If you love bold, spicy flavors with a satisfying crunch, a Spicy Szechuan Chicken and Noodle Salad is the perfect dish for you. This salad combines tender, juicy chicken with spicy Szechuan seasoning and the richness of noodles, all tossed with fresh vegetables and a tangy dressing. It’s a vibrant and exciting meal that’s perfect for those who enjoy a kick of heat in their meals.
The chicken is marinated in a flavorful Szechuan sauce, made with chili paste, garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of honey or brown sugar. This creates a balance of heat, sweetness, and umami that infuses the chicken with deep, rich flavors. After sautéing or grilling the chicken, it’s sliced into thin strips, making it easy to incorporate into the salad.
The noodles add a hearty base to the salad, soaking up the bold flavors of the dressing and providing a satisfying texture. Thin rice noodles or soba noodles work wonderfully here, offering a neutral base that lets the flavors of the chicken and sauce shine. They also provide a nice contrast to the crunchy vegetables in the salad.
To balance the heat of the Szechuan chicken, the salad is filled with crisp, fresh vegetables like shredded carrots, cucumber, and bell peppers. These vegetables add color and texture, while also providing a cooling effect to offset the spiciness of the dish. Fresh cilantro and green onions give the salad an aromatic touch, enhancing its flavor.
The dressing, a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a little chili oil, brings everything together. It has the perfect amount of spice, tang, and richness, ensuring that each bite is packed with flavor. You can adjust the amount of chili oil depending on your preferred spice level, making this salad as mild or fiery as you like.
For an added crunch, sprinkle roasted peanuts or cashews on top, giving the salad a satisfying texture and nutty flavor that complements the spicy chicken and noodles beautifully.
This Spicy Szechuan Chicken and Noodle Salad is a perfect combination of spice, texture, and freshness. It’s a filling yet light meal that’s packed with protein, vegetables, and a burst of flavor in every bite. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a dish to impress at your next gathering, this salad is sure to stand out.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 2 tbsp Szechuan sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 ounces rice noodles cooked according to package instructions
- 1/2 cup carrots shredded
- 1/2 cup cucumbers sliced
- 1/4 cup Green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and cornstarch. Add chicken and toss to coat. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add chicken to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together Szechuan sauce and rice vinegar. Pour over chicken and stir to coat.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked rice noodles, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, green onions, and cilantro.
- Add chicken mixture to the bowl and toss to combine.
- Garnish with chopped peanuts and serve immediately.
Yum! 😋 Love it!
This was so delicious! The flavors are just perfect. Can’t wait to make it again!
I thought it would be too spicy, but it was actually just right! Thanks for the recipe.
Not spicy enough for me! I added some chili flakes and it was better. But overall good!
My chicken turned out dry… I must’ve cooked it too long? Not sure I wanna try it again.
Absolutely delicious! The flavors were incredible and it was super easy to make. Will definitely make this again!
I was skeptical about using Szechuan sauce but it turned out amazing! Spicy and fresh, loved it!
Found it a bit salty, maybe cut down on the soy sauce next time? Still, loved the crunch from the peanuts!
Love this! So fresh and crunchy. Perfect for summer meals.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it out at our next barbecue!
Not so sure about the Szechuan sauce, isn’t it too spicy for summer? 🤔
Really good meal! I added some bell peppers and it turned out great. Will make again!
Really easy to follow instructions! I’m no chef, but I managed to make this with my 10-year-old. We both had fun!
Why are there peanuts in a Szechuan dish? I thought it was supposed to be all about heat! 🤷♀️
Peanuts add a nice crunch and balance the spice! It’s actually pretty common in Szechuan cuisine. You should try it!
Meh. Didn’t impress my family. They usually love spicy food, but this was a no-go.
Sorry, but this did not work for me. The chicken turned out tough and the noodles were mushy. Disappointed.
Is it really Szechuan if there ain’t no peppers? I mean, come on! Just saying.
Super easy to make! I love how fresh it tastes. Definitely making this again.
YUMMY! I could eat this every day! The peanuts on top are the best part.
I don’t know about Szechuan chicken, my mom makes it like this but with beef. It’s a bit different.
I don’t like cilantro, can I leave it out? Overall, the dish was okay.
Yeah, you can totally leave out the cilantro! It might not taste quite the same, but it’ll still be good. I don’t like it either!
This was like a flavor explosion in my mouth! The ginger really makes a difference.
Totally agree! The ginger adds that special kick. This is definetly a keeper!
I dunno, sounds kinda spicy for me. Can you really taste the chicken with all that ginger?
This was a hit at my dinner party! The flavors were so good, but I did add some extra veggies. Will make again!
The instructions were confusing. You should say how long to cook the noodles!
I totally agree! It threw me off too. Cooking times are important!
Wowzer! This dish is FIRE! 🔥 The best salad I’ve had in a long time. Highly recommend!
It was a bit too spicy for my taste. I think I’ll reduce the amount of Szechuan sauce next time.
Yeah, I agree! Szechuan sauce can be super spicy. A little less next time sounds good. Can’t wait to try it with less heat.
Tried this but I didn’t have cornstarch so I used flour. Didn’t work well. I’m not a chef, so maybe it was just me?
Don’t worry, using flour instead of cornstarch can really change the texture. It’s not you! Maybe try it again with cornstarch next time.
Nah, it ain’t your fault. Flour won’t thicken like cornstarch. I did that once too, trust me, it was a mess. Keep at it though!
Yummy! I liked it! But I used spaghetti noodles instead of rice noodles. Hehe.
I dunno, man. The Szechuan sauce is too spicy for my taste. I couldn’t finish it.
I totally get it! Szechuan sauce can be really spicy. Maybe you can try reducing the amount next time? Or adding more noodles to balance it out.
I didn’t have rice noodles, so I used spaghetti instead. It turned out okay, but I think it would be better with the right noodles.
I don’t really cook much and this was kinda confusing. What’s rice vinegar?
Rice vinegar is basically a type of vinegar that’s made from fermented rice. It’s common in Asian cooking! Don’t worry, it’s alright to learn as you go! 😊
I don’t know about that Szechuan sauce. Seemed too spicy for my kids. I would give it a 3.
This recipe is gpood. I like chicken and noodles. Eazy to make. Yum!
This is the best recipe I’ve tried in a long time! The flavors are amazing! Definitely 5 stars!
So good!!! 😍
Do I HAVE to use chicken? Can I use tofu? Asking for a friend. Lol. 🙃
Tofu would be fine! Just make sure you press it to get rid of excess water. 😊
But it’s called ‘Szechuan Chicken’ for a reason! I don’t think tofu will work. 🤔
This recipe is absolutely delicious! The flavors are perfect. I added extra peanuts and it’s amazing!
Yummm! I used spaghetti noodles instead, turned out great. 😋