Savory, sweet, and just a touch of heat, this Grilled Chicken Salad & Thai Peanut Dressing has it all. Super creamy texture from a blend of coconut milk and peanut butter, sweetness from honey, savory soy sauce, and just a dash of cayenne pepper give this dressing a flavor combination you’re going to love. Served on top of a healthy grilled chicken salad, this really is the perfect lunch time meal!

Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing Recipe

Oh. My. Gosh.

That’s how I feel about this Grilled Chicken Salad & Thai Peanut Dressing. I love grilled chicken salad to being with. It’s the perfect light yet completely filling meal that just makes you feel good. Are you ready, though? Because this post isn’t so much about the salad.

It’s all about the dressing here, people. The creamy, savory, melt-in-your-mouth peanut-y dressing.

Thai Peanut Dressing to be exact. And believe me when I tell you, it is REALLY GOOD.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing Recipe

I’ve been getting this little blog ready for Christmas lately. That means an abundance of cookies, cakes, cheesecakes, and all of the other outrageously delicious food that comes with this holiday. Seriously, whoever thought up the idea of Christmas and cookies belonging together, I need to personally thank you.

Also, this Gluten Free Slow Cooker Apple Crisp recipe, that I make for pretty much every holiday now.

Oh my goodness… The cheesecakes… Don’t even get me started on what I have planned for the cheesecake recipes I’ll be sharing. It involves Nutella. ::swoon::

I have a test-cheesecake in my refrigerator right now. I know I need to make it one more time, just to get the recipe exactly where I want it to be (optimal deliciousness). So, I may have to eat this one tonight. You know, to make room in the fridge. And for science.  That’s how this works, right?

I mean, Nutella. Come on. It was physically and mentally demanding not to eat that stuff straight from the jar when I was making this recipe.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing Recipe

Naturally, after all of those sweet, delicious projects, I need something a little bit lighter in my life. A little bit fewer calories, and more nutritious. How else do you run a food blog without outgrowing all of the clothes in your closet?

The short answer to that is salad. Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing.

And believe me when I say, salad does NOT have to be boring. There really is an endless amount of things you can put on it if you’re willing to get creative. Today it’s carrots, cucumber, zucchini, and green onions over lettuce. Top with some grilled chicken, and then go to town with the Thai Peanut Dressing.

Honestly, I could get a big bowl of raw veggies and just dip them in this dressing and be very happy. It’s that good. 

Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing Recipe

Let’s take a minute to really appreciate (and give the appropriate amount of swooning) over the creaminess of the Thai Peanut Dressing.

For this recipe, you need to purchase real peanut butter. I mean the real stuff. If there’s anything on the label other than peanuts, salt, and oil, then put it down and back away sloooowly (you don’t want to scare it… whatever’s in there).

In all seriousness though, the more traditional peanut butter brands are loaded with sugar, and since we’re adding honey to this recipe, they just won’t taste right. In fact, I’d have to get in the kitchen and re-balance the flavors completely. So, save us all of the heartache and buy the natural peanut butter to begin with.

And maybe an extra jar, to eat with a spoon.

Because peanut butter.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing Recipe

If you like this recipe, be sure to follow me on Pinterest! 

Grilled Chicken Salad & Thai Style Peanut Dressing

Savory, sweet, and just a touch of heat, this Grilled Chicken Salad with Thai Style Peanut Dressing has it all. Super creamy texture from a blend of coconut milk and peanut butter, sweetness from honey, savory soy sauce, and just a dash of cayenne pepper give this dressing a flavor combination you're going to love. Served on top of a healthy grilled chicken salad, this really is the perfect lunch time meal!
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Thai
Author: Jacqui
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
 
 

For the Salad

  • 4 large chicken breasts, boneless skinless
  • 1 large head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into strips
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into strips
  • 1 medium cucumber, cut into strips
  • 1 medium bunch green onions, chopped

For the Dressing

  • 3/4 cup peanut butter, creamy, natural
  • 1 5oz can coconut milk, unsweetened
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp gluten free tamari, (or gluten free soy sauce)
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Equipment

  • Grill
  • Bowl
  • Whisk

Instructions
 

  • On a grill cook chicken until cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into strips. Set chicken aside.
  • Add coconut milk to a small sauce pan. Cook until simmering, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • In a food processor or blender, blend together all other ingredients for dressing. Carefully add hot coconut milk to peanut dressing and blend together.
  • Add all vegetables to a serving bowl and top with grilled chicken. Drizzle peanut sauce over salad to taste.

Notes

You have to use natural peanut butter in this recipe or it will be too sweet. The only ingredients in peanut butter should be Peanuts and Salt or Oil. Regular brands like Jiffy have too much sugar for this recipe.
This recipe makes a lot of dressing, but if you like less dressing on your salad you may have some left over. I recommend dipping veggies into it as a snack!
*If you are gluten free, you need to get a soy sauce that specifically says "gluten free" on the label. Many soy sauces contain wheat.

Nutrition

Calories: 458kcal (23%)Carbohydrates: 24g (8%)Protein: 43g (86%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 96mg (32%)Sodium: 689mg (30%)Potassium: 1182mg (34%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 17g (19%)Vitamin A: 4223IU (84%)Vitamin C: 16mg (19%)Calcium: 66mg (7%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @Jacqui_DishingDelish and tag #dishingdelish!

 

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