every day!
Easy to follow! But I used leftover rotisserie chicken instead. Not sure if I messed it up.
Why you put fish sauce? Yuck! Who wants fish in their salad? Disgusting!
Grilled chicken was nice but noodles turned mushy! 😩 You gotta be careful with timing!
This was delicious! The flavors were so fresh and vibrant. Definitely a keeper! 😍
Sounds amazing! I love Thai flavors! 🌶️
So easy to make! I had all the ingredients ready. The lime juice added a lovely tang!
I don’t know, it was kinda bland for me. I expected more kick. Maybe I didn’t add enough chili?
Yum, this is delicious! I added some sriracha for extra spice and it was perfect. Thanks for sharing!
I tried this recipe too! It was really good, but I didn’t have fish sauce, so I used soy sauce instead. Still pretty tasty! 👍
What kind of noodles is rice noodles? Never heard of it. I used spaghetti instead and it tasted weird.
I thought Thai food was all spicy?? This was kinda bland. More chili next time.
Too complicated for me. I just wanna eat, not do all this cooking 🙄.
I get it! Cooking can be a hassle sometimes. Maybe try a simpler recipe, like a sandwich or a salad without grilling? 🤷♂️
Come on, it ain’t that hard! Just grill the chicken and mix everything. You can do it! 😊
I tried this recipe and ended up with a kitchen disaster. The chicken was dry and the noodles were sticky. Not making this again. 🤨
Can I use tofu instead of chicken? I’m vegetarian. Would the recipe still work? 🤔
Quick and delicious! I swapped the fish sauce for soy sauce since I don’t eat fish, and it turned out fine.
I made this for my family and they all loved it! So fresh and tasty. Will definitely make again! 😊
That sounds delicious! I’m glad your family enjoyed it. The mix of flavors must have been amazing! 😍
Too many herbs for me. It was like chewing on a garden! 😅
I think the herbs add a lot of flavor! But I get it. Some people don’t like that much. Maybe just reduce them next time? 😊
This sounds fancy for a salad. I like simple stuff. I’ll stick to my lettuce and ranch lol.
Not sure about the fish sauce… it was kinda stinky. Maybe I’ll leave it out next time? 🤔
I don’t know, the texture of the noodles was weird. Maybe I overcooked them? Not a fan.
Lol, made this for my boys and they didn’t know they were eating salad! Sneaky, sneaky. Will make it again!
I will NOT be putting mint in my salad. That just sounds wrong. 🤢
I substituted almonds for peanuts and it still turned out great! 🌟
This salad was so refreshing! The flavors were amazing! Definitely a keeper! 🌟
easy to make, but my kids didn’t like the fish sauce. Maybe I should’ve left it out.
😕
I tried making this, but my chicken turned out dry. I must’ve grilled it too long. 😩
I ain’t never had noodles in a salad before, but this was DELICIOUS! Didn’t think I’d like it, but wow!
Easy to prepare! Loved how colorful it was. Will make again. 👍
Yummy! Simple and nice. Way cheaper than ordering takeout!
Looks fancy and all, but I can’t eat fish sauce. Any substitutions? 🤔
Can someone tell me if I can use normal basil instead of Thai basil? I can’t find it anywhere!
Salad was good but it took too long to make. Just wanted something quick.
Took long? I thought it was pretty easy. Grill chicken, boil noodles, mix stuff. What more you want?
I get it! Sometimes you just want a quick meal. Maybe try a simpler salad next time? They’re so much quicker!
This salad is simply amazing! The flavors blend perfectly. A must-try!
Sounds good, but I don’t like fish sauce. Can I leave it out or replace it with something?
I completely agree! I made this for dinner last night and everyone loved it. The freshness is just wow!
Grilled chicken timing was easy and the salad tasted like it came from a restaurant. I used regular basil because I couldn’t find Thai basil—still good.
My grill situation is not great… I overcooked the chicken by like 2 minutes and it was a little dry. Still tasted good with all the herbs though.
Wow, took me an hour to make. Worth the time! Will make again for sure.
