This healthy and delicious Chinese Chicken Salad combines Napa and red cabbage, carrots, chicken, sweet red bell pepper, sliced almonds, and crispy chow mein noodles all drizzled with a sweet ginger soy based vinaigrette. Using already cooked chicken the salad comes together in less than 20 minutes making it perfect for those busy summer nights.
Hubby and I just love those quick to make tasty salads for our busy weekend lunches and warm summer dinners. This salad, Cobb Salad, Broccoli Salad, and Loaded Wedge Salad are just a few of our many favorites.
How to make Chinese Chicken Salad
Start by combining the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, and ginger in a mason jar or airtight container. Then shake to combine. Next shred both cabbages and the carrots. Then dice the chicken and red bell pepper. Now slice the green onion fairly thin. Combine both cabbages, carrots, chicken, red bell pepper, green onions, sliced almonds, and crispy chow mein noodles in a large bowl. Then drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Any kind of cooked chicken will work including but not limited to grilled, rotisserie, baked, or poached. When going with the rotisserie chicken choose a flavor that is complementary like lemon pepper.
- The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Crispy cooked chow mein noodles can be found in the Asian food section of your local grocery store. They are same kind of noodle that you use in Haystack Cookies.
- If making the salad in advance hold up adding the almonds, chow mein noodles, and tossing with the dressing until ready to serve.
- Ginger paste works well for those times when fresh ginger is not available. Use 1 tablespoon ginger paste to replace 1 tablespoon fresh ginger.
Recipe substitutions and variations
- Substitute cooked shrimp or salmon for the chicken.
- Green cabbage or romaine lettuce can be substituted for the Napa cabbage.
- Add edamame, snow peas, or snap peas for extra crunch and nutrition.
- Substitute fried wonton strips for the crispy chow mein noodles.
- Add toasted sesame seeds.
- Add mandarin orange segments.
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Chinese Chicken Salad
This tasty and healthy light Chinese Chicken Salad comes together in less than twenty minutes using already cooked chicken. The six ingredient sweet ginger soy based vinaigrette can be prepared up to three days in advance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: salad
- Method: bowl and spoon
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Asian dressing
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly grated ginger
Chinese Chicken Salad
- 4 cups finely shredded Napa cabbage
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 2 cups diced chicken breast
- ¼ cup red bell pepper diced
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup chow mein noodles or crispy rice noodles
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, and ginger in a mason jar or airtight container. Shake to combine.
- Combine both cabbages, carrots, chicken, red bell pepper, green onions, sliced almonds, and chow mein noodles in a large bowl.
- Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat. For best results serve promptly.
Notes
- Any kind of cooked chicken will work including but not limited to grilled, rotisserie, baked, or poached. When going with the rotisserie chicken choose a flavor that is complementary like lemon pepper.
- The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Crispy cooked chow mein noodles can be found in the Asian food section of your local grocery store. They are same kind of noodle that you use in Haystack Cookies.
- If making the salad in advance hold up adding the almonds, chow mein noodles, and tossing with the dressing until ready to serve.
- Ginger paste works well for those times when fresh ginger is not available. Use 1 tablespoon ginger paste to replace 1 tablespoon fresh ginger.
Keywords: asian salad dressing, asian chicken salad, chinese chicken salad recipe, oriental chicken salad
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Kathryn
This was delicious and everyone loved it! For the chicken I made extra dressing and made it in my slow cooker. I admit I did cheat a little and bought a bag of coleslaw mix that had green and purple cabbage, and carrots, already shredded. Still added everything else you recommended. Thanks for another awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! Interesting tip with the chicken. I bet it was tender and flavorful. Thanks for the tip!
Natalie
I could eat this salad any day!! Love Asian salads & this one has a lot of flavor & crunch!
★★★★★
Lisalia
My aunt made this all the time while I was growing up. It brings back great memories of her sweet smile and yummy smelling kitchen! Thanks for this recipe Beth!
★★★★★
katerina @ diethood.com
This chicken salad is incredibly delicious! We loved it!
★★★★★
Dannii
Such a great twist on a chicken salad. It looks delicious.
★★★★★
Katherine
Yum! I love all the textures and flavors in this hearty salad!
★★★★★
Gina
Oh I love this salad! The dressing alone is delicious but when tossed with the salad ingredients it’s perfect for satisfying any Chinese food craving. Love that it’s on the healthier side too!
★★★★★
Natalie
Such a lovely salad. Light and full of flavor. Love that you used sesame oil. Perfect moreover from classic chicken salad. I will defo make this.
★★★★★
Julia
What a delicious salad! I make similar with ramen noodles but will be trying chow mein next time.
★★★★★
Claudia Lamascolo
I love how colorful and full of flavor this came perfect recipe!
★★★★★
Jac
Brought this to a family BBQ and everyone loved the tasty flavours. I’ve pointed them to your site so they can get the recipe as everyone wanted it! Thanks
★★★★★
Charla
Looks delicious with lots of bold flavours, looking forward to giving this salad a try.
★★★★★
Chichi
This chicken salad is so good! I like how it all comes together nicely. Yummy!
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This Chinese Chicken Salad is the cutest EVER!
★★★★★
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
Color and crunch and big flavor! This version of chicken salad is a total winner, winner!
★★★★★
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
Such a fantastic salad! I can’t wait to try it!!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Beti! Enjoy!!
katerina @ diethood.com
I absolutely love the flavors in the salad!! Definitely my new favorite!! YUM!
★★★★★
Amanda Livesay
One of our favorite salads! My kids have already asked for it again.
★★★★★
Jo
Wow so yummy! My family loves this salad as well!
★★★★★
Amanda
This is so full of flavor and will definitely be making them again!
★★★★★
Krystle
Made this for lunch today so many yummy flavors and textures. Especially love the dressing!
★★★★★
Agnieszka
I’ve been looking for a good recipe for Asian chicken salad and this one really hits the spot. Thank you for sharing. Will try for sure!
★★★★★
Beth
This is such a colorful, fresh delicious salad! We could eat it every day.
★★★★★
Shinta Simon
Thanks for this brilliant idea! I’m definitely making this over the summer!
★★★★★
Emily Flint
This is one of my favorite salads, I always order the Chinese chicken salad at restaurants…or I used to. NOw I can make it at home and this dressing is so amazing I want to put it on everything!
★★★★★
Michelle
What a delicious looking salad! Yum, can’t wait to try this one out on the weekend!
★★★★★
Lisalia
Another winner! I loved the flavor and especially the crunch. Definitely a salad to eat the same day it’s made so that the noodles stay crunchy. But I guess it would be easy to make ahead and just add noodles and almonds just before serving. You have some of my favorite recipes and I’m glad to come back and try new ones. Thanks Beth!
★★★★★
April
This was really good! Loved all the Asian flavor. 🙂
★★★★★
Stephanie
The flavor on this salad is amazing. I could eat this everyday! Thanks!
★★★★★