Green Goddess Nugget Salad (Printable Version)

Crunchy cabbage salad topped with crispy nuggets and creamy herb dressing for a fresh, satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken Nuggets

01 - 16 frozen chicken nuggets (or plant-based nuggets for vegetarian option)
02 - Cooking spray

→ Salad

03 - 4 cups finely shredded green cabbage
04 - 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
05 - 1 cup diced cucumber
06 - 1 cup thinly sliced sugar snap peas
07 - ½ cup thinly sliced green onions
08 - ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
09 - ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

→ Green Goddess Dressing

10 - ½ cup Greek yogurt (or vegan yogurt alternative)
11 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
12 - ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
13 - ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives
15 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
16 - 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
17 - 1 clove garlic
18 - 2 anchovy fillets (optional, omit for vegetarian)
19 - ¼ teaspoon salt
20 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Arrange chicken nuggets in a single layer in air fryer basket; lightly spray with cooking spray. Air fry 10–12 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crispy. Let cool slightly and cut into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a large bowl, mix shredded cabbage, romaine, cucumber, sugar snap peas, green onions, parsley, and basil.
04 - Blend Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, parsley, basil, chives, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, anchovy fillets if using, salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Pour dressing over salad base and toss until evenly coated.
06 - Top dressed salad with warm nugget pieces and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, which means you can have lunch on the table faster than you'd expect.
  • The contrast between the warm, crispy nuggets and the cool, crunchy salad makes every bite feel like a little celebration.
  • The Green Goddess dressing is genuinely addictive and transforms the whole dish into something that tastes way more sophisticated than its simple ingredients suggest.
02 -
  • Don't make the dressing too far ahead or it'll oxidize and lose that vibrant green color—blend it while the nuggets are cooking.
  • The moment the warm nuggets hit the cool salad is crucial, so don't let them sit around getting cold; this dish works because of that temperature contrast.
03 -
  • Buy the best nuggets you can afford because they're really the foundation here, and a good one makes all the difference in how satisfied you feel.
  • Make the dressing while your air fryer is running so it has a few minutes to come together and the flavors can settle before you use it.
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