Bang Bang Chicken Crispy Rice Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked rice (cooked and cooled; day-old rice recommended)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chili oil (or chili crisp)
• 5 chicken tenders (frozen or fresh; cooked according to package instructions)
• 3 baby cucumbers (sliced)
• 1 medium carrot (julienned)
• 0.5 red onion (pickled or regular; sliced into half moons)
• 1 avocado (cubed)
• 0.25 cup cilantro (minced)
• 0.25 cup mayo
• 0.25 cup greek yogurt
• 0.25 cup sweet chili sauce (plus extra for tossing chicken if desired)
• 1 tbsp sriracha (skip if spice sensitive)
• 1 lime juice (juiced)
• sesame seeds (for topping)

Steps

1. 1

   Begin by cooking your rice according to package instructions. Once cooked and cooled, spread the rice in an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

2. 2

   Add the olive oil, soy sauce, and chili oil (or chili crisp) to the rice. Mix well to ensure the rice is evenly coated.

3. 3

   Bake the rice at 425°F (220°C) for 30-45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it reaches your desired level of crispiness.

4. 4

   Meanwhile, add the chicken tenders to another baking sheet and cook according to package instructions until fully cooked and golden.

5. 5

   If desired, toss the cooked chicken in a little extra sweet chili sauce, then cut into small, bite-sized pieces.

6. 6

   Prepare the vegetables: slice the baby cucumbers, julienne the carrot, slice the red onion into half moons, cube the avocado, and mince the cilantro.

7. 7

   Add the prepared cucumbers, carrot, onion, avocado, and cilantro to a large salad bowl.

8. 8

   Make the bang bang dressing by mixing the mayo, greek yogurt, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth.

9. 9

   Add the sliced chicken and the crispy rice to the large salad bowl with the vegetables.

10. 10

    Pour the dressing over the salad components, toss well to combine, and top with sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

For the best crunch, use day-old rice as it is drier. Ensure the rice is spread in an even layer to avoid steaming. For meal prep, store the dressing and crispy rice separately from the vegetables and chicken to maintain texture. To quickly pickle the red onion, soak the slices in a mixture of vinegar and sugar while the rice bakes.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• salad
• crispy rice
• bang bang chicken
• meal prep
• baked
• spicy