I’m skeptical about fish sauce. Isn’t it just rotten fish sauce? This could never taste good.
Not gonna lie, the amount of herbs is a lot. I used what I had and it was still decent, but it’s definitely more “aromatic” than I expected.
Grilled chicken was perfect! Not super into the noodles tho, made it sticky.
I’m glad you liked the chicken! But yeah, rice noodles can get sticky. Next time, try rinsing them under cold water longer before adding them to the salad.
Me and my kids love this! It’s fresh and crunchy. Happy tummy!
I’m not sure about this one. Sounds a bit too fancy for just chicken and noodles.
So happy to hear that! This recipe is a hit with everyone, especially kids. 🍜
Yum, love the fresh herbs! I substituted the chicken with tofu and it was just as good!
this looks 2 fancy for me, I just stick with pasta and ketchup lol 🤣
Could you really grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side? My breasts took way longer and dried out a little. Maybe mine were huge though.
Not a fan of fish sauce. Can I skip it? What would happen?
This salad is so fresh and perfect for summer! I added some shrimp and it was delish! 🌞
That sounds amazing! Adding shrimp is a great idea! Can’t wait to try it. 😋
Took me an hour to prepare everything but worth it! Yum! Will make again. ✨
Not bad, but I think 8 ounces of rice noodles is maybe too much for 2 chicken breasts? Mine turned out a little noodle-heavy and I had to add extra cabbage to make it feel right.
Wow, just wow! 😍 Such a refreshing salad!
Just FYI: if you don’t rinse the noodles with cold water they clump. I learned that the hard way. Great recipe otherwise!
Yep—cold water rinse is key with rice noodles. I always do it too or it turns into one big noodle lump 😅 Thanks for the tip!
I didn’t rinse mine once and… wow. It was like a noodle brick 😂 But the rest is super good! Next time I’ll rinse for sure.
Wow! This is the best salad I’ve made in a long time. Thumbs up! 👍
I don’t know about using fish sauce, kinda smells bad to me. Might try soy sauce instead.
Who needs all these ingredients? I just used chicken, noodles, and some salad dressing. Way easier. 🙄
I don’t get why people like fish sauce. It smelled weird to me, but once mixed into the dressing it was okay. Not my favorite, but I’d try it again with less chili.
Totally get that—fish sauce can be an “oof” smell on its own. But once it’s in the mix, it kind of turns into this salty, savory magic. Love that you’d try it again with less chili!
Pretty good overall. My noodles clumped a bit even after rinsing (next time I’ll rinse longer and make sure they’re not too hot). The dressing is legit though—would make that again for sure.
I was skeptical about fish sauce with honey, but it balanced out nicely. The dressing tasted a little strong on its own, then perfect when tossed.
I had the same worry—fish sauce + honey sounds weird—but yeah, once it’s mixed it makes total sense. Glad the dressing hits right after tossing.
Not gonna lie, I still think it would taste too salty. Like even with honey, 2 tbsp fish sauce is a lot. I might cut it in half next time.
To be honest, I’ve never had Thai food before, but this made me a fan!
Absolutely delicious! The blend of flavors works so well. The chicken came out perfectly grilled.
I think it needs more spices. The flavor was kind of bland for me. 🤔
I found this recipe difeicult, I’m not sure if the fish sauce is really necessary. 🤔
This was good, but I used a different kind of noodle. Still yummyy!
This salad was soooo fresh and tasty! Perfect for summer!
Honestly I didn’t have Thai basil so I used regular basil and it still tasted good. Maybe not totally authentic but who cares.
The recipe is accurate, but I wish it said whether to use hot noodles with dressing. Mine cooled fast and the dressing didn’t cling as well. Still tasty!
I made something like this but my noodles stuck together. Rinsing with cold water is key, I think. Also that fish sauce + honey balance is genius.
Loved the freshness—cilantro/mint/Thai basil together is such a nice punch. I’ll probably add a little extra chili next time because mine was only mildly spicy.
Totally agree—cilantro/mint/Thai basil together is such a flavor bomb. Extra chili is a great call!
