My first bite of Applebee’s Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad was a revelation of how satisfying a salad can genuinely be. This lighter version features tender grilled chicken breast atop crisp romaine, accompanied by sweet carrots and crunchy noodles, all brought together by a tangy Oriental dressing. Created as a healthier alternative to their famous fried chicken version, this 30-minute meal is packed with flavor, offering fewer calories without compromising on taste.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The success of this salad lies in its perfect balance of textures and flavors. The warm, juicy chicken contrasts beautifully with the cool, crisp vegetables, while the sweet-tangy dressing ties everything together. Gently pounding the chicken ensures even cooking and tenderness, while a quick toast brings out the almonds’ natural oils and enhances their flavor. This technique creates a salad worthy of being served in a restaurant.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Provides lean protein and satisfying substance
- Olive oil – Helps chicken cook evenly and prevents sticking
- Salt – Enhances the natural flavors of all ingredients
- Black pepper – Adds subtle heat and depth
- Sliced almonds – Contributes nutty flavor and satisfying crunch
- Romaine lettuce – Creates a crisp, fresh base with excellent texture
- Shredded carrots – Adds natural sweetness and vibrant color
- Crispy rice noodles – Provides signature crunch and texture contrast
- Oriental salad dressing – Ties all elements together with sweet-tangy flavor
How to Make Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat the grill to medium or heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
- Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound them to 3/8-inch thick.
- Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.
- Grill for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, until cooked through.
- Transfer to a plate to rest for 4 to 5 minutes before slicing.
- Toast the almonds in a small dry skillet over medium heat. Allow them to cool to room temperature.
- Place lettuce in bowls.
- Sprinkle each with carrots, crispy rice noodles, and toasted almonds.
- Arrange the chicken on top.
- Serve with Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing.
Asian Salad Variations
What is one of the best things about a copycat recipe? You can customize the recipe to suit your tastes! Here are a few ideas for this recipe:
- Add mandarin orange slices
- Add sliced red onions
- Add thinly sliced green onion or scallions
- Add more sliced almonds
- Swap the nuts for soy nuts, cashews, walnuts, or pecans
- Swap the chicken for shrimp
- Use mesclun or mixed green salad mix instead of romaine
Can you make this salad ahead of time?
This salad is the perfect choice for lunch! You can have one of Applebee’s lunch menu items that you make yourself!
If you are going to make this salad ahead of time. It’s a good idea not to assemble it fully. Make your chicken ahead of time, and store it separately from the Romaine lettuce, almonds, and carrots. I keep the crispy noodles separate as well, so they don’t get soft.
When you are ready to serve, top the salad with the noodles, chicken, and salad dressing.
I often bring salads to work in a lunch kit like this so that I can separate everything.
Applebee’s Grilled Chicken Oriental Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast 2 portions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 8 cups romaine lettuce
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup crispy rice noodles
- 4 tablespoons Applebees Oriental Salad Dressing
Instructions
- Heat the grill to medium, or heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
- Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound them to 3/8-inch thick.
- Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.
- Grill chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Transfer to a plate to rest for 4 to 5 minutes before slicing.Â
- Toast the almonds in a small dry skillet over medium heat. Watch them carefully—there is a fine line between toasted almonds and burnt almonds! Shake the pan gently. When you begin to smell the almonds, toast for a few seconds more, then immediately place the almonds on a paper towel. Allow them to cool for a moment or two.
- Assemble salads by first putting the lettuce in bowls or on plates, 3 to 4 cups per serving.
- Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons of carrots, 1/4 cup crispy rice noodles, and 1/4 cup toasted almonds.
- Arrange the chicken on top.
- Serve with Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing.Â
Notes
Nutrition
Love salads? Try these recipes!
- Arbys Pecan Chicken Salad
- BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe
- Olive Garden Salad
- Panera Mediterranean Bowl
- Taco Salad Recipe
- Wendy’s Strawberry Salad
More Applebee’s Copycat Recipes
- Bacon Quesadilla
- Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp
- Bourbon Street Steak
- Cheeseburger Quesadilla
- Queso Blanco
- Triple Chocolate Meltdown
Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best casual dining restaurant copycat recipes here on CopyKat!
Let me know how much you enjoyed this recipe! Leave me a comment down below of how you customize the salad blend to make it your own!
Where can I buy the rice noodles?
Many grocery stores sell them in the Asian section.
you can get the rice noodles which are far thinner than the la choy regular rice noodles which are thicker the small rice noodles is what applebees uses not the large ones walmart carries them in the oriental section
Since you are making copycat recipes how about one for Applebee’s dressing for oriental salad!
Sure thing, here you go : https://copykat.com/applebees-oriental-salad-dressing/
That sounds great! I am going to try it. Thanks!
I love to buy broccoli slaw, (usually right next to the coleslaw. bagged mix), & serve it with Marie’s teriyaki dressing with toasted slivered almonds & crunchy noodles. Yum! It last about 3 days (if we don’t eat it the same day! Try it, you’ll love it ! Sometimes we eat it as lettuce wraps inside the romaine…. just an idea. I do LOVE your CK Applebees oriental copy though, it is delish! Thank you for this recipe!
I am glad you like the recipe.
What is teriyaki sauce on top of the chicken
If the question is what is teriyaki sauce, teriyaki sauce is type of sauce. You need to purchase it.
I am in love your copykat recipes. I have tried your several recipes and all gave similar taste like restaurant. This is one of my favorite salad and I am going to make it soon.
Their dressing is made from pureed chicken fat. That’s why it’s difficult to reproduce the flavor with traditional salad dressing ingredients.
You can buy Applebee’s dressing….just ask for some. I paid $4 for two small bowls. But worth it for the taste!
Can’t be true because the salad dressing would solidify, that’s what animal fat does when room temp or colder.
You are missing the shredded regular and purple cabbage, and shredded carrots. I was sitting here, eating my leftovers from Applebees, and took note of this. Looking forward to making my own at home!
Thank you for your insight!
You are missing the shredded regular and purple cabbage, and shredded carrots. I was sitting here, eating my leftovers from Applebees, and took note of this. Looking forward to making my own at home!
This sounds great….will have to try this 🙂
This sounds great….will have to try this 🙂
doesn’t Applebee’s use mostly shredded cabbage in this salad. that’s why I like it so much
I can say that the Applebee’s I went to for investigation of this recipe, this wasn’t the case, but you know, you can add anything you like to your salad to make it your own! ~Stephanie
Yes, Robin. The salad mix of the Oriental salad is half romaine and half dry slaw, you can also but this bagged in the salad section of the super market. I used to work for a franchise of Applebee’s.
The Applebee’s by me don’t use Romaine at all….It seems more like Napa Cabbage and possibly another type of cabbage(maybe bok choy) that has been shredded/juliennned with some purple cabbage, shredded carrots and almonds and crispy noodles for garnish…it is by far my favorite salad at Applebee….LOVE the dressing….