Sesame Chicken Salad
Published June 16, 2022 • Updated February 3, 2026
The keto salad Kylie Jenner made famous
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The sesame chicken salad Kylie Jenner eats every day. Butter lettuce, red cabbage, cilantro, green onion, almonds, sesame seeds and grilled chicken tossed in a creamy tahini dressing. This low-carb lunch is crunchy, flavorful, and ready in 10 minutes.
Another TikTok inspired recipe, this sesame chicken salad went viral because it’s what Kylie Jenner posted that she eats in a day. Similar to other TikTok recipes like spicy Asian sesame salad and dalgona coffee, you’ll be hooked!
This salad is now a regular in my meal rotation. I make it so often I triple the tahini dressing to have it ready for quick keto lunches all week.
Butter lettuce gets mixed with shredded cabbage, cilantro, green onion, sliced almonds and two kinds of sesame seeds. The vegetables add crunch and color. The tahini dressing (made with soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar) is the star here – savory, nutty, and just slightly tangy. Top it with grilled chicken or leave it out for a vegetarian option. Perfect for keto meal prep.
How to make sesame chicken salad
- Make dressing. Whisk together rice vinegar, toasted sesame seed oil, soy sauce, tahini, brown sugar substitute, salt and pepper.
- Add salad components. To the bowl, add lettuce, shredded red cabbage, green onion, cilantro, slivered or sliced almonds, toasted sesame seeds, black sesame seeds and grilled chicken.
- Toss to coat. Best enjoyed right away
Key ingredients & swaps
- Tahini salad dressing – This sesame chicken dressing is easy to make. Everything gets whisked together in a bowl. Rice wine vinegar brightens the dressing. White vinegar and apple cider vinegar work in its place. Toasted sesame oil brings deep nutty flavor. Soy sauce adds salty umami – use tamari for gluten-free, or liquid aminos and coconut aminos if you avoid soy. Swap tahini for almond butter or peanut butter if needed.
- Butter lettuce – A silky, soft lettuce that almost melts in your mouth especially when covered in tahini dressing. You can substitute with other lettuce varieties, like romaine, green leaf, red leaf or spring mix.
- Red cabbage – Added for flavor, crunch and color, this purple cabbage also provides nutrition like Vitamin A, C and E and has anti-aging properties.
- Green onion – For that hint of onion flavor, mild green onion is sliced up and added.
- Cilantro – Added for flavor, it pairs nicely with the tahini salad dressing.
- Slivered almonds – Adds crunch and complements the sesame dressing. Use roasted peanuts or walnuts instead if you prefer.
- Sesame seeds – Two kinds of sesame seeds are added to this salad for color and flavor – toasted sesame seeds and black sesame seeds.
- Chicken – I use grilled chicken. Boneless skinless chicken thighs have the best flavor, but chicken breast or tenders work too. This chicken salad is perfect for using leftover chicken. Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the deli for the fastest option – just shred it and toss it in.
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Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice vinegar -
3 tablespoons tahini
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1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
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1 tablespoon soy sauce, tamari or liquid aminos
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1 teaspoon brown sugar substitute
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon pepper
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4-6 cups butter lettuce
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1 cup shredded red cabbage
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1/4 cup chopped cilantro
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1 green onion, sliced
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1 tablespoon slivered almonds
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1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
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1/2 teaspoon black sesame seeds
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24 oz cooked or grilled chicken
Step by Step Instructions
Step by Step Instructions
Whisk salad dressing
In a large bowl, add tahini, rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, brown sugar substitute, salt and pepper. Whisk until combined.
Nutrition disclaimer
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.
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Get My Macros (Free) →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add mandarin orange slices?
Yes, but mandarin oranges are higher in carbs. Omit them if you're keeping this keto.
Can I add crispy wontons?
Yes, but they add carbs. Same with chow mein noodles. For a keto-friendly crunch, fry strips of low-carb tortillas in avocado oil to make your own wonton strips.
Love this! I have made this several times now and I add chicken and a plant based salad topper with nuts and cranberries. I add peanut butter and extra soy to the dressing. Love this!
I made this, so good! I added lime juice (lots) and more soy sauce. Also used my mini food processor as whisking the tahini wasn't working out :). This will be a regular salad dressing in my house from now on. Enjoy so many of your recipes and videos, thanks.
I just made this but since I didn't have tahini and did not want to make my own due to time, I used peanut butter instead and used pecans as well and it was delicious