5 stars. also i didnt rest my chicken and it was dry, so listen to that part lol. great salad tho
Delicious! I added extra chili because I like it spicy. Yum! 🔥🔥
Extra chili sounds amazing! I love when a dish is spicy. Can’t wait to try this recipe! 🔥
I don’t think chili is supposed to go in salads… But if you like it spicy, then good for you!
Grilled chicken was dry… Next time, I’m marinating it first. Anyone try that?
I don’t know, but chicken can be dry if you over grill it too. Maybe check the temp? But yeah, marinating sounds good I guess.
Marinating is def a good idea! It helps keep the chicken juicy. I’ve done it before with yogurt and spices. Try it out! 👍
My family loved this! I’ll definitely be making it again. Maybe add some avocado next time.
Way too much chili for my taste. I can handle spicy but minced chili in there was a lot. Otherwise the dressing smelled amazing.
This was incredible! The flavors were so vibrant. I loved the mint and lime combo!
Why do people always put chili in everything? Mine was too spicy, ruined my meal.
This is such a fresh combo—lime + fish sauce is seriously the move. I grilled the chicken a touch longer and it was still juicy after resting. Will make again!
I tried something similar but I think my ratios were off. The fish sauce can go from “bright” to “too salty” fast. What brand/amount did you use exactly?
Yes!! Lime + fish sauce combo is legit. I love that you grilled a little longer and it still stayed juicy—gives me confidence to try. 😄
This looks so fresh and punchy—lime + fish sauce + chili is exactly my kind of flavor. I’ll definitely try it with Thai basil if I can find it.
Hmm I’m not sure about fish sauce with the lime. Like…won’t it taste kinda strong? I might cut it in half or swap it for something else, but I’ll try it once.
Yes!! This combo sounds spot on—lime + fish sauce + chili is my go-to too. Love that there’s Thai basil and mint in the salad; it’ll smell amazing.
Grilled chicken AND noodles AND all these herbs? I’m impressed. The peanuts on top are the crunch this needs.
I’m impressed too but I might reduce the lime—I feel like 1/4 cup lime juice is a lot. Also do you mince the chili really fine or just chop? either way, sounds yummy 😅
Totally agree—grilled chicken with rice noodles can be a little boring, but the herbs make it pop. And those peanuts?? Perfect crunch and texture contrast.
Grilled 6-8 minutes per side was way too long for my chicken (it dried out). Also I didn’t have Thai basil so I used regular basil and it tasted… kinda like pesto salad? Still ate it though.
Grilling the chicken was a great idea. Tastes super fresh! I’ll be making this again!
Grillin chicken ain’t my thing, but this sounds tasty. Is it really as good as they say?
I’m glad you enjoyed it! The grill really does add a nice flavor. What did you serve it with?
I followed the recipe but it didn’t taste like Thai food… maybe I did something wrong? :/
Quick and healthy, my kids even liked it! Who knew they would eat cabbage.
This was AMAZING. The lime + fish sauce combo tastes super legit, and the chicken on the grill made it feel like a restaurant bowl. I used low-sodium soy sauce and it still popped!
Yummyy! My kids can’t stop eating it. Will make again for sure!
This is literally the best salad I’ve ever made! 🍜👍
I’m glad you loved it! This salad is bursting with flavors. 🎉
Made this tonight and it was legit. The dressing is the star; I didn’t even miss anything else. Next time I might add a little extra lime.
Could use more veggies. Was kinda bland after mixing it all together. 😕
The noodles were good, but my rice noodles turned into a clumpy mess because I rinsed too aggressively. Still edible though. Next time I’ll rinse gently and toss right away.
So simple and easy! I threw everything in a bowl and it still turned out good.
I like the idea, but 8 oz noodles + all that veg might be a lot—mine turned out a bit heavy. Still tasty though, just next time I’ll use slightly less noodles.
Omg this is a winner! I used regular basil since I couldn’t find Thai basil. Still yum!
This was bright, fresh, and honestly addictive. The lime + fish sauce combo is spot on, and grilling the chicken really makes it feel special. I used a little extra Thai basil and it smelled amazing!
