Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad (Copycat)
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This popular salad featuring crispy breaded chicken on a bed of lettuce with toasted almonds, crunchy noodles, and a delicious Asian salad dressing is one of my favorite restaurant salads. With this copycat Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad recipe you can make this salad right at home for a fraction of the cost! Plus it’s made from scratch without all of the preservatives, additives, or any of those other ingredients whose names are difficult to pronounce!
And while we’re on the subject of copycat recipes, be sure to try some of my other favorites like Cheeseburger Macaroni, Big Mac Sauce, Rice a Roni, and French Onion Dip Mix!
I moved from Germany to the U.S. in my mid-20’s and funnily enough this salad is one of the first restaurant dishes I had after moving here. I was on a date on it sounded good. And it was. So much so that I wanted to recreate it at home, from scratch.
Call me cheap, but I’m often a little begrudging when it comes to ordering entree salads at restaurants. I mean, it’s hard justifying paying $16+ for a pile of lettuce when I can get chicken, pork, or steak with sides for around the same price. The profit margin on salads is enormous! I’m not saying I never order salads at restaurants. I do. I just often feel a little irked about it. Maybe I’m just weird. So when I come across salads at restaurants that I particularly like, I’ll often work to recreate them at home. And that’s just what I did with the popular Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad. Instead of paying around $64 plus tax for a family of four like ours to eat this salad at Applebee’s, we can pay a tiny fraction of that cost to make it right at home!
Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Ingredients
This oriental chicken salad recipe is made up of 4 components:
- The chicken – it’s breaded in a flour and crushed cornflakes coating, fried until crispy, and cut into pieces.
- The salad – this is comprised of romaine lettuce, Napa cabbage, red cabbage, and julienned carrots.
- The dressing – this creamy Asian dressing ties everything together.
- The yummy extras – toasted almonds, crunchy chow mein noodles and green onions. These really make the salad sing!
Oriental Salad Dressing
The magic that ties everything together, the dressing for this Chinese chicken salad is nice and creamy and has a fabulous flavor. To make this oriental salad dressing you’ll need:
- Mayonnaise
- Honey
- Chinese rice vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Toasted sesame oil
- Salt and pepper
This is one of my favorite salad dressings and I use it on a lot of salads. For another favorite, try my Asian Salad Dressing, which is similar to what you’ll find served in Japanese restaurants.
Can This Be Made in Advance?
Yes, it can! For convenience you can cover and refrigerate the salad for several hours ahead of time (keep the dressing and chicken separate), and the dressing can be made up to a couple of days in advance and chilled. While it’s ideal to make the chicken just before serving so it’s nice and crispy, even that can be made in advance. Just heat it up in the oven instead of the microwave so it crisps up again).
Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Recipe (Copycat)
Let’s get started!
Combine the salad dressing ingredients, shake thoroughly until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Combine the salad materials in a large bowl, reserving the green onions.
Whisk together the buttermilk and eggs in a medium bowl.
Combine the flour, crushed cornflakes and salt in a medium shallow bowl.
Dip the chicken strips into the buttermilk/egg mixture then dredge in the flour/cornflake mixture until coated on all sides.
Heat the oil to 375 degrees F and, working in batches, fry the chicken until it’s a deep golden brown, about 7-8 minutes.
Note: You can also fry the chicken in a skillet.
Drain the chicken strips on paper towels. Divide the salad among plates. Slice the chicken strips, arrange them on top of the salad, sprinkle with toasted almonds, chow mein noodles, and green onions and serve with the Asian Dressing.
Enjoy!
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Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad (Copycat)
Ingredients
- For the Salad:
- 4 cups romaine lettuce , chopped
- 2 cups Napa cabbage , chopped
- 1 1/2 cups red cabbage , thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup julienned carrots
- 3 green onions , sliced
- 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
- 1 cup chow mein noodles
- For the Chicken:
- 2 large boneless , skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup crushed cornflakes
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Oil for deep-frying (alternatively, you can fry the chicken strips in a pan)
- For the Oriental Salad Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup Chinese rice vinegar
- 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 4 teaspoons quality toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To make the dressing, place all the dressing ingredients in a container with a lid and shake until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.Combine all the salad ingredients, reserving the green onions. Cover and refrigerate.
- Using a deep fryer or a skillet, heat the oil to 375 degrees F.Whisk the eggs and buttermilk together in a medium bowl. Using another medium shallow bowl, combine the crushed cornflakes, flour and salt.Dip the chicken strips into the egg mixture, then dredge in the cornflake mixture, coating all sides.Working in batches, fry the chicken strips until deep golden brown, about 7-8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Arrange the salad on the plates, top with some sliced chicken in the center, sprinkle with toasted almonds, chow mein noodles, green onions, and serve with the Oriental salad dressing.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet July 20, 2014
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I’ts spot on to the Applebees version. I made it vegan and it was still spot on. Great recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Renee, thank you!
I saw that on the recipe print out. It is a small world.😉
I have been looking for a recipe for this dish. I used to get this salad wrapped in flour tortillas for lunch at Applebees. Made this last night for dinner and it was amazing! My husband liked it so much he took it for lunch the next day! Thank you for the recipe.
I’m so glad you both enjoyed it, Tammy, thank you! By the way, we share the same last name and guaranteed we are related somehow :)
Made this recipe for dinner tonight. Loved it!! The only thing I did different was:’ I made an Asian marinade to some thin chicken tenderloins and grilled them. I also added in a couple of chopped fresh mandarines. The recipe made a ton of salad dressing, I only had to use a little bit of it on the salad and have enough for several more meals. This is a great recipe. I definitely will be making this again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate the feedback, thank you!
Love love love this recepie. I have picky eaters at home but there is one thing we all love. Apple Bee’s Oriental chicken salad. Too expencive for a family of 5 to eat out often. So I found this recepie and my family loved it. Thank you so much.
Fantastic, Veronica, I’m so glad to hear that, thank you!
I just noticed after posting that the 7th one over Total Carb for Crispy Chicken is 1630 and for Grilled it is 2420, that makes no sense.
I just wanted to let you know something about your favorite salad there. Next time you’re in applebees look at the calorie count on that salad, it’s approaching 1400. Ever wonder why? I mean the new Southwest steak salad is a little over a thousand. So you’re probably thinking it’s the fried chicken and the mayo in the dressing right? Well you’re partially right. I used to work at Applebees for 2 years, I knew my GM well she was my friend. The dressing is made with not mayo but (Drum roll please.) Chicken Fat!!! After hearing this I was devastated that was my favorite salad too. She told me to never tell my guests this, I felt bad about that. I no longer work there and she left too so I had to share this. Peace and love to you all!! Anyone want to lose weight? Try the military diet. I did and it’s great, I lost 6 pounds in 3 days.
I know, Shanti, so many dishes at these types of chain restaurants are ridiculously high calorie. Thanks for sharing your “insider” info :)
Thanks Shanti,
That is good to know. I wonder why they stopped the orange glaze?
I was just looking at an Applebee’s nutrition PDF.
Salads Total Calories
(cal)
Calories from
Fat (fat cal)
Total Fat (g) Sat Fat (g) Trans Fat (g) Cholest (mg) Sodium (mg) Total Carb (g) Fiber (g) Sugars (g) Protein (g)
Salads
Oriental Chicken Salad (with Crispy Chicken) 1440 870 97 15 0 50 1630 110 11 37 36
Oriental Chicken Salad (with Grilled Chicken) 1310 750 84 13 0 135 2420 93 11 47 51
Just went to Applebee’s this weekend and haven’t been in years but wanted some place not to crowded. I used to always get this salad and always got the fried and sometimes my husband would get the grilled thinking he was making a better choice…I was like HA…look it wasn’t that much difference and the taste is not near as…well…tasty! My grown son who was with us commented it was his favorite Asian Dressing (as opposed to the kits out there) and I told him about Copy Cat Recipes. I figure if you air fry your chicken…that would help…but honestly…the sugar in the dressing and all the mayo is high in calories…but…I get the dressing on the side and dip my fork in the dressing and then get the salad so…I use A LOT less than others at the table that eat it as served. It’s not like you are going to eat it everyday…just enjoy in moderation!
I thought there must be a misprint in the dressing recipe… I didn’t like it at all and to me it tastes nothing like Applebee’s. So, I worked on it and with some major alterations but most of the same ingredients I was able to get it “right”. I think it should be 2T rice vinegar, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of Dijion mustard, 1/4 cup mayo, 2T refined sesame oil and I used white sugar depending on how sweet you want it 2T to 4T… and that’s it, nix the honey and change the amounts of the ingredients and I thought it was banging! Even had the right consistency after I whipped it all up… takes a few for the sugar to dissolve.
Hi Nina, I’m glad you found a ratio that appealed to your taste, thanks for the feedback!
I made this dressing and it’s horrible. Nothing like applebee’s. The proportions are wrong. I found a much better one on a different site.
To say it doesn’t taste like Applebee’s is one thing, but to say it’s “horrible” says far more about the commenter than the recipe – either she lacks all taste or she just likes to be rude (I’m guessing the latter). Not only does this dressing taste very similar to Applebee’s, it’s much better! I use it on a regular basis and I’ve passed on the recipe to several friends who equally love it.
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, Nate, and that’s okay. I’m glad you enjoy it as much as we and many of my other readers do and appreciate that you passed it on!
You probably didn’t make it according to the directions. Are you an experienced cook? How well can you read? Just wondering.
This has long been one of my favorite salads. So I’m delighted that you have done the work for me… :-) My chicken will be grilled, rather than fried, because I prefer it that way. I’m really looking forward to trying this.
Grilled is a great (and lower calorie) way to go, Susan! Enjoy and let us know what you think!
Applebee’s salad is wonderful and I am anxious to try this at home. Great recipe, thanks for sharing :)
Thank you, savorthebestbooks! Enjoy!
I’ve tried other copycat versions and the salad dressings just weren’t quite right. I like the ratio of ingredients in yours better and am looking forward to making it!
Agreed, Nate. I think you’ll be very happy with this version!
One of my favorite restaurant salads ever thanks for the recipe!
It’s one of my favorites, too, Alli8. I could eat it several times a week and not get tired of it! :)
I LOOOOVE this salad! Thank you so much for posting a recipe for it, can’t wait to make it!!!! :)
Thanks, Kendra, you’ll love it!
I have eaten this salad at Applebee’s several times and it is a great salad. I will be making this regularly, but would add in a can of drained Mandarin Oranges. I believe they would be missed. Thank you!
Love your area in SO Or. We lived in Ashland and on Emigrant Lake for a long time.
Those are beautiful areas of Oregon, pata2Pat. Mandarin oranges aren’t in Applebees’ salad but they would make a great addition for sure!
pata2Pat & Kimberly
Applebees use to make Orange Oriental Chicken Salad now it’s been cheapened, the chicken had an orange glaze, seems like it may have had Mandarin oranges, it tasted better to me.