Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad

Name: Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sesame seed, divided; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 1/2 cup soy sauce, room temperature, divided; 2 teaspoons freshly grated gingerroot, divided; 1 can (11 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Breadsticks (12 Count); 2 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken; 2 1/2 cups broccoli slaw or shredded broccoli; 1 cup chopped cucumber; 3/4 cup julienne carrots (from 10-oz bag); 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro; 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion; 1/4 cup cashews, halves and pieces, coarsely chopped; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1/3 cup cider vinegar; 1/2 to 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 3 tablespoons sugar

Prep time:45 min
Total time:45 min
Ingredients:16
Servings:8
Calories per serving:500

By Edited by MandyUpdated 03/11/2026

Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad

Prep time:45 min
Total time:45 min
Ingredients:16
Servings:8
Calories per serving:500

Bake OffBake-Off® Contest 44, 2010. Katie Long. Summerfield, North Carolina. Bake-Of

Katie Long

Summerfield, North Carolina

Bake Off

Bake-Off® Contest 44, 2010

Bake-Of

This Pillsbury Bake-Off® finalist is a recipe you can come back to again and again. Packed with vegetables, chicken, and tons of flavor, this Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad works as a weeknight dinner, appetizer for a party, or as meal prep for workday lunches. The dressing is full of umami and nutty sesame to bring the flavors of the dish together. Try this beloved recipe tonight; it’ll soon become one of your favorites!

Recipe Ingredients

This easy salad recipe calls for basic ingredients to create an extraordinary dish. See the full ingredient list with quantities before beginning.

Pillsbury™ Original Breadsticks: Breadstick dough is easy to work with and makes a plump crouton that’s nice and crunchy on the outside.

Cooked Chicken: Cubed chicken is key to making this dish into a full meal! Alternatively, you can use shredded chicken if desired.

Soy Sauce: This adds salty, umami flavors to the salad dressing for the salad. It’s easy to find, easy to mix, and really elevates the flavor!

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Butter makes the dough croutons crispy and golden. Gingerroot, broccoli slaw, chopped cucumber, carrots, cilantro, cashews, and red onion create the Asian-inspired flavors and textures that make this recipe fun to eat. Olive oil, cider vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar make a well-rounded and flavorful dressing that brings the dish together. Sesame seed add a nice crunch and nutty flavor to round out your meal.

How to Make Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad

A tasty, shareable salad is just a few easy steps away.

1. Toast the Sesame Seed

In a 10-inch skillet, cook sesame seed over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted. Remove from the skillet to cool.

2. Prepare the Croutons

In a small bowl, beat butter, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the gingerroot, and 2 tablespoons of the sesame seed with an electric mixer on low speed until blended. Carefully unroll dough into 2 rectangles. On an ungreased baking sheet, place 1 rectangle. Press the dough into an 8x6-inch rectangle and spread with butter mixture. Using a pizza cutter, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 6 breadsticks, then cut each breadstick crosswise into 8 croutons.

3. Bake the Croutons

Bake the crouton dough at 375°F for 8 to 12 minutes until the dough is crisp. Remove from baking sheet to a cooling rack.

4. Assemble the Salad

In a large bowl, toss the chicken, broccoli slaw, cucumber, carrots, cilantro, onion, and cashews. In a container with a tight-fitting lid, shake olive oil, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, remaining soy sauce, remaining gingerroot, and remaining sesame seed until well blended. Just before serving, pour dressing over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Add croutons, stir lightly, and serve.

How to Store (and Reheat) Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad

Leftover Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad is a fantastic next-day lunch, snack, or dinner! This recipe is served cold, so no need to reheat before eating leftovers.

Refrigerator Storage

Store any Sesame-Crouton Asian Chicken Salad leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to store leftovers within 2 hours of finishing preparation.