• About
  • Browse Recipes
  • Recipe Index

Main Navigation

  • Recipe Index
  • About

The Forked Spoon

Eat Healthy • Adventure Often

  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Salads
  • Soups
  • Sides
  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • By Diet

Home » 30 Minutes or Less » Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets

Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
October 24, 2018
5 from 7 votes


Last Updated December 6, 2019 | 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

319 shares
jump to recipe

Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets. A delicious mix of crunchy raw beets, Brussels Sprouts, celery, carrots, and sweet apples tossed with warm shredded chicken in an easy orange tahini dressing Enjoy this light and healthy Brussels Sprout Salad for lunch, dinner, or as an easy side on your next holiday gathering.

Large white salad bowl filled with Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets

If someone had told me 5 years ago that my future self would be eating raw beet and Brussels Sprout salads (and enjoying them!) I would have laughed. Before the start of this blog, I had all kinds of preconceived notions about Brussels sprouts. And beets? Well, I don’t think I had ever tried a cooked beet, let alone a raw one.

Fast forward and you’ll quickly discover that beets and Brussels sprouts are now two of my favorite vegetables, frequently appearing in a range of recipes such as beet hummus, sauteed Brussels sprouts, beet burgers, Bloody Mary’s, and, of course, all the salads.

Whether you already know that you love Brussels sprouts and beets, or you’ve only ever tried them cooked, I highly recommend that you try this shredded Brussels sprout salad. It’s colorful, jam-packed with healthy, nutrient-filled vegetables, and incredibly easy to throw together as a busy weeknight dinner, holiday side, or post-holiday recovery meal.

Ingredients in this Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad

  • chicken (see notes below)
  • shredded Brussels sprouts
  • carrots
  • celery
  • cucumber
  • beets
  • apples
  • green onion
  • dried cranberries
  • pumpkin seeds
  • garlic
  • ground cumin
  • tahini
  • orange juice
  • apple cider vinegar
  • maple syrup
  • olive oil

Easy modifications to this Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad

If you’re not in the mood for chicken, you don’t have any available, or you simply choose not to eat meat, this shredded Brussels sprout salad will still be delicious. If you’re looking for a little something extra to toss in there, my advice would be a bean or a grain. For example, roasted chickpeas would pair beautifully with the crunch of the Brussels sprouts and sweetness of the beets. Farro would be another delicious addition.

Or, you can do all of the above, PLUS the chicken.

mixing bowl filled with Brussels sprouts, celery, carrots, beets, chicken, green onion, and cucumber.

How to make this Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad

  1. Cook the chicken. To make this light and healthy Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad first start with the chicken. I should note that the addition of chicken is completely optional. Leave it out to make this salad vegetarian. Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the chicken and return to a boil. Remove the pot from heat and cover with a lid. Allow the chicken to poach for 25-30 minutes, or until fully cooked. Remove chicken to a clean plate and allow to cool until ready to shred with a fork.
  2. Prepare the vegetables. As the chicken cooks, prepare the vegetables. I recommend starting with the vegetables that hold up well after chopping first (celery, carrots, cucumber, green onion, Brussels sprouts), followed by those that change color or start to dry out (apples and beets). If you do notice that the beets or apples start to dry or brown, mix with fresh lemon juice or orange juice.
  3. Mix the dressing. The dressing for this shredded Brussels sprout salad couldn’t be easier to mix together. Add all the ingredients to a small food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Season with additional salt, pepper, or maple syrup, to taste.
  4. Assemble. By this point, the chicken should be ready and the vegetables prepared. Add all ingredients, including the dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds to the mixing bowl and toss to combine. Drizzle the entire salad with the tahini dressing or keep the dressing separate- entirely up to you!

Can this Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad be prepared ahead of time?

There are several parts to this Brussels sprout and beet salad that can be prepared ahead of time to save time in the kitchen. This includes-

  • The chicken. This would be the easiest time saver. Prep the meat ahead of time and warm up just before serving. Or, use leftover rotisserie chicken. Even better? All that leftover turkey from Thanksgiving! 
  • Pre-chop vegetables. That is, pre-chop some of them. Cucumbers, carrots, and celery would all do really well if prepared ahead of time and stored in an air-tight container. The same can be said for the Brussels sprouts, however, I would recommend storing these in a zip-lock bag with as much air removed as possible. If time permits, I would wait on the beets and definitely wait to slice the apples.
  • The dressing. Like the chicken, prepare this ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.

Shredded Brussels sprouts tossed with shredded beets, carrots, pumpkin seeds, apples, cranberries, and a light orange vinaigrette.

How do I shred Brussels Sprouts?

Brussels sprouts can be shredded in several ways- with a knife, a mandoline, or using a cheese grater. I have tried all three methods and find that my favorite is either with a paring knife or with a mandoline. The cheese grater is too unstable and the blade is not sharp enough.

  1. To shred Brussels sprouts with a knife, simply slice off the hard, woody end and cut in half vertically. Remove any bruised or dried out outer leaves and discard. Cut-side down, thinly slice the Brussels sprouts cross-wise from root to top. Tease apart the layers. This method is a bit more methodical and time-consuming than with the mandoline.
  2. To shred Brussels sprouts with a mandoline, remove any outer leaves that appear bruised or dried. Wearing protective gloves, hold the Brussels sprout by its woody stem and slice the Brussels sprout across the mandoline until you reach the end. Repeat. I love using my mandoline to shred Brussels sprouts, however, it does waste a bit more of the vegetable when compared to using a knife.

Tools needed to make this Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Beets

  • Mandoline Slicer– those super thinly sliced beets? yeah, I didn’t do that. Actually, not true. I did that with the help of my friend the mandoline. If you do use this super handy kitchen tool, make sure to use protective gloves! This kitchen bff of mine may have landed me in the ER with stitches because I didn’t understand the importance of gloves or a guard.
  • Paring knife– for the apples and cucumbers and celery and…
  • Julienne Peeler– to make all those veggie noodles
  • Cutting board- whatever you have. For veggies, the bigger, the better.
  • Mixing bowl- Unless you decrease the serving size and cut the recipe in half, you will need to initially mix this salad in a super large mixing bowl.

Do you really need everything listed above to make this shredded Brussels sprout salad? Well, yes and no.

Since the beets are raw, the mandoline was the only kitchen tool I owned which would slice this super hard root vegetable thin enough so that it would mix seamlessly with the salad. I do not recommend trying to thinly slice raw beets with a kitchen knife.

I also used the mandoline to shred the Brussels sprouts. However, I have also used a simple paring knife to thinly slice Brussel sprouts and it has worked beautifully (see note above on how to shred Brussels sprouts).

Serving bowl with colorful shredded beet and Brussels sprout salad

If you try cooking this Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.

For more shredded Brussels sprout salad recipes check out,

  • Shredded Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad
  • Shredded Brussels Sprout Persimmon Salad
  • Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
  • Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

For more Brussels sprout recipes check out,

  • Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
  • Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
  • Brussels Sprout and Potato Gratin
  • Green Shakshuka
  • Autumn Chicken Skillet with Apples and Sweet Potatoes

DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS EASY SHREDDED BRUSSELS SPROUT SALAD WITH BEETS TO MAKE FOR A FAST, EASY, AND HEALTHY DINNER OR SIDE DISH THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE.

Overhead view of a small serving of shredded Brussels sprout salad with apples, beets, and chicken.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC? CLICK HERE TO SEARCH BY INGREDIENT

REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FORKED SPOON NEWSLETTER FOR FREE AND RECEIVE WEEKLY RECIPE NOTIFICATIONS DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX!

If you try a recipe, please share it using the hashtag #theforkedspoon or by tagging @theforkedspoon.

A bowl of beet brussels sprouts salad on a plate

Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets

5 from 7 votes
Chef: Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa
Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Chicken and Beets. A delicious mix of crunchy raw beets, Brussels Sprouts, celery, carrots, and sweet apples tossed with warm shredded chicken in a creamy tahini dressing. Enjoy this light and healthy Brussels Sprout Salad for lunch, dinner, or as an easy side on your next holiday gathering.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 375 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 2 pounds Brussels Sprouts - shredded
  • 1 cup carrots - shredded
  • 5 stalks celery - chopped
  • 1 English cucumber - chopped
  • 4 medium beets - peeled, thinly sliced into matchsticks
  • 2 large apples - cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup green onion - chopped
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup pumpkin seeds

For the Vinaigrette

  • 2 cloves garlic - peeled
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ cup tahini
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup - plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt + pepper - to taste
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • Cook the chicken- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the chicken to the pot and return to a boil. Remove from heat and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the chicken to cook in the water for 25-30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F with a digital thermometer. Remove to a clean plate and allow to cool before shredding with a fork.
  • As the chicken cooks, prepare and transfer the ingredients for the salad to a large mixing bowl and gently toss to combine.
  • Prepare the salad dressing- Add all ingredients to the bowl of a small food processor. Process until smooth and creamy. Season with additional maple syrup and salt, to taste and add additional water or orange juice to thin, if needed.
  • Assemble- Add the shredded chicken to the salad bowl and drizzle with the prepared salad dressing. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information

Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 173mg | Potassium: 1328mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 5205IU | Vitamin C: 156mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 3.6mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword chicken salad, Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad
Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

About Jessica

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

319 shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Sam says

    October 29, 2018 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    Such a beautiful and fresh salad, I love a good crunch! I paired the salad with a squash soup and it worked perfectly! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

Reader Favorites

  • Acai bowl topped with fresh fruit and granola. Acai Bowl Recipe – How to Make Your Own Acai Bowl
  • A close up of a bowl Chimichurri Chimichurri Recipe (How to Make Chimichurri Sauce)
  • Perfect, clear, beef bone broth in a large stockpot. Bone Broth Recipe (How to Make Bone Broth)
  • Bok Choy being cooked in a wok with a spoonful of garlic sauce 10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe
  • White bowl filled with homemade chicken soup. The Best Chicken Soup Recipe
  • A bowl of Vietnamese Pho with a spoonful of bone broth Pho Recipe (How to Make Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
Logo of The Forked Spoon by Jessica Randhawa
The Forked Spoon has been featured on Yahoo, CountryLiving, MSN, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, and Parade
  • About
  • Browse Recipes
  • Contact
  • Accessibility Statement

Copyright © 2023 · The Forked Spoon LLC • Disclosure