I don’t know about the herbs, they sounds fancy but my husband hates green stuff. Should I skip?
I tried reducing the chili because my spice tolerance is low, and it was still really flavorful. Would make again.
Made this for dinner tonight—fresh, bright, and the dressing is seriously addictive. Grilling the chicken adds so much flavor. I used spaghetti-shaped rice noodles and it still worked great.
My grill flare-up was wild lol. Chicken came out juicy though. Salad was crunchy-fresh and the dressing soaked in nicely.
This recipe is awesome! I made it for a party and everyone loved it. Definitely a keeper!
It looks good, but where’s the meat? I only see chicken.
Not sure about cooking rice noodles on the grill vibe—your steps are fine though. The dressing looks a little heavy on soy/fish for my taste; I’d cut one tbsp and see.
Totally agree on the soy/fish—2 tbsp fish sauce is a lot if someone’s not into salty-forward dressings. I’d also start by dialing back and tasting.
I made it for lunch and it was pretty good, but I think I could’ve used less fish sauce. Next time I’ll start with half and adjust. Also my rice noodles stuck a bit even though I rinsed them.
Not gonna lie, the fish sauce threw me at first, but after mixing and tasting, it actually balanced everything. Texture was great with the crunchy cabbage and carrots.
Way too much chopping for me. Cilantro, mint, basil, peanuts, green onions—my cutting board looked like a disaster after. Flavor was decent but effort was high.
Totally get that. I use a big chef’s knife and still feel like I’m doing yard work with all those herbs 😅 Next time I’m mincing less—maybe just tear the herbs instead of chopping.
I tried it and it tasted kinda “fishy” to me, not in a good way. I think I’m just not used to that ingredient.
Simple but wow. 5/5 would eat for lunch forever.
I followed it pretty closely but my rice noodles clumped a bit even after rinsing. Next time I’ll toss them with a tiny bit of oil.
I made something similar once and it turned out great. The only thing I’d change is timing for the noodles so they don’t get mushy—otherwise looks legit.
My family would demolish this. The herbs (cilantro, mint, Thai basil) make it feel restaurant-level. I’m stealing this idea for sure.
Could be bland without enough chili. Also, 8 oz noodles feels like a lot compared to 2 chicken breasts—unless you really like noodle-heavy salads.
The instructions are straightforward but I’m confused: do you grill with the salt/pepper only, or should the chicken get some of that sauce? I might marinate next time.
I did a little both—marinated the chicken in half the sauce for like 20 minutes, then grilled with that same flavor. Turned out amazing. Probably not what the recipe intends, but it’s legit.
Good question! From the directions, you *season with salt/pepper* for grilling, then use the sauce as the *dressing*—it says “Pour dressing over the salad.” So the chicken shouldn’t get the sauce unless you add that as a tweak.
Made it for dinner and wow. The noodles stayed springy after rinsing, and the chicken was juicy. Pretty much restaurant vibes.
Grilling chicken is too much work for a salad, I’ll stick to my sandwich.
Grilled chicken + noodles is a weird pairing… I tried it anyway and omg it’s actually good. I’m shocked.
The flavors are there, but my noodles stuck together even after rinsing. Maybe I rinsed too quickly or didn’t toss with a tiny bit of oil.
Yummy, but I forgot the peanuts and used almonds instead. Still great!
This sounds super fresh—lime + herbs + chili is exactly my vibe. I’d probably add a little extra peanut too.
Totally agree—lime + herbs + chili is such a punchy combo. Extra peanut sounds legit for sure!
Grilled chiken and salad is not real cooking!! 👎
Just another salad? I expected more flavor. Just didn’t hit the spot.
It’s a salad, how can it really be that flavorful? Sometimes simple is best! I liked it!
I get what you mean! I thought it was gonna be zesty but it fell flat. Maybe more spices next time could help?
Do I really need all those herbs? Seems too much. I’m just gonna skip some.
Rice noodles got mushy for me even though I followed the package. Maybe I rinsed wrong or left them in the bowl too long before dressing. Flavor was good though.
