Chinese Chicken Salad
This Chinese Chicken Salad is a crunchy, flavorful mix of shredded chicken, crisp cabbage, and a tangy sesame dressing. It’s fresh, satisfying, and easy to customize with your favorite toppings. Whether you're making it for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or meal prep, this salad is packed with texture and bold flavors. Plus, it’s way better than any store-bought version! Serve it chilled, toss it with the dressing just before eating, and enjoy every crunchy, delicious bite.💖
Ingredients
Ingredients List for Chinese Chicken Salad
For the Salad:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast shredded (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 4 cups napa cabbage or green cabbage thinly sliced
- 1 cup red cabbage thinly sliced (for extra color and crunch)
- 1 cup carrots julienned or shredded
- ½ cup red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 2 green onions chopped
- ½ cup cilantro chopped (optional, but adds fresh flavor)
- ½ cup crunchy toppings toasted almonds, sesame seeds, or crispy wonton strips
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar adds the perfect tang
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup for a natural sweetener
- 1 tbsp sesame oil gives it that signature nutty flavor
- 1 tbsp olive oil balances out the sesame oil
- 1 tsp fresh ginger grated (or ½ tsp ground ginger)
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp Sriracha or chili flakes optional, for a little heat
Key Substitutions & Add-Ons:
- Swap chicken for shrimp tofu, or even salmon.
- No honey? Use brown sugar or agave.
- Add mandarin oranges for a sweet citrusy twist.
Instructions
How to Make Chinese Chicken Salad: Step-by-Step
- This is as easy as it gets—chop, whisk, toss, and eat. Let’s do this!
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
- Shred the chicken (or cheat and use rotisserie chicken—no judgment here).
- Slice up the cabbage, carrots, and bell pepper into thin strips. The thinner, the better for that perfect crunch!
- Chop the green onions and cilantro if you're using it.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, olive oil, ginger, garlic, and Sriracha (if you like a little spice).
- Taste it—too salty? Add a little honey. Too sweet? Add a splash of vinegar. You’re in charge here!
Step 3: Toss It All Together
- In a big bowl, throw in the chicken, cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing all over and toss like you mean it—you want everything coated in that delicious sauce.
Step 4: Add the Crunch
- Sprinkle on the almonds, sesame seeds, or crispy wonton strips right before serving. (Because nobody likes a soggy crunch.)
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
- Grab a fork (or chopsticks if you’re feeling fancy) and dig in!
- If you have leftovers, keep the dressing separate so it stays fresh.
- That’s it! A salad that’s anything but boring. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make it ahead: Keep the dressing separate until ready to serve.
- Short on time? Use rotisserie chicken to skip the cooking step.
- Spice it up: Add extra chili flakes or a drizzle of sriracha.