Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing

Teriyaki Chicken Salad is one of the most delicious salads you will ever sink your teeth into with epic Pineapple Sesame Dressing!

This Teriyaki Chicken Salad will have you saying OH MY YUM!  This to live for salad is packed with cool, crisp veggies, sweet pineapple, salty macadamia nuts and toasted coconut all doused with fresh tangy Pineapple Sesame Dressing!  But the best part is all that freshness WITH juicy, savory Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken and the Teriyaki Sauce that you you drizzle all over your salad!

Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing


 

I was so in love with the Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken I posted earlier, that I had to surround it with my other loves, (AKA pineapple, coconut and macadamia nuts!)  and make it a complete drool worthy meal  – enter Teriyaki Chicken Salad! 

This salad is hearty and healthy and the answer to your weeknight dinner dilemma or makes a beautiful, delicious party salad as well.  I also love to pack all the leftover Teriyaki Chicken Salad into a wrap with some rice (my favorite food) for lunch the next day.  The deliciousness that just keeps on giving…

LOOKING FOR MORE TERIYAKI DINNERS?

Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing in a wood bowl.

The Best Teriyaki Chicken

Along with fresh pineapple, coconut and macadamia nuts, this Teriyaki Chicken Salad is packed with crunchy lettuce, bell peppers and carrots for a symphony of layered flavors and textures that perfectly enhance the main event of 5 Minute Prep Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken

I substituted some of the sugar typically found in Teriyaki Chicken with Asian Sweet Chili Sauce so we not only get sweet but we get sweet heat infused with red chilies,  garlic and ginger – a depth of flavor that can’t be beat.  I added some cider vinegar to add back some tang and balance the sweetness along with additional garlic and ginger to create a dynamic marinade/Sauce that takes just minutes to whip up!

The Teriyaki Chicken itself can be grilled or cooked in a skillet, and is oh so juicy from the teriyaki marinade for an explosion of flavor in every tender bite.  And then comes more magic…

Close up for the cooked chicken for Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing.

The Best Dressing for Teriyaki Chicken Salad

When I went to Outback a while ago, Patrick ordered their Blue Cheese Wedge Salad which is drizzled with both Blue Cheese dressing and Balsamic Glaze.  The dual combination was so epic that I knew I wanted to make a salad drizzled with two dressings without double the work and this Teriyaki Chicken Salad is the perfect fit (and the perfect flavors).  

After you cook your chicken, you thicken some of the reserved marinade with cornstarch to create your Teriyaki Sauce that you slather all over your chicken AND drizzle all over your salad.  Because you will want it all over your salad.

Preparing pineapple for Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing

You then drizzle your salad with Fresh Pineapple Sesame Dressing made from pineapple, garlic, ginger honey, cider vinegar, toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds for a tangy, sweet and savory combination you will be be craving for days.  Weeks.

Adding dressing for Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing.

Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame  Dressing.  A must this summer and all year long!

Looking for more Chicken Salad Recipes

Teriyaki Chicken Salad with Pineapple Sesame Dressing with nuts and green onion.

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Teriyaki Chicken Salad - This salad is to live for! Packed with refreshing pineapple, macadamia nuts and coconut all doused with the most AMAZING Pineapple Sesame Dressing and the Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken is incredible! But my favorite part is you drizzle the leftover Teriyaki glaze all over the salad! Definitely a keeper!

Teriyaki Chicken Salad

Teriyaki Chicken Salad is one of the most delicious salads you will ever sink your teeth into with epic Pineapple Sesame Dressing! This to live for salad is packed with cool, crisp veggies, sweet pineapple, salty macadamia nuts and toasted coconut all doused with fresh tangy Pineapple Sesame Dressing!  But the best part is all that freshness WITH juicy, savory Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken and the Teriyaki Sauce that you you drizzle all over your salad!
Servings: 6 servings
Total Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

SALAD

  • 1 small head Romaine lettuce, chopped chopped
  • 1/2 red cabbage, thinly sliced thinly sliced
  • 1 fresh pineapple, chopped (will use 1 cup in dressing)
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots
  • 1 red bell pepper, julienned then cut into thirds
  • 1 cup snow peas, julienned then cut into thirds
  • 5 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup macadamia nuts, toasted*
  • 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes, toasted*
  • fried wonton strips (optional)

Pineapple Sesame Vinaigrette

  • 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple (from whole pineapple above)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (optional for creamier)

Add later:

  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions

  • CHICKEN: Prepare chicken according to directions (click here). Chop chicken or thinly slice. Reserve extra Teriyaki Sauce to drizzle over salad.
  • DRESSING: While chicken is marinating, prepare dressing by adding all dressing ingredients to food processor except canola oil and sesame seeds. Blend until smooth. Add sesame seeds and canola oil and pulse until combined. Add additional honey for sweeter or cider vinegar for tangier if desired (will depend on how sweet your pineapple is and how tangy you want it). Refrigerate. Shake or stir when ready to serve to recombine.
  • SALAD: Either layer the salad starting with the lettuce on the bottom then all the vegetables and finish with pineapple, macadamia nuts, coconut and chicken OR toss all of the salad ingredients together in a large bowl and top with pineapple, chicken, macadamia nuts and coconut. Drizzle with reserved Teriyaki Glaze and Pineapple Sesame Dressing. Note: If your Teriyaki Sauce has become too thick to drizzle, simply whisk in some water to thin.

Notes

*To toast macadamia nuts and coconut, add to a large skillet (separately) and heat over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until golden. You can also toast your coconut in the oven by spreading in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350 F degrees for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally and watching closely towards the end as coconut can burn quickly.
**All ingredients are guidelines – add more or less according to taste.
***Total time does not include marinating chicken as this will vary between individuals.

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10 Comments

  1. Timma says

    OMG that was divine! So colorful, so flavorful. And now I have 4 jar salads. Lunches for the coming week.

    • Jen says

      YAY! so happy you loved it Timma! and I love that you are making jar salads for lunch – what a great idea!

  2. Jessica says

    This salad is insanely delicious! The recipe makes a lot of salad, which is great because I have been eating it for lunches all week. Thank you so much for this great recipe.

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome, thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I LOVE hearing its “insanely delicious” – thank you!!

  3. Alexandra Elizondo says

    I think this would be next level with fried wonton strips. Delicious! Love it! Thanks for the great recipes!

    • Jen says

      yes!!! I love that idea!!!

  4. san says

    The salad instructions say 1 cup pineapple, then the dressing says 1 cup from the whole pineapple above. I’m assuming the 1 cup in the salad is the whole pineapple?

    • Jen says

      Great catch! Yes, that is correct, I will fix recipe, thanks!

  5. Jo says

    How much chicken do I use for this?

    • Jen says

      Hi Jo, if you click on “1 Recipe Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken” it will take you right to the recipe.