Maybe the noodles are just too thin? I follow the pack too and still get mushy if I rinse AND then leave them in water for a minute… like, whoops. Next time, drain hard and rinse fast, then add dressing/stuff ASAP. Glad the flavor still came out good!
Ugh, that’s frustrating—mushy rice noodles usually means they sat too long after cooking or got over-soaked. I’ve found rinsing with cold water immediately (and draining really well) helps a lot. Also toss with the dressing right away instead of letting them wait in a bowl.
So easy to make! But I forgot the peanuts. 😔
Lime juice amount seems maybe high? But I guess it’s what makes it pop. I’m gonna try it anyway—fingers crossed. 😅
I used 2 tbsp fish sauce the first time and it was REALLY salty, so I’m glad this one says 2 tbsp (still—tasting is key!). Otherwise, great balance with honey.
Not bad, but the fish sauce was too strong for me. Maybe less next time?
What are rice noodles? Can I use regular ones? Looks fun tho!
I’m skeptical about using fish sauce with soy + honey, but it turned out balanced. I did have to adjust salt because my fish sauce was way salty. Still, the salad texture with the cabbage is perfect.
Too many herbs for me. Cilantro, mint, Thai basil—sounds expensive and like it’ll all overpower the chicken.
The dressing was good, but the chicken was dry. I think I overcooked it.. 🙁
Recipe looks great but my peanut topping got soggy… maybe I waited too long before eating. The herbs are strong (in a good way) and the lime really pops. Will make again, just timing better.
I don’t have Thai basil, so I used regular basil + a little extra mint. It was still good, just not identical. Still worth making.
I followed it and… idk, it tasted kinda too fishy for me. The honey also made it feel a little weirdly sweet. Maybe I’ll try less fish sauce next time. Also cilantro overload? 😅
This sounds bright and fresh—lime + fish sauce + herbs is such a good combo. I’d probably add extra chili just because. 😄
Yes!! Extra chili is the move 😄 I like to crush the chili a bit more so it really blooms in the dressing.
Not gonna lie, I was scared of the fish sauce amount, but it balanced out with honey. It’s salty-sweet with a nice kick.
I felt the same way at first—2 tbsp fish sauce sounds like “too much.” But once you whisk it with honey and lime it totally clicks. Great description of that salty-sweet + kick.
Hmm I dunno… I used 2 tbsp fish sauce and mine was still kinda salty even with honey. Maybe my limes were weak or the fish sauce brand was stronger? Still good though—next time I’ll start with 1 tbsp.
I followed the timing and it came out fine, but 6–8 minutes per side felt like it depends heavily on the thickness of the chicken. Mine might’ve been thinner and I got a little dry.
Yeah, chicken thickness makes a huge difference. I usually add a quick temp check—165°F in the thickest part—then I’m not guessing 6–8 minutes.
Mine was thicker than expected, so 6-8 min/side wasn’t enough and I had to put it back on. Dryness can happen if it’s overcooked—resting helped though.
Grilling chicken and then putting it in salad is genius. Also the Thai basil is a game changer if you can find it. I used regular basil once and… it wasn’t the same.
Yes!! The grilled chicken totally takes it to another level. Thai basil is like the secret weapon—regular basil just doesn’t have the same vibe.
I tried something similar but I didn’t have Thai basil. I subbed sweet basil and it was still tasty, just not quite as “Thai” I guess. Your description makes me want to hunt it down.
Nice! Simple, but I’m confused—do you add the peanuts before or after dressing? I mixed everything together and it was fine. Also “Enjoy!” made me laugh 😅
I tried this and it came out kinda bland for me. I think I needed more lime or more fish sauce. Also I forgot to mince the chili so the heat was weird.
This looks super refreshing—lime + fish sauce + mint is such a good combo. I might add a little extra chili for heat. Can’t wait to try it.
Yes!! Lime + fish sauce really makes it pop. Extra chili is totally the move—just go easy at first so it doesn’t overpower the mint.
I’ve made similar stuff but I’m confused: how much fish sauce? You wrote 2 tbsp—sounds like a lot? Also do you rinse the noodles with cold water or it’ll be soggy? Either way I’m trying it.
