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Crisp, fresh and crunchy, this Chinese chicken salad is full of a rainbow of delicious vegetables, tender chicken and the surprising crunch of chow mein noodles and wontons. A tangy dressing flavors everything with Asian-inspired flavors for a salad that you’ll love to customize to your family’s tastes.
Salads can be made so many ways with an unlimited list of ingredients. For more of our favorite salad recipes try broccoli salad, chicken bacon ranch salad, dill pickle pasta salad or taco pasta salad.
MORE SALAD RECIPES:
BLT Pasta Salad | Ranch Potato Salad
CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD INGREDIENTS
You will need:
For the Dressing
- ½ cup of rice wine vinegar
- ¼ cup light soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon roasted garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- ½ cup of vegetable oil
For the Salad
- ½ head of green cabbage, thinly sliced
- ½ head of red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper, seeds, and stem removed, thinly sliced
- 1 small carrot, sliced thinly
- 2 green onions, chopped (you can use the green parts only or the whites, too, for added onion flavor)
- 1 cup loosely packed cilantro, chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
- 1 cup crispy fried chow mein noodles
- 1 cup crispy fried wonton strips
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Pro Tip: Often you can purchase half heads of cabbage at the grocery store. Or, use the leftover halves of the cabbage to make Fried Cabbage.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
Chicken: Use chicken breast or pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store to use in this salad.
Cabbage: Depending on the availability at your local grocery store, you can use red or purple cabbage in this recipe.
Lettuce: I like to add some romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce and/or some chopped spinach to supplement the cabbage in the salad.
Mix-Ins: The ingredients and amounts are completely customizable. Add raw broccoli florets, toasted almonds, black sesame seeds, snow peas or sweet mandarin oranges. There are lots of crunchy toppings you can add including ramen noodles, sunflower seeds or even crispy rice noodles.
Dressing: if you have a different dressing recipe that you like, you could use that instead.
HOW TO MAKE THIS CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD RECIPE
STEP ONE: Whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic paste, and ginger paste. Slowly drizzle the oil into the other salad dressing ingredients while whisking vigorously to emulsify the ingredients. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a large bowl toss together cabbage, bell pepper, carrots, green onions, cilantro, and chicken.
STEP THREE: Chill, covered, in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
STEP FOUR: Just before serving, add chow mein noodles and wonton strips to the salad ingredients.
STEP FIVE: Whisk sesame seeds into the dressing. Drizzle desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
PRO TIP: To toast sesame seeds, toss them for a couple of minutes over medium heat in a saute pan until they begin to brown. Remove from the saute pan immediately so they do not burn.
PRO TIP: If you have any extra dressing, store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
HOW TO SERVE
Serve this crunchy salad alongside our crispy honey chicken, orange chicken or our honey garlic chicken on a bed of rice. This recipe would also be an excellent choice to take to a potluck or summer barbecue.
STORAGE
IN THE FRIDGE: Chow mein noodles and wonton strips become soggy after the salad has been mixed with dressing. If you do not anticipate eating most of the oriental chicken salad at serving time, the salad, dressing, and crispy toppings can be stored separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and then combined for serving.
This crunchy Chinese chicken salad is delicious and full of yummy Asian flavors. The fresh ingredients are mixed with crunchy noodles and a tangy dressing that is the star of the show. This salad will pair well with so many delicious entrees.
FAQ
Any crunchy noodles could be added to this delicious Chinese chicken salad.Any crunchy noodles could be added to this delicious Chinese chicken salad.Any crunchy noodles could be added to this delicious Chinese chicken salad.
You can prepare this recipe ahead of time but you should store each part separately in an airtight container and only mix it together right before you are ready to serve.
You can buy both in the Asian section of the grocery store or at a bulk food store.
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
Chinese Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Soy Ginger Dressing
- ½ cup rice wine vinegar
- ¼ cup light soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon roasted garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- ½ cup vegetable oil
Salad
- ½ head green cabbage thinly sliced
- ½ head red cabbage thinly sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper seeds and stem removed, thinly sliced
- 1 small carrot sliced thinly
- 2 green onions chopped (you can use the green parts only or the whites too, for added onion flavor)
- 1 cup loosely packed cilantro chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken cubed or shredded
- 1 cup crispy fried chow mein noodles
- 1 cup crispy fried wonton strips
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic paste, and ginger paste. Slowly drizzle the oil into the other dressing ingredients while whisking vigorously to emulsify the ingredients. Set aside.
- In a large salad bowl toss together cabbage, bell pepper, carrots, green onions, cilantro, and chicken.
- Chill, covered, in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Just before serving, add chow mein noodles and wonton strips to the salad ingredients.
- Whisk sesame seeds into the dressing. Drizzle desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Serve immediately.
I love a great hearty salad and this one does the trick. It’s a great alternative to a boring salad.
Great tasting salad and easy to throw together for quick lunch.