Copycat Cheesecake Factory Chinese Chicken Salad
If you've ever been to the Cheesecake Factory, you know they have an amazing Chinese Chicken Salad that's so delicious and satisfying. What if I told you that you could recreate this side dish from your favorite restaurant chain in your own kitchen?
Today, I'm sharing a copycat version of the Chinese Chicken Salad Cheesecake Factory recipe, a copycat recipe with ingredients you can find at your local grocery store. You'll crave it for lunch every day!
Love This Cheesecake Factory Copycat? Try My Other Delicious Recipes!
Why I Like My Version Better
I get to control the ingredients! I go for organic, high-quality, fresh ingredients. I love organic, pasture-raised chicken. It tastes better and it doesn’t have the hormones in it.
I like the coconut strips because they are gluten-free, not deep-fried in a high-inflammatory oil. I use avocado oil because it has a high smoke point.
The crispy rice noodles are not deep-fried in a highly inflammatory vegetable oil, just air-fried with avocado oil.
The dressing is made with real, high-quality ingredients. Olive oil is the base, which is an amazing healthy fat!
Jazz's Recommended Products
For this Cheesecake Factory Chinese Chicken Salad recipe, I highly recommend the following products:
Our Place Wonder Oven Air Fryer
This versatile air fryer is perfect for achieving that crispy texture on the chicken. It's easy to use, efficient, and looks great on any kitchen counter.Our Place Mini Perfect Pot
This mini pot is ideal for boiling the noodles. It's stylish, functional, and perfect for small batch cooking.Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray
This avocado oil spray is perfect for air frying and adding a light, healthy coating of oil to your ingredients. It has a high smoke point and is made from pure avocado oil.
Cheesecake Factory Chinese Chicken Salad Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
1 head of romaine lettuce, cored and chopped
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup green onions
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 rotisserie chicken, deboned & chopped (about 4 cups)
5 coconut wraps
2 rolls of rice noodles
Avocado oil spray
Sesame soy dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
3/4 teaspoon salt, or less, depending on soy sauce sodium level
3/4 teaspoon garlic
3/4 teaspoon ginger powder
How to Make Cheesecake Factory Chinese Chicken Salad
For the crispy rice noodles:
Begin by bringing a medium-sized pot of water to a boil.
Once boiling, add the dry rice noodles and stir until they separate. Let them boil for 5 minutes, then drain.
Lay the noodles on a paper towel or kitchen towel to absorb the remaining liquid.
Place the noodles on an air fryer tray and lightly spray with avocado oil.
Air fry at 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
For the Crispy Coconut Strips:
Slice the coconut wraps into 1/4-inch strips, each about 3-4 inches long.
Arrange the strips in a single layer on an air fryer baking tray.
Lightly spray the strips with avocado oil.
Air fry at 400°F for 3-4 minutes, being careful not to burn them.
Prep the Salad:
Wash and chop the romaine lettuce, green onion, and cilantro. Add them to a large bowl along with the carrots.
Debone and chop the rotisserie chicken, then add it to the salad.
Sprinkle with half of the sesame seeds and mix to combine.
For the Dressing:
In a jar, combine the olive oil, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, salt, garlic, and ginger powder. Shake well. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
Add the crispy rice noodles and crispy coconut strips to the top of the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad to coat.
Mix well and serve immediately with a garnish of cilantro and additional sesame seeds on top.
Storage
Dressing: Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Crispy Rice Noodles: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Crispy Coconut Strips: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Salad: Best enjoyed with the dressing immediately. If you plan on prepping this for later, wait to mix all of the ingredients right before enjoying it for a delicious dinner!
FAQ
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To make the rice noodles a little more crispy, you can air fry them for an additional 2-3 minutes. Just be sure to keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
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Yes, you can use cooked and chopped chicken breasts instead of rotisserie chicken. It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken.
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Crispy wonton strips are a great alternative to coconut strips and will add a delightful crunch to the salad.
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Yes, you can use red wine vinegar instead of rice vinegar in the dressing. It will change the flavor profile slightly but will still be delicious.
This Copycat Cheesecake Factory Chinese Chicken Salad perfectly captures the Asian-inspired flavors of the original, featuring crispy rice noodles, tender rotisserie chicken, and a sesame soy dressing with fresh ginger and rice wine vinegar. It's a satisfying and flavorful dish that demonstrates how homemade copycat recipes can match restaurant quality. Enjoy preparing and savoring this fantastic salad in your own kitchen!
Copycat Cheesecake Factory SkinnyLicious® Asian Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 head of romaine lettuce
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup green onion
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 rotisserie chicken, deboned & chopped (about 4 cups)
- 5 coconut wraps
- 2 rolls of rice noodles
- Avocado oil spray
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, or less depending on soy sauce sodium level
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic
- 3/4 teaspoon ginger powder
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a medium-sized pot of water to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the dry rice noodles and stir until they separate. Let them boil for 5 minutes, then drain.
- Lay the noodles on a paper towel or kitchen towel to absorb the remaining liquid.
- Place the noodles on an air fryer tray and lightly spray with avocado oil.
- Air fry at 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Slice the coconut wraps into 1/4-inch strips, each about 3-4 inches long.
- Arrange the strips in a single layer on an air fryer baking tray.
- Lightly spray the strips with avocado oil.
- Air fry at 400°F for 3-4 minutes, being careful not to burn them.
- Wash and chop the romaine lettuce, green onion, and cilantro. Add them to a large bowl along with the carrots.
- Debone and chop the rotisserie chicken, then add it to the salad.
- Sprinkle with half of the sesame seeds and mix to combine.
- In a jar, combine the olive oil, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, salt, garlic, and ginger powder. Shake well. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
- Add the crispy rice noodles and crispy coconut strips to the top of the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad to coat.
- Mix well and serve immediately with a garnish of cilantro and additional sesame seeds on top.
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