Chinese Chicken Salad

This healthy Chinese Chicken Salad is loaded with tender chicken, crisp cabbage and veggies, sweet mandarin oranges and crunchy almonds, all tossed in a delicious homemade ginger-sesame dressing. Fresh, flavorful and ready in just 15 minutes!

If you’re looking for a fresh, crunchy salad that’s filling enough for dinner, this Chinese Chicken Salad recipe is one of my favorites. You get a little bit of everything in every bite, juicy chicken, crisp vegetables, sweet mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds and a tangy homemade dressing that brings everything together.

I also love how easy this salad is to customize and prep ahead. Use leftover or rotisserie chicken to make it extra quick, prep the dressing and veggies in advance, then toss everything together when you’re ready to eat.

Why You’ll Love This

• Quick and easy – use cooked or rotisserie chicken and the entire salad comes together in just 15 minutes.
• Fresh and healthy – it’s packed with lean protein, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs and healthy fats for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
• Amazing homemade dressing – the ginger-sesame dressing is sweet, savory, tangy and SO much better than bottled dressing.
• Lots of texture – crunchy cabbage and almonds, juicy mandarin oranges and tender chicken make every bite delicious.
• Perfect for meal prep – prep all the components ahead of time and simply toss everything together when you’re ready to eat.
• Easy to customize – swap the vegetables, nuts or protein based on what you have on hand.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• cooked chicken – leftover or rotisserie chicken makes this salad incredibly quick and easy. Grilled, baked or air fryer chicken breast works great too.
• romaine lettuce – gives the salad a crisp, refreshing base. Chop or thinly slice it into bite-size pieces.
• napa cabbage – adds that signature crunch while being a little lighter and more tender than regular green cabbage.
• carrots – add natural sweetness, color and crunch. Julienne, grate or use store-bought matchstick carrots to save time.
• red bell pepper – adds even more crunch and a slightly sweet flavor.
• mandarin oranges – I usually use canned mandarin oranges packed in 100% juice and drain them really well. Fresh mandarins work too.
• green onions – add a mild onion flavor without overpowering the salad.
• cilantro – adds fresh, bright flavor that pairs perfectly with the ginger-sesame dressing.
• almonds – sliced almonds add delicious crunch. Toast them for even more flavor or swap them with cashews or peanuts.
• sesame seeds – optional, but they’re a great finishing touch.

Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing

The homemade Chinese chicken salad dressing is really what brings this entire salad together. It’s a simple ginger-sesame dressing with the perfect balance of savory, sweet and tangy flavors, and you can make it in just a few minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:

• olive oil – creates the base of the dressing. Avocado oil works too.
• sesame oil – adds that delicious toasted, nutty flavor. A little goes a long way!
• low-sodium soy sauce – adds savory umami flavor without making the dressing overly salty. Use tamari or coconut aminos if needed.
• rice wine vinegar – gives the dressing its bright, tangy flavor. Apple cider vinegar can be substituted in a pinch.
• honey – naturally sweetens the dressing and balances the vinegar and soy sauce. Maple syrup works too.
• fresh ginger – adds fresh, zippy flavor and makes this dressing SO good.
• garlic – fresh garlic adds another layer of savory flavor.

Simply add everything to a mason jar, seal the lid and shake until well combined. You can also whisk everything together in a small bowl.

How to Make Chinese Chicken Salad

1. Make the dressing. Add rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, fresh ginger, sesame oil and olive oil to a small mason jar. Seal the lid and shake vigorously until well combined. You can also whisk everything together in a bowl.
2. Prep the salad. Thinly chop the romaine and napa cabbage, julienne the carrots, slice the bell pepper and green onions, chop the cilantro and drain the mandarin oranges well.
3. Combine everything. Add the chicken, romaine, cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, mandarin oranges and almonds to a large bowl.
4. Dress the salad. Just before serving, drizzle the ginger-sesame dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is lightly coated.
5. Serve. Top with sesame seeds and additional almonds, if desired, and serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Chinese Chicken Salad

• Use rotisserie chicken. It’s my favorite shortcut and makes this salad incredibly quick to throw together.
• Slice everything thin. Thinly sliced lettuce, cabbage and vegetables give you a little bit of everything in each bite.
• Toast the almonds. Toast sliced almonds in a dry skillet for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant. Let them cool before adding them to the salad.
• Drain the oranges well. Excess liquid from canned mandarin oranges can water down the dressing and make the salad soggy.
• Don’t dress it too early. Add the dressing just before serving to keep the lettuce and cabbage nice and crisp.
• Start with less dressing. Add about three-quarters of the dressing, toss, then add more as needed. You want everything lightly coated rather than drenched.
• Use fresh ginger and garlic. They make a huge difference in the flavor of this simple dressing.

Variations and Substitutions

• Add more crunch – try crispy wonton strips, chow mein noodles, sunflower seeds, peanuts or cashews.
• Change the protein – use grilled shrimp, salmon, thinly sliced steak, tofu or edamame instead of chicken.
• Add more veggies – cucumber, snap peas, snow peas, red cabbage, shredded Brussels sprouts or avocado would all be delicious.
• Make it gluten-free – substitute tamari or coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
• Add some heat – add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, crushed red pepper flakes or thinly sliced jalapeños to the dressing.
• Use coleslaw mix – a bag of coleslaw mix is an easy shortcut for the cabbage and carrots.

What to Serve with Chinese Chicken Salad

This Chinese chicken salad is hearty enough to enjoy as a complete meal on its own, but you can also pair it with:

• Soup – serve it alongside a light soup such as this detox chicken soup for an easy lunch or dinner.
• Rice – brown rice, jasmine rice or cauliflower rice can make the meal even more filling.
• Spring rolls – fresh or baked spring rolls make a delicious pairing with all those Asian-inspired flavors.
• Extra protein – add more chicken, grilled shrimp or salmon for an even higher-protein meal. My air fryer chicken and air fryer salmon both make great, easy protein options.
• Fresh fruit – pineapple, mango or extra mandarin oranges make a refreshing side.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Salad Recipes

• Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad
• Mediterranean Chopped Salad
• Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Roasted Sweet Potato, Quinoa and Kale Salad
• Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad

Hope you all enjoy this Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe! If you love this salad as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!