Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad

I love a rotisserie chicken (and lettuce cups). There’s nothing better on a busy evening when the day’s gotten away from me and dinner time is staring me in the face. This happens more often than I’d like to admit but life ain’t perfect and pairing a roti chicken with a salad gets a tasty dinner on my table (and in my peeps’ bellies) in a hurry. This recipe is a favorite when I need to mix it up to avoid another case of the Chicken Agains (a real thing and also more lettuce cups).

It’s also an excellent recipe for entertaining. You can make it ahead. It’s an inexpensive way to feed a small crowd. It meets my Minimum Effort Maximum Taste rule. Buying the rotisserie chicken eliminates cooking time and the dressing whisks up in minutes. If you have a store bought peanut dressing you love, give it a try! No rules, here! If it tastes good, do it.

Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

Roti chickens are great but this Spicy Peanut Dressing is AMAZING. I want to put it on err’thang and I think you will, too. I like a creamy peanut butter for this one so the dressing is smooth. I call it spicy but I’m a well-known wimp when it comes to spicy. Sorry, but I don’t like it when my food hurts me. You can up the spice by way of more crushed red pepper flakes in the dressing or a dollop instead of a drizzle of Sriracha. Butter lettuce leaves (romaine or iceberg leaves work well, too) are a cool, crisp counter to the spicy dressing AND turn this salad into a handheld treat. This one’s a winner. Give it a try and let me know how much you eat what you think! Tag #cookingclarified on social media.

Check out more simple appetizers here.

TIPS:
Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth, creamy dressing.

Add more (or less) crushed red pepper flakes to suit your tastes.

Rinse lettuce leaves in cold water and pat them completely dry to keep them crisp.

TOOLS:
Medium Bowl

Large Bowl

Whisk

Spatula or Wooden Spoon

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TECHNIQUES:
Shredding (chicken) and Whisking (dressing)

Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad

Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

Makes about 12 lettuce cups.

Ingredients:

Spicy Peanut Dressing:
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

12 butter lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry

4-5 cups cooked shredded or chopped chicken (pulled from a rotisserie chicken)
4 green onions, chopped,
Chopped peanuts, options
Sriracha, optional

Directions:
Whisk dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth. Set aside.

Place chicken, the white and light green parts of the chopped green onion in a large bowl. Add the Spicy Peanut Dressing and stir until chicken is evenly coated.

Arrange lettuce cups on serving platter. Fill cups evenly with chicken salad. Sprinkle with the green parts of the chopped green onions and chopped peanuts. Drizzle with sriracha and serve!

Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad

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