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5.0 from 12 votes

Applebee's Oriental Fried Chicken Salad

A perfect copycat of the restaurant favorite with crispy chicken tenders, crunchy Asian toppings, and sweet honey-sesame dressing. Better than the original!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 654 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Oriental Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 pinch salt
Fried Chicken Tenders
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup plain panko bread crumbs
  • 3 cups peanut oil for frying
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into long strips
Salad
  • 3 romaine hearts chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped red cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 tablespoons sliced almonds
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 5 ounces Chow Mein noodles

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Refrigerate in a covered container until ready to serve.
  2. Set up a dredging station for the fried chicken: In a small bowl, mix the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In a separate small bowl, beat the egg and milk until fully combined. Place the panko bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl.
  3. In a heavy-duty pot, heat the peanut oil to 350°F over medium heat.
  4. Working one at a time, dredge each chicken strip in the flour mixture, coating evenly. Dunk the chicken strip into the egg mixture, coating completely. Then coat the chicken strip with the bread crumbs. Repeat for all the chicken strips.
  5. Fry the breaded chicken strips in the peanut oil, flipping halfway through the cooking process, until each side is golden brown. Remove from the oil and allow the chicken strips to drain on a few paper towels. When they have cooled, dice them into bite-sized pieces.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the salad. Top with the breaded chicken and dressing. You may toss before serving or allow each serving to be tossed individually.

Notes

  • For maximum crispiness, dress only the portion of salad you'll be eating immediately. The breading technique (flour, egg, panko) with a resting period is crucial for creating that signature Applebee's crunch. If you're in a hurry, you can use pre-cooked frozen chicken tenders, but the homemade version delivers superior flavor and texture that truly replicates the restaurant experience.

Nutrition Information

Calories 654kcal (33%) Carbohydrates 83g (28%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 10g Monounsaturated Fat 8g Trans Fat 0.04g Cholesterol 87mg (29%) Sodium 1152mg (48%) Potassium 764mg (22%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 20g (40%) Vitamin A 13049IU (261%) Vitamin C 14mg (16%) Calcium 152mg (15%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 654

% Daily Value*

Calories 654kcal 33%
Carbohydrates 83g 28%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 24g 37%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g 59%
Monounsaturated Fat 8g 40%
Trans Fat 0.04g 2%
Cholesterol 87mg 29%
Sodium 1152mg 48%
Potassium 764mg 16%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 20g 40%
Vitamin A 13049IU 261%
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Calcium 152mg 15%
Iron 5mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.