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Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad with dressing, linen and fork on the side.
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5 from 5 votes

Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Copycat

This copycat recipe of Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad tastes just like the popular restaurant dish! Crisp veggies, chow mein, and tender chicken in that creamy signature dressing.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time26 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American, Asian
Keyword: Asian Chicken Salad, Chicken
Servings: 6 dinner salads
Calories: 1088kcal
Author: Emily Walker

Ingredients

Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 6 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Chicken Strips

  • 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 egg
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • ¾ cup flour
  • ½ cup cornflake crumbs
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Salad

  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup chopped red cabbage optional
  • ¾ cup julienned or shredded carrot
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup chow mein rice noodles

Instructions

Dressing

  • Thoroughly mix dressing ingredients. Chill until ready to serve.
    Bowl of Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad dressing. Whisk on the side.

Chicken Strips

  • Fill a deep frying pan with about 2 inches of oil. Heat to 350 degrees F. Prepare a rack or plate with a paper towel for draining fried chicken. Set aside. Whisk egg and buttermilk together in a small bowl. Set aside.
    Two bowls containing batter and breading for Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad.
  • Use a mallet or rolling pin to pound each chicken breast evenly to about a 1-inch thickness. This is easiest if you place each chicken breast between two sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap before flattening. Slice each chicken breast lengthwise into 4 or 5 strips.
    Chicken breads flattened and cut into strips on a cutting board with a knife and mallet for Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad.
  • Dredge each chicken strip in egg mixture, then dry crumb mixture. Place each strip in heated oil and fry for 6-7 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to rack or prepared plate.
    Frying chicken in a deep fryer for Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad.
  • Remove to rack or prepared plate.
    Fried chicken on a cookie sheet with a paper towel and tongs for Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad.

Salad

  • Prepare salad by tossing romaine with red cabbage and carrots. Evenly distribute salad to 6 dinner plates.
    Bowls of lettuce, cut up chicken, carrots, almonds, red cabbage, rice noodles and salad dressing for Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad.
  • Slice the chicken strips diagonally into thirds, or leave them in strips. Top each salad with hot chicken strips.
  • Garnish each salad with almonds and chow mein noodles. Serve with dressing on the side.
    Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad in a bowl with a fork and dressing on the side.

Video

Notes

I like to caramelize the almonds in a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of sugar. 

Recipe Tips

  • To get that flavorful, crispy chicken that tops the Oriental chicken salad, start with thin strips of boneless chicken. I sometimes get the chicken tenders already prepared or I cut chicken breasts into about four or five pieces. Either way works great!
  • Next, combine a healthy portion of cornflake crumbs and Panko breadcrumbs with some flour. These will give your chicken tenders that golden crispy crust you love.
  • Dip the chicken into a milk and egg mixture (see recipe card below) then immediately roll them into the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Make sure the oil in your frying pan is super hot! Fry the strips a few at a time for about six to seven minutes until they're golden brown.
  • Let the chicken strips rest on a paper towel to soak up excess oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 1088kcal | Carbohydrates: 126g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 1514mg | Potassium: 1272mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 7067IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 10mg