This Bang Bang Chicken Salad combines tender shredded chicken, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy sweet-and-spicy dressing for a quick meal packed with flavor and texture. Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, fresh lime, and ginger create a tangy dressing with just the right amount of heat.
It’s an especially convenient way to transform cooked chicken into a fresh lunch or light dinner, and the whole recipe can be ready in about 15 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This spicy chicken salad has a little bit of everything: creamy dressing, juicy chicken, crisp carrots, sweet red bell pepper, fresh herbs, and a pleasant kick from Sriracha.
Using both Greek yogurt and mayonnaise keeps the dressing creamy without making it excessively heavy. Fresh lime and ginger add brightness, while sweet chili sauce balances the heat with subtle sweetness.
It’s also wonderfully versatile and family-friendly. Adjust the Sriracha to control the heat, serve it with crackers and fresh vegetables, pile it into lettuce cups, or use it as a sandwich or wrap filling.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
- 4 cups shredded cooked halal-certified chicken breast
- ½ cup matchstick carrots
- ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 2 medium scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- Toasted white and black sesame seeds, optional
- Extra scallions and cilantro, for garnish
- Fresh vegetable sticks and crackers, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, lime juice, grated ginger, and onion powder to a medium mixing bowl.
- Add the crushed red pepper if you prefer additional heat.
- Whisk the ingredients together until the dressing is completely smooth and evenly combined.
- Add the shredded chicken, carrots, chopped red bell pepper, sliced scallions, and fresh cilantro.
- Gently stir until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Taste your Bang Bang Chicken Salad and adjust the Sriracha, lime juice, or seasonings according to preference.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with additional scallions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds if desired.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate briefly before serving for a colder, firmer chicken salad.
Tips & Tricks
Cooked chicken breast is perfect for this recipe, making it an excellent leftover chicken salad. Rotisserie-style halal chicken can also save time.
Let freshly cooked chicken cool completely before adding it to the dressing. Warm chicken can make the creamy sauce thinner than desired.
For a milder salad, start with 1 tablespoon of Sriracha and leave out the crushed red pepper. You can always add additional hot sauce after tasting.
For extra heat, increase the Sriracha gradually or add more crushed red pepper.
Cut the carrots and bell peppers into small pieces so you get chicken, vegetables, and creamy dressing in every bite.
If you prefer a thicker Greek yogurt chicken salad, refrigerate it for about 20–30 minutes before serving.
To add even more crunch, try finely chopped cucumber or shredded cabbage. Chopped cashews can also provide a satisfying texture.
Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes, using precooked chicken
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Notes: Halal-friendly when prepared with halal-certified chicken; alcohol-free
Notes
The amount of Sriracha is easy to customize. Reduce it for a mild, creamy chicken salad or add more for a stronger spicy kick.
If you prefer additional tanginess, squeeze a little extra fresh lime juice into the dressing.
For a lighter variation, increase the Greek yogurt slightly and reduce the mayonnaise. Keep in mind that this will make the dressing tangier.
This salad can be served in several ways. Spoon it into lettuce cups, wrap it in tortillas, serve it over mixed greens, or enjoy it with sliced cucumber, carrots, bell peppers, and crackers.
For a more filling meal, serve it alongside steamed rice or use it as a topping for a rice bowl.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per serving:
Calories: 360
Protein: 37g
Carbohydrates: 13g
Fat: 18g
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the mayonnaise, sauces, chicken, and serving size used.
FAQ
What is Bang Bang Chicken Salad?
Bang Bang Chicken Salad is a creamy chicken salad inspired by the sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors associated with bang bang sauce. This version combines shredded chicken and crunchy vegetables with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, lime, and ginger.
Is Bang Bang Chicken Salad very spicy?
It can be moderately spicy because of the Sriracha and optional crushed red pepper. For a milder version, reduce the Sriracha and omit the red pepper flakes.
Can I use leftover chicken?
Absolutely. This recipe is an excellent way to use leftover cooked chicken breast. Make sure the chicken has been properly refrigerated and is completely cool before combining it with the dressing.
Can I make this chicken salad ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare it a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. In fact, a short chilling period allows the flavors in the creamy dressing to mingle.
What can I use instead of mayonnaise?
You can replace some or all of the mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt. The finished dressing will taste tangier and may be slightly less rich.
What can I serve with Bang Bang Chicken Salad?
Try crackers, cucumber slices, carrots, celery, lettuce cups, wraps, toasted bread, or mixed greens. You can also serve the sweet chili chicken salad over rice for a more substantial meal.
Storage
Transfer leftover chicken salad to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly. For best quality, enjoy it within 3–4 days, assuming the cooked chicken was fresh when the salad was prepared.
Freezing isn’t recommended. Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and fresh vegetables can separate or become watery after freezing and thawing.
Keep the salad refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it. If you’re preparing individual lunches, portion it into sealed containers and keep crackers or other crunchy accompaniments separate until serving.
Similar Recipes
Bang Bang Chicken Salad – Creamy & Spicy
Ingredients
- – ⅓ cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
- – ¼ cup mayonnaise
- – 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- – 2 tablespoons Sriracha
- – 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- – ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- – ½ teaspoon onion powder
- – ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
- – 4 cups shredded cooked halal-certified chicken breast
- – ½ cup matchstick carrots
- – ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- – 2 medium scallions thinly sliced
- – 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- – Toasted white and black sesame seeds optional
- – Extra scallions and cilantro for garnish
- – Fresh vegetable sticks and crackers for serving, optional
Instructions
- Add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, lime juice, grated ginger, and onion powder to a medium mixing bowl.
- Add the crushed red pepper if you prefer additional heat.
- Whisk the ingredients together until the dressing is completely smooth and evenly combined.
- Add the shredded chicken, carrots, chopped red bell pepper, sliced scallions, and fresh cilantro.
- Gently stir until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Taste your Bang Bang Chicken Salad and adjust the Sriracha, lime juice, or seasonings according to preference.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with additional scallions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds if desired.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate briefly before serving for a colder, firmer chicken salad.
Notes
If you prefer additional tanginess, squeeze a little extra fresh lime juice into the dressing.
For a lighter variation, increase the Greek yogurt slightly and reduce the mayonnaise. Keep in mind that this will make the dressing tangier.
This salad can be served in several ways. Spoon it into lettuce cups, wrap it in tortillas, serve it over mixed greens, or enjoy it with sliced cucumber, carrots, bell peppers, and crackers.
Conclusion
This Bang Bang Chicken Salad turns simple cooked chicken into a colorful meal with plenty of creamy, crunchy, sweet, spicy, and tangy flavor. The combination of Greek yogurt, Sriracha, sweet chili sauce, fresh lime, ginger, and crisp vegetables keeps every bite interesting.
With just 15 minutes of preparation and no cooking required when you have chicken ready, it’s an easy chicken salad recipe worth keeping on hand for quick lunches and effortless weeknight meals.