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 quick, 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 the cabbages and carrots. Then dice the chicken and red bell pepper. Now slice the green onion fairly thin. Combine the 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 Tips for Perfect Chinese Chicken Salad
- Any cooked chicken will work, including but not limited to grilled, rotisserie, baked, or poached. When going with the rotisserie chicken, choose a complementary flavor, 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, the same kind used in Haystack Cookies, can be found in the Asian food section of your local grocery store.
- If making the salad in advance, don’t add the almonds and chow mein noodles until you are ready to toss and serve.
- Ginger paste works well when fresh ginger is not available. Use 1 tablespoon ginger paste to replace 1 tablespoon fresh ginger.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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.
Other Asian recipes you will love!
Chinese Chicken Salad
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 cooked chicken will work, including but not limited to grilled, rotisserie, baked, or poached. When going with the rotisserie chicken, choose a complementary flavor, 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 the same kind of noodles that you use in Haystack Cookies.
- If making the salad in advance, hold up, add the almonds and chow mein noodles, and toss with the dressing when 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.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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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!