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This ramen noodle salad is loaded with grilled teriyaki chicken, almonds, sesame seeds, and crunchy noodles, then topped with an amazingly flavorful easy homemade dressing. Ramen noodle salad is easy to make and great as a main dish or side.
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This ramen noodle salad (or as we call it, “Pai Mai”) is a staple salad in my husband’s family. It is a great side dish or appetizer with Chinese food but it’s also a recipe we reach for often when we want a lighter meal. The ramen noodle salad has a lot of crunchy texture to it between the crisp greens and the crunchy uncooked ramen noodles. This is one of the easiest Asian salad recipes out there.
Ramen Noodle Salad Ingredients
Ramen noodles come in a wide variety of flavors. There are a few that work particularly well with this Asian ramen salad recipe in my opinion, like chicken. But since you’re adding your own dressing, you can leave out the seasoning packets when making this ramen salad recipe. Here’s what you need:
- Cabbage – Chop and cut up your green cabbage ahead of time. Or use a slaw mix.
- Sesame seeds – These are tiny seeds that add a delicious sweet and savory flavor and a small amount of texture.
- Almonds – Roasted almonds take this salad to the next level. They are full of flavor and add that soft crunch.
- Chicken breasts – This flavor is also really good with it. It’s similar to the chicken one but has even more seasoning and flavor. You can also use rotisserie chicken
- Dry crunchy ramen noodles – Chicken-flavored ramen is probably the most popular soup flavor. Because this ramen noodle salad has chicken and so many competing flavors from the dressing, I like this basic staple with it the best.
Ramen Noodle Salad Dressing
This dressing is simple to whisk together and makes just enough to cover the whole salad. As it sits in the refrigerator the flavors will soak in and become even richer with an intense flavor.
- Sugar – Added in for sweetness! You can add a drizzle of honey as well.
- Olive oil – This gives the dressing a with a light texture that is much better than vegetable oil, which can be heavier.
- Apple cider vinegar – Tangy and sour, zesty flavor that adds all the flavor and zing to balance out the sugar and lemon juice. Rice vinegar will work too just doesn’t have as much flavor.
- Lemon juice – Helps keep all the flavors alive and continues to green the cabbage as it is soaking together.
Step by Step Instructions
This salad is a simple pasta side dish that is loved by all! It has that crunch, soft, sweet, savory texture and flavor that is perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or a side dish at your dinner table. Add this to your salad recipes!
- Mix together – In a large bowl combine cabbage, sesame seeds, almonds, and chicken.
- Dressing – Take a separate, small bowl that combines sugar, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
- Combine – Pour the oil mixture into the cabbage mixture and toss until the cabbage is well coated.
- Let set – Refrigerate the cabbage mixture in the fridge to let all the flavors settle in.
- Broil – Break up Ramen noodles into pieces and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle seasoning salt over noodles and broil for about 1 minute (keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn).
- Serve – Toss the salad mixture again then top with noodles immediately before serving (if you do it earlier the noodles will get soggy).
Create Your Own Ramen Noodle Salad Flavor
Modify or make your own ramen noodle salad flavor and style of salad that is best for you and your family. The options are endless on ways to make this side dish. It is one that will always be flavorful and stand out in the line of salads.
- Dry ramen noodles – Lime chili shrimp. If you want your ramen noodle salad to have a kick to it, this is the ramen to choose from. Plus, the shrimp flavor adds something new to the mix!
- Protein – Use pork, steak, salmon, or shrimp instead of chicken if you prefer another type of meat or use tofu for more of a vegetarian-style ramen noodle salad.
- Asian ramen salad – Replace the cabbage with coleslaw mix or broccoli slaw for an Asian salad. This will speed up the process and help you mix it together, even more, quicker if you are in a hurry.
- Flavors – Try other liquids like sesame oil, soy sauce, or rice vinegar to make more types of delicious instant ramen noodles flavors.
- Add-ins – Mandarin oranges, red bell pepper, green bell peppers, water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, and red cabbage are all favorite ingredients to add.
- Garnish – Top with green onions, toasted almond slivers, sunflower seeds, and sliced carrots for an added touch of color and flavor.
“Made this tonight and we all loved it which is incredible! I was sure that my kids wouldn’t eat it and that my husband would just eat it to be nice. He went back for thirds!!! It has so many interesting flavors! We’ll be making this again! Thanks for the recipe!”
-Tiffany
Frequently Asked Questions
I use instant ramen noodle soup and it’s easy to find at the grocery store. It comes in a compact packaged square shape. It wont matter the flavor because you will not use the seasoning packet.
Ramen salad is tossed in the dressing so yes you can make it ahead of time WITHOUT tossing it in the salad dressing. It becomes soggy pretty quick. Just toss in the dressing right before you serve.
You will not boil the noodles for this recipe. They are placed under the broiler to toast them to a light golden brown and that’s it.
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How to Store and Make Ahead Ramen Salad
If you are wanting to store the ramen noodle salad longer than one to two days, make the salad ahead of time and place it in an airtight container. Make sure to store the noodles in a separate container than the rest of the salad ingredients, or they’ll get too soggy. Mix together the dressing ahead of time or the day you are making it and store it in an airtight jar. When you are ready to serve, combine together and store them in the refrigerator for one to two days.
More Asian Recipes
Asian meals are sometimes some of our favorites with rich and intense flavors that blend well together. We love how easily these recipes combine and make for a filling and delicious dinner!
How to Make Ramen Noodle Salad
Ramen Noodle Salad
Ingredients
- 1 head cabbage finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup roasted almonds chopped
- 2 chicken breasts diced and cooked in Teriyaki sauce
- 1 package Ramen noodles
- Seasoning salt to taste
Dressing:
- 6 Tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 squirts lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine cabbage, sesame seeds, almonds and chicken.
- In a separate, small bowl combine sugar, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Pour oil mixture into cabbage mixture and toss until cabbage is well coated. Refrigerate the cabbage mixture in the fridge to let all the flavors settle in.
- Break up Ramen noodles into pieces and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle seasoning salt over noodles and broil for about 1 minute (keep a close eye on them so they don't burn).
- Toss salad mixture again then top with noodles immediately before serving (if you do it earlier the noodles will get soggy).
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Notes
- Protein – Use pork, steak, salmon, or shrimp instead of chicken if you prefer another type of meat or use tofu for more of a vegetarian-style ramen noodle salad.
- Asian ramen salad – Replace the cabbage with coleslaw mix or broccoli slaw for an Asian salad. This will speed up the process and help you mix it together, even more, quicker if you are in a hurry.
- Flavors – Try other liquids like sesame oil, soy sauce, or rice vinegar to make more types of delicious instant ramen noodles flavors.
- Add-ins – Mandarin oranges, red bell pepper, green bell peppers, water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, and red cabbage are all favorite ingredients to add.
Nutrition Information
Made this tonight and we all loved it which is incredible! I was sure that my kids wouldn't eat it and that my husband would just eat it to be nice. He went back for thirds!!! It has so many interesting flavors! We'll be making this again! Thanks for the recipe!
This is one of my DH's fav salads too LOL. But of course I MUST add diced green onions ^_^
This is my new favorite website!!!! Love it and so does my family. Thanks!