In this crispy rice salad SweetGreen copycat recipe we’ve swapped out the rice for quinoa and whipped up a zesty homemade spicy cashew dressing to drizzle over it. It’s just as mouthwatering as your favorite from the restaurant, but way easier on your wallet!
Table of Contents
- Why We Love This Copycat Chicken Rice Bowl
- What Is Crispy Rice?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make the Perfect Copycat SweetGreen Crispy Rice Bowl
- Make Ahead and Storage Options
- Common Questions about Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Salad
- More Salad Recipes for Meal Prep
- SweetGreen Crispy Rice Salad Copycat Recipe
Why We Love This Copycat Chicken Rice Bowl
We’re going to let you in on a secret. We’re obsessed with SweetGreen.
Honestly, though, who isn’t? All their dishes have the most incredible flavor. Plus, they’re a good healthy option for a lunch out when you want to treat yourself.
However, we don’t always love the price of eating out. To remedy this issue, we figured out how to make our favorite crispy rice bowl at home, and it was a huge hit! Unlike the original recipe, our version is:
- Budget-friendly
- Great to prepare for meal prep or a filling family dinner
- Super versatile, meaning you can easily adjust it to fit your dietary needs and flavor preferences
What Is Crispy Rice?
As the name suggests, crispy rice is cooked grains of rice that have been tossed with oil and seasonings and baked. As a result, it becomes crunchy, crisp, and super addictive!
However, for our recipe, we swapped out the rice for quinoa for more plant-based protein and fiber to keep you fuller for longer. The result is nearly identical to crispy rice and a little more nutritious!
Ingredients You’ll Need
We did our best to replicate the original SweetGreen crispy rice salad ingredients in this homemade recipe. We think we nailed it!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Spicy Cashew Dressing
- Garlic – Garlic infused a bold flavor into the dressing.
- Cilantro – This herb cuts through the rich fats for a refreshing flavor.
- Sesame oil – We love the rich, nutty flavor of this oil.
- Chili flakes – These add a kick of spiciness.
- Maple syrup – Sweetness helps to balance out the spice. If preferred, honey or agave would work, too.
- Rice vinegar – We’re big fans of using this variety of vinegar but you can substitute apple cider vinegar if desired.
- Ginger – Freshly grated ginger will give the dressing the best flavor!
- Cashew butter – This nut butter forms the base of the dressing, creating the creamy and nutty flavor it’s famous for.
- Lime juice – The acidity helps cut through some of the heaviness of the fats, balancing out the flavors.
- Water – Use as needed to thin out the dressing.
Chicken
- Chicken breast – Feel free to use chicken thighs instead, and adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Seasonings – Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and chili powder combine to create the most flavorful chicken you’ll ever taste.
Crispy Quinoa
- Quinoa – Feel free to replace the quinoa with brown rice, wild rice, or any other grain you like best. Or, leave it out completely for a low-carb option.
- Oil – Essential to create a crispy texture.
- Salt & pepper – For a little extra flavor.
Salad
- Greens – We used a combination of arugula and mixed greens, but lettuce or spinach would taste great, too.
- Carrots – For added crunch and plenty of vitamin A.
- Cucumber – Their mild taste balances out the rest of the bold ingredients.
- Almonds – Included for extra crunch and more healthy fats to keep you full.
- Roughly Chopped Cilantro (Coriander) – The finishing touch, cilantro lightens up the dish and ties all the ingredients together!
How to Make the Perfect Copycat SweetGreen Crispy Rice Bowl
This chicken rice bowl recipe requires several different steps, but don’t worry! They’re all super simple, and this recipe makes a lot. So, you can make it once and eat it for days.
- Create the spicy cashew dressing: Place all the ingredients for the dressing into a blender, and blend until smooth.
- Season: Combine the seasonings in a small bowl, and use the mixture to coat the chicken breast.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat, and add the oil. Cook the chicken on each side until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, set the chicken aside.
