Chinese Chicken Salad

The BEST Chinese Chicken Salad made with shredded chicken, napa cabbage, crisp romaine lettuce, mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds, and a homemade ginger sesame dressing. Fresh, easy, and meal prep friendly!

If you’re looking for a fresh, colorful salad that’s anything but boring, this Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe is about to become one of your new favorites. Loaded with tender shredded chicken, crisp romaine, crunchy napa cabbage, sweet mandarin oranges, shredded carrots, fresh cilantro, toasted almonds, and a vibrant homemade ginger-sesame dressing that’s bursting with bold Asian-inspired flavor.

This hearty salad is light enough for lunch, satisfying enough for dinner, and perfect for meal prep since the dressing can be made ahead of time. Whether you’re serving it for a quick weeknight meal, packing lunches for the week, or bringing it to a potluck, this salad is always a crowd-pleaser. Every bite is packed with crunchy texture, juicy citrus, and the perfect balance of sweet, savory, tangy, and nutty flavors.

Why You’ll Love This

• Loaded with fresh ingredients – crisp romaine, crunchy napa cabbage, sweet carrots, fresh herbs, juicy mandarin oranges, and tender chicken create a colorful salad that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
• Healthy option – packed with lean protein, fiber-rich vegetables, healthy fats, and plenty of fresh produce, this salad keeps you feeling full without weighing you down.
• The dressing is incredible – this Asian salad dressing is SO good you’ll want to drizzle it on everything! It perfectly balances all the sweet, savory, tangy, and nutty flavors.
• Perfect year-round – this salad is refreshing enough for hot summer days, but hearty enough to enjoy throughout every season.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• cooked chicken – leftover rotisserie chicken makes this recipe incredibly quick and easy, but any cooked chicken breast or thighs work well. The shredded chicken adds lean protein and makes this salad hearty enough for a complete meal.
• romaine lettuce – romaine provides a crisp, refreshing base while adding plenty of crunch. Chop it into bite-sized pieces for easy eating. You could also use iceberg lettuce or extra cabbage.
• cabbage – gives this salad its signature texture. It’s lighter and more tender than green cabbage while still providing plenty of satisfying crunch. I like to use a mix of napa cabbage and red cabbage.
• carrots – add natural sweetness, vibrant color, and another layer of crisp texture. I always julienne my carrots for salads, but you could also grate them or even purchase store-bought matchstick carrots which makes things easier.
• red bell pepper – adds fresh crunch, sweetness and a beautiful color. You could also throw in additional bell peppers or other crunchy veggies as well!
• mandarin oranges – I usually just use a can of mandarin oranges (make sure they’re in 100% juice), but you could also just cut up some fresh oranges or a small tangerine.
• green onions – provides a mild onion flavor without overpowering the rest of the salad.
• cilantro – brightens the entire salad and complements all the delicious Asian-inspired flavors.
• almonds – I used sliced almonds for added crunch, but you could use cashews or peanuts as well. For even more flavor, lightly toast the almonds in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding them to the salad.

Ingredients for Ginger-Sesame Dressing

• olive oil – I like to use a good olive oil that doesn’t have to be expensive, just make sure it’s cold-pressed and organic for the most flavor. Avocado oil or vegetable oil would work as well.
• sesame oil – adds a delicious nutty flavor to the dressing.
• soy sauce – I always use low-sodium soy sauce as I find that regular soy sauce can make this dressing too salty. You could also swap the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to make this gluten-free or paleo.
• rice wine vinegar – this adds a nice tangy flavor and some zip to the salad. You could also use apple cider vinegar or champagne vinegar.
• honey – adds a little sweetness to the dressing without using refined sugars. You could also swap the honey with maple syrup if you don’t have honey on hand.
• garlic + ginger – fresh garlic and fresh ginger are definitely best!

How to Make Chinese Chicken Salad

1. Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl or mason jar, combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, fresh grated ginