Chicken & Broccoli Slaw with Speedy Thai Peanut Sauce

By Ann Fulton

This veggie-packed, protein-rich meal is as delicious as it is quick and easy!
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This veggie-packed, protein-rich meal is quick, easy, and delicious. Perfect for busy weeknights and a great way to stretch some leftover chicken into a new meal.

 

Summer cooking begs to be carefree and easy. Who wants to be holed up in the kitchen when the sun is shining and outdoor activities abound?

Since you work so hard to get dinner on the table, why not let that dinner work for you a second night?  The following super simple, wholesome meal offers a fabulous way to stretch a couple of leftover chicken breasts.

Last June, Fox 43 News asked me to do a cooking segment on their morning broadcast, and this was the first recipe that came to mind. When food is cooked on TV, many components have to be prepared in advance or hurried along so the finished dish can magically come together within three or four minutes.

I wanted to give the viewers something they could actually memorize and replicate in their kitchen, so I started off with my favorite marinade for chicken, which is simply equal parts soy sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and olive oil. (Add an optional teaspoon or two of sesame oil for an equally delicious salmon marinade.)

Whenever I serve “a-third-a-third-a-third” chicken as we call it, I plan for a few leftover breasts. When shredded and tossed with a bag of broccoli slaw and a four-ingredient dressing, a second meal is mere minutes away.

While Thai-inspired sauces and dressings tend to be incredibly flavorful, they often require a long list of ingredients that can be hard to find.  Not this one. Everything is easy to have on hand.  As a bonus, the dressing can be prepared in advance and tossed with the salad ingredients prior to serving.

After my cooking segment appeared, I received lots of positive feedback from viewers who were able to remember or quickly jot down the ingredients they saw on the show. Many mentioned that even their young children enjoyed the flavor and crunch of this veggie-rich meal.

Keep this recipe in mind when you need a last-minute dish for a potluck or family get-together. Sometimes I even freeze two leftover grilled chicken breasts so I can literally assemble this salad in minutes.  We all need a few recipes like that!

This salad is one of my favorite ways to stretch a little extra chicken into a light yet complete (and really easy) meal. The ingredient list is short and there are countless ways to customize.
  • I particularly enjoy the flavor combination in the speedy sauce with broccoli slaw.  As an option, a 14-ounce bag of coleslaw mix may be substituted.  Because the bags of coleslaw mix are typically larger than the bags of broccoli slaw, you may wish to increase the dressing amount proportionately. (I have used the sauce recipe as written for a full bag of coleslaw.  It works but my preference is to have a bit more sauce.)  Also, chicken breasts tend to vary widely in size.  Plan on about 2 slightly rounded cupfuls of chopped chicken or 8 to 10 ounces of cooked chicken.
  • As mentioned, I think this salad is extra special when the chicken has been marinated in this 3-ingredient dressing. But plain grilled chicken—even rotisserie chicken—work well, too. For other ways to enjoy the leftovers from the 3-ingredient marinade, click HERE.  Feel free to add you own suggestions if you try!
Chicken & Broccoli Slaw with Speedy Thai Peanut Sauce
This salad is one of my favorite ways to stretch a little extra chicken into a light yet complete (and really easy) meal. If you like your salads with a liberal coating of dressing or add multiple extras, double the sauce recipe and drizzle a little extra over top when serving.

Yields 4 servings (and approximately 1/3 cup sauce).
For the peanut sauce
  • 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use a gluten-free or low-sodium option, if necessary)
  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar*
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon sriracha sauce
For the salad
  • 1 (10-ounce) bag broccoli slaw
  • 2 cooked chicken breasts, chopped (I love using leftover chicken cooked with this 3-ingredient marinade )
  • 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds or 1/3 cup peanuts
  • Optional extras: 1 small red bell pepper, chopped; 5-6 sliced radishes; 2 thinly sliced scallions; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro or parsley
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all of the peanut sauce ingredients.** (If the peanut butter is cold, warming it slightly in the microwave or allowing it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes will allow it to mix more easily with the other ingredients.)
  2. To a large bowl, add the broccoli slaw, chicken, and optional extras. Pour the sauce over top and toss to thoroughly coat. At this point, you may cover the salad and refrigerate until ready to eat. Sprinkle with the sunflower seeds or peanuts just before serving.
Notes
  • *I have used honey as a substitute for the brown sugar. I do prefer brown sugar but honey is a fine option if that is what you prefer or have on hand.
  • **You can experiment using this quick sauce on other salads, chicken, pork, or anything to which you’d like to lend an Asian flavor, from pizza to sandwiches, pasta to lettuce wraps. Double the recipe, as needed.
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Comments

  1. Matthew Cepak

    So I made this as a hot dish – simply heated some oil in a wok and put in the broccoli slaw and cooked a few minutes, then added the chicken and sauce. Finished it up with some thinly sliced red bell peppers and crushed peanuts. I also added a few red pepper flakes to the slaw mixture at the beginning to give it a little zing, but you can season it to your taste. Delicious!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Brilliant, Matthew, and so helpful when you don’t have leftover cooked chicken on hand. Thanks for your great feedback and I’m so glad you liked!

      Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I haven’t but it would likely be good that way. I would heat the slaw very quickly though so that it retains some of its crunch.

      Reply
  2. Amy

    This is a delicious dish! I made it for a family party and everyone loved it. And so tasty the next day, too. Love the sauce. So easy yet perfect peanut sauce. Thank you!!

    Reply
  3. alison

    Ann
    Thank you – the sauce is a great tasty treat on its own. I added a bit of garlic & some water (could use chicken stock) to loosen up the sauce. We determined that making the sauce in advance- then add it to the broccoli slaw when you want to use the slaw to keep the flavor fresh and the slaw crunchy. This is really tasty with grilled pork chops – and Chinese or Korean egg rolls.
    I have a rule in our house- that has worked since my treatments started 3/2015 – one new recipe/food to try out that week. Then we determine if it is a do again, or don’t do – this is a do again – absolutely (and thank you for the broccoli slaw attention – never used before)

    By the way – I make an amazing roasted chicken & and a marinated carrot salad – not what you would expect!
    Please take care.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Thank you for your wonderful comment and great suggestions for alternate sauce uses. I’m so happy this is a “do again,” and I bet your chicken and carrot salad recipes are delicious. Feel free to share. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Deborah Post author

    You have become my new source of recipes. Last week I made the baked oatmeal and today the broccoli chicken salad. Very good! Looking forward to more of your ideas.

    Reply
  5. Trudy

    This is going into my regular rotation, YUM! I couldn’t find broccoli slaw so I bought regular coleslaw. I didn’t use the whole bag, instead I replaced it with some chopped blanched broccoli. I was afraid it wasn’t going to be enough dressing, but it is so flavorful you don’t need much. Thanks for another healthy, yet delicious dinner!

    Reply
  6. Ellen

    Made this yesterday afternoon and had it for dinner. Fantastic! Used powdered peanut butter and wow, did that make it easy. Great stuff!

    Reply
        1. Ann Post author

          Crunchy peanut butter will work well, Kathy. When using, I slightly round the tablespoon in order to have about the same amount of the creamy part to blend in with the other ingredients.

          Reply