The Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad Recipe is the single fast-food salad that I desire whenever my greens are craved, and the excitement is unquestionably pure.

An ideal mixture of crispy fried chicken and crunchy wonton strips, tangy citrus vinaigrette, and creamy Asian slaw, and all of this sitting proudly over a bed of fresh greens makes it all magic.

The first thing I will confess is that the first time I tried it, I thought that it could not be a salad, it is a full-on experience. That is why I wanted to reproduce it in my personal kitchen with some personal touch of homemade love and freshness that even the can of Zaxby’s cannot surpass.

Get to it, as this Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad Recipe is going to make you a fanatic, salad-sceptic or salad-superstar.

What is Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad?

Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad is not just any salad. It is a hearty, taste-packed combination of Southern comfort and Asian-inspired crunch.

It is made of fresh greens, crisp fried chicken tenders, red cabbage slaw, carrots, mandarin oranges, crispy wontons and finally topped with Asian sesame creamy dressing and sweet citrus vinaigrette.

Each bite is balanced- salty or sweet or tangy or savoury- it is all in a forkful.

And the best part? It is shockingly simple to prepare at home using the products that are likely to be available in your kitchen!

The History of My Discovery of This Salad.

It started on a road trip. I was driving along Georgia and I was hungry and fatigued, and I stopped by a Zaxby’s restaurant to take a quick bite. I did not feel like having a burger, and on the spur of the moment, I had to make a leap of faith and ordered something by the name Zensation Zalad.

One bite later… I was hooked.

The white dressing contrasted with the crunchiness of wontons and green leaves, and I recall myself saying to myself, ok, this is my new comfort salad.

As soon as I reached home, I set it my business to reproduce that same Zensation–and perhaps to make it a little better than that. It nailed me after a couple of test runs. So now, you can too.

Equipment List

And you do not have to have any fancy tools to do this, but you need a couple of basics in the kitchen:

Large salad bowl
Small mixing bowl (to dress)
Skillet or air fryer (chicken)
Tongs or salad servers
Knife and cutting board
Whisk

Ingredients For Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad Recipe

For the Salad Base:

3 cups of mixed salad greens (romaine, iceberg, spinach)
½ cup shredded red cabbage
½ cup shredded carrots
2 teaspoons grated lemon (optional but refreshing)
1/2 cup Mandarin orange slices (drained)
¼ cup crispy wonton strips

For the Chicken:

2 chicken tenders or breasts (boneless).
1 cup buttermilk (for marinating)
1 cup flour
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Frying oil (or fry it in an air fryer to make it lighter)

For the Asian Slaw:

1 cup shredded cabbage mix
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp honey
1 tsp soy sauce
½ tsp grated ginger

For the Citrus Vinaigrette:

2 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp honey
Salt and pepper to taste

In making the Creamy Asian Dressing:

2 tbsp mayo
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ tsp sesame oil
½ tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Instructions For Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad Recipe

1. Marinate the Chicken

Begin by marinating the chicken in buttermilk at least 30 minutes (or overnight, as much as possible). This makes it juicy and tender.

2. Fry or Air Fry the Chicken

Combine flour, paprika, garlic, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Wet chicken with flour mixture and fry in hot oil until golden and crispy (requires 4-5 minutes each side).

Instead, air fry at 380°F (190 °C) between 15 and 18 minutes to get a light version.

3. Make the Slaw

Combine the rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, soy sauce and grated ginger in a small bowl. Add the shredded cabbage mix and put aside.

4. Whisk Up the Dressings

In the case of citrus vinaigrette, put together all ingredients and shake until smooth.

To prepare the creamy dressing, blend all ingredients till creamy and thick.

5. Assemble the Salad

Add the greens, red cabbage and carrots to a large bowl. Garnish with mandarin oranges, crispy chicken strips, slaw and wonton strips.

Pour on top the creamy dressing and citrus vinaigrette.

6. Serve and Enjoy!

Take a fork, dive in, and the Zensation starts!

Why You’ll Love This Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad Recipe

All flavors in one bite: It is sweet, tangy, crunchy and creamy.

Vegan luxury: Fried chicken and greens together – the ideal partnership.

Made at home: You are the boss of the ingredients, the dressings, in particular!

Magic in meal preparation: It is possible to prepare everything in advance to have a quick lunch or dinner.

Flavor Profile Breakdown

Now we can speak about taste- because that is what makes this salad unforgettable.

The Chicken: Tender, golden, crispy, and spicy enough.

The Greens: Crisp and cold, the greens serve as the ideal contrast to all the bold toppings.

The dress up Combo: The vinaigrette dressing gets your taste buds going and the creamy sesame dressing has it going on a velvet touch.

The Wonton Strips: it has that crunch that keeps each bite a pleasure.

My Tips for Nailing the Zensation at Home

Double up on the dressings. Believe me, a drop of each fills the salad.
Serve with toasted almonds or sesame seeds.
Do not omit the mandarin oranges! They compensate for the salinity perfectly.
Want it lighter? Substitute fried chicken with grilled or baked tenders.

How to Store Leftovers

Do not mix up each of the components (most importantly, the chicken and the dressings).

Store greens and toppings in an airtight container up to 2 days.

Reheat chicken in the oven or air fryer and place it back in.

Fun Fact:

Zaxby originally introduced Zensation Zalad as a seasonal product that was limited in time, but it was so popular that they asked to offer it again and again. Now you will not need to wait till it comes back with this Zaxby’s Zensation Zalad Recipe.

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