- Make the crispy quinoa: Cook the quinoa according to the package instructions. Place the cooked quinoa on a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle oil on top, and add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste. Bake until crisp, stirring halfway through cooking.
- Combine the salad: Slice the chicken into diagonal strips. Then, in a large bowl, assemble all the salad ingredients. Top the mixture with the sliced chicken, crispy quinoa, and as little or as much dressing as you’d like, and dig in!
Make Ahead and Storage Options
This copycat recipe is best served right away. However, you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to five days.
We highly recommend storing the dressing separately and only adding the dressing when you serve your salad! Otherwise, it will cause the ingredients to become soggy and go bad faster. Plus, it’s nice to have on hand for dipping with veggies, adding to other salads, and more!
Common Questions about Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Salad
You can absolutely make a vegetarian or vegan version of this popular salad! Simply swap the chicken for roasted sesame tofu, crispy tempeh, or edamame as your protein source. The lime cashew dressing is already plant-based, making it perfect for a vegan preparation.
This salad is fantastic for meal prep with a few adjustments! Prepare all your components separately: cook and store your protein, chop vegetables, make the dressing, and prepare the crispy rice. Store everything in separate containers. When you’re ready to eat, just assemble your salad in minutes!
Beyond the traditional chicken or tofu options, there are plenty of protein alternatives that work well in this salad! Try marinated and grilled shrimp, salmon seasoned with a touch of soy and honey, or even add a soft-boiled egg. For plant-based options, crispy chickpeas tossed in Asian-inspired spices and marinated tempeh are great additions!
Sweetgreen’s Crispy Rice Salad is generally considered a nutritious option with a good balance of ingredients! The salad provides protein from chicken or plant-based alternatives, healthy fats from the cashew dressing, complex carbs from the grains, and plenty of vitamins and minerals from the fresh vegetables and herbs.
More Salad Recipes for Meal Prep
We’re big fans of meal prepping and salads make it super simple! Check out these easy recipes for salads that will satisfy you all week long:
SweetGreen Crispy Rice Salad Copycat
Ingredients
For the Spicy Cashew Dressing:
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 cup loosely packed cilantro
- 1 Tablespoons sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoons red chili flakes to taste
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped ginger
- 1/2 cup creamy cashew butter
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup water more or less as needed
- 1 teaspoon sea salt to taste
For the Chicken:
- 2 chicken breasts 1.25 pounds
- 1 Tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
For the Crispy Quinoa:
- 2 cups cooked quinoa brown rice, or grain of choice
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
For the Salad:
- 3 ounces arugula
- 3 ounces mixed greens
- 1 cup sliced purple cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 large English cucumber sliced
- 1/2 cup toasted almonds
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth, and set aside.2 Tablespoons minced garlic, 1 cup loosely packed cilantro, 1 Tablespoons sesame oil, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 3 teaspoons red chili flakes, 2 Tablespoons maple syrup, 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar, 1/4 cup fresh chopped ginger, 1/2 cup creamy cashew butter, 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Coat the chicken with the seasonings, and warm a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, and cook the chicken 4-5 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the skillet, and set aside.2 chicken breasts, 1 Tablespoon cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Cook the quinoa according to the package instructions, and arrange it in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil on top followed by the salt and pepper.2 cups cooked quinoa, 3 Tablespoons olive oil, Salt to taste, Pepper to taste
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from the oven, and let cool.
- Slice the chicken diagonally.
- In a large bowl, add all the salad ingredients. Top with crispy quinoa, chicken, and as little or as much dressing as preferred. Toss to combine, and serve.3 ounces arugula, 3 ounces mixed greens, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 large English cucumber, 1/2 cup toasted almonds, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, 1 cup sliced purple cabbage
Equipment
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Fam jam won’t touch cilantro 🙁 could I simply use parsley?
Sure! The taste will be slightly different, but it will still be great!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Lots of ingredients but dang close to the original at SG. Love the crispy quinoa!!! Won’t go back to quinoa any other way. And sauce—so good. Can be used on other salads too.
Yesss! So glad you enjoyed it, Jenna!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa