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    Home » Recipes » Chicken and Poultry

    Chicken Arugula Rice Salad with Sesame Dressing

    UPDATED Jan 18, 2019 · PUBLISHED Nov 15, 2018 BY Marjory Pilley · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Chicken Arugula Rice Salad with red peppers, almonds, and a sesame dressing is a protein-packed POWERHOUSE salad, you'll want to pack up for lunches and enjoy all week long!

    Chicken Arugula Salad with Rice and sesame dressing in a bowl

    I hope you have diced and cubed Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken or Blackened Blackened Chicken Breasts in your freezer...or any leftover chicken at all. If so, this healthy, gorgeous and delicious salad is ready in under 30 minutes! It's a quick and easy dinner or it's lunch for the next 4 days!

    And, you won't get sick and tired of it either! There is something addictive about the crunchy, nutty and peppery flavor paired with the light sesame dressing.

    Ingredients in Chicken Arugula Salad

    The truth is I had some difficulty giving this recipe a name because there are so many super healthy ingredients to highlight. I'll let you be the judge of whether or not this could become your POWERHOUSE salad! (Yep! This name was under consideration too!)

    Arugula Rice Salad with Chicken in a bowl

    Here are the main ingredients in the salad:

    • Brown rice - cooks in 10 minutes when parboiled or instant brown rice is used. Regular brown rice is fantastic too and if I have the time or some already prepared, we use this type instead. Either way, I always choose brown rice over white!
    • Arugula - is a cruciferous vegetable, similar to cabbage, broccoli, and collard greens. (Did you think it was a salad green?!) We used baby arugula leaves.
    • Red peppers - are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are green peppers that have fully ripened on the vine. So they are sweeter and pack a little more nutritional punch than the green variety.
    • Almonds - give this salad crunch and add healthy fat, fiber, and protein.
    • Green onion - use the green and white parts!
    • Chicken - Keep a bag of diced chicken in the freezer and a protein-packed dinner is never difficult.

    Ingredients for Chicken Arugula Rice Salad on plate separated into sections

    Ingredients in Sesame Dressing

    Sesame dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. The ingredients are:

    • Rice Wine Vinegar - apple cider vinegar may be substituted
    • Canola Oil - or any oil with a non-distinctive taste
    • Soy Sauce, low sodium - or use coconut aminos for soy-free, gluten-free diets
    • Sesame Oil - a small amount of this oil adds big flavor
    • Honey - or sweetener of choice

    This dressing is very similar to the one used for delicious Chinese Napa Cabbage Salad.

    Make Ahead Lunches using Cold Chicken Arugula Rice Salad

    Break the salad into 4 portions for quick lunches or dinners. Normally, the salad dressing would need to be added just before serving, or strategically placed at the bottom of a container as we did for Layered Taco Salad in a Jar.

    However, hearty arugula holds up well and tastes great marinating in dressing for a few days.

    Cold Chicken Arugula Rice Salad in 4 containers next to lids for lunches

    Variations and Serving Ideas for Chicken Arugula Rice Salad

    Make this salad your own:

    • Leave out the chicken and serve as a festive side salad! It's perfect for the holidays.
    • Add a different protein, like leftover turkey or tofu to keep it vegan.
    • Substitute a different grain like farro or use quinoa instead of rice.
    • Top with cashews instead of almonds.
    • Add pepitas or sunflower seeds to give more crunch.
    • Add dried cranberries to add a fruity punch.

    Looking for more ways to use arugula? Check out Arugula Pasta Salad by Two Peas and Their Pod and Wilted Arugula with Balsamic Vinegar by Inspiration Kitchen.

    Chicken Arugula Rice Salad Recipe in a bowl

    Please rate this recipe and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media! We love to see what you are cooking up!

    Chicken Arugula Salad with Rice and sesame dressing in a bowl

    Chicken Arugula Rice Salad with Sesame Dressing

    Chicken Arugula Rice Salad with almonds and red peppers is tossed with a tasty sesame dressing. It's a quick and easy crowd-pleaser!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 440kcal
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups brown rice parboiled or instant rice
    • 3 cups Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken cooked and diced; or any cooked chicken
    • 2 cups baby arugula leaves
    • 1 cup red pepper diced, 1 large pepper
    • ½ cup green onion sliced about 1 bunch
    • ½ cup almonds sliced or slivered

    Dressing

    • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
    • 2 Tablespoons canola oil
    • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce, low-sodium coconut aminos for gluten-free, soy-free
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon honey or sweetener of choice

    Instructions

    • Cook rice according to instructions and transfer to serving bowl when done.
    • Toss rice with chicken, arugula and red pepper.
    • Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and pour over rice and chicken mixture. Toss salad to coat with dressing.
    • Top with almonds and green onions.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 553mg | Potassium: 576mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1565IU | Vitamin C: 51.4mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 2.1mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

     

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Karen

      February 08, 2018 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      I make this combination often when I have leftover chicken. The arugula holds up for days which is great for lunches.

      Reply
      • Marjory

        February 08, 2018 at 10:59 am

        Thanks for your feedback! I'm so glad you like it!

        Reply
    2. Sara

      November 15, 2018 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      I adore rice in a salad, but the sesame is what takes this one over the top! YUM!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        November 15, 2018 at 2:38 pm

        Thanks so much for your comment!

        Reply
    3. Nellie Tracy

      November 15, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      5 stars
      I love a delicious and super fresh salad! This is absolutely it!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        November 15, 2018 at 2:38 pm

        Thanks so much for your comment!

        Reply

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