Fish sauce in salad??? I’m skeptical. Like, the smell alone would turn me off—unless I’m missing something.
The ingredient list is solid, but 8 oz noodles felt like a lot for only 2 chicken breasts. Next time I’ll either grill a bit more chicken or use fewer noodles.
Ok but fish sauce + soy sauce + honey sounds like a weird sweet-salty thing… I was like “nope” at first. Then I tasted it and I’m converted.
Grilling the chicken makes it so much better than just pan-searing. 6-8 minutes per side feels about right depending on thickness.
I followed it mostly, but I didn’t have Thai basil so I used regular basil. Also I forgot to mince the garlic (I just chopped it) and it was still edible lol. 10/10 would try again with the real ingredients.
Honestly this sounds like a win—regular basil still works with the lime/fish sauce vibe. Glad it came out edible (and tasty!).
I’ve made this with mint only and still liked it, so I’m not surprised the garlic being chopped didn’t ruin it. Minced just helps it spread more evenly.
Pretty good overall, but my noodles stuck together a bit even after rinsing. Next time I’ll rinse longer and maybe add a tiny splash of sesame oil to the noodles. Flavor was still strong though—loved the chili kick.
Not gonna lie, I’m skeptical about grilling chicken then mixing with rice noodles—sounds like it could get kinda dry. But I tried it anyway and it was actually fine. Could’ve used a bit more dressing for my taste.
How Thai is this really without galangal or something? Still, it’s tasty and I like that it’s not heavy. Would make again.
The dressing ratio seems spot on. I made something similar and the fish sauce doesn’t taste “fishy” once it’s balanced with lime and honey.
Fish sauce + honey is a weird pairing… I thought it would taste like sweet salty brine. It was okay, but not my favorite. Wouldn’t redo it exactly as written.
I followed it pretty closely, but 2 tbsp fish sauce felt a little strong for my taste. I ended up using closer to 1.5 tbsp and added extra lime. Still tasty and refreshing.
Glad you adjusted! Fish sauce can be super punchy depending on brand—1.5 tbsp plus extra lime sounds like the perfect fix.
Not sure about rice noodles on a salad with grilled chicken—sounds like a texture gamble. But if you rinse well with cold water like the recipe says, it might work.
Yeah I get what you mean about the noodles—rice noodles can go mushy fast. Rinsing with cold water is key though, and I usually toss them right away so they don’t sit and soften up. Also the lime/fish sauce dressing helps keep everything lively. I’d try it once and see!
I didn’t have Thai basil so I used regular basil and it still worked. The crunchy cabbage and peanuts make it feel way more filling than a normal salad.
Good to hear it still works with regular basil! I love how the crunchy cabbage + peanuts make it feel more filling—like a real meal not just a side salad.
Hmm “thai basil” is kind of the point though 😅 but glad yours worked. I might add a little extra lime or chili if using regular basil—just to keep the flavor punchy.
Yesss. Fish sauce + sesame oil is my weakness. Also that crunch from cabbage + peanuts? Perfect summer dinner.
I was worried the fish sauce would be too strong, but once mixed with lime and honey it balanced out really well. Next time I’ll add a little extra chili for more heat. Yum!
Yes!! That’s exactly how I feel too—fish sauce can be super intense on its own, but with lime + honey it totally evens out. Extra chili next time sounds perfect. 🌶️
I tried something similar but mine still tasted “fishy” 😅 I might not have whisked it long enough or used enough lime. Does it get smoother after it sits for a bit?
Pretty tasty, but I felt like my first dressing was a bit too salty from the fish sauce/soy mix. Next time I’ll cut fish sauce slightly and add more lime to balance.
Glad you liked it! Totally agree—fish sauce/soy can go salty fast. Cutting the fish sauce and adding extra lime is a great fix. I’ll try that next time.
Interesting—mine turned out perfect with 2 tbsp fish sauce, but I always use low-sodium soy sauce. If you used regular soy, that could explain it.
Fish sauce… on noodles… no thanks. Still, respect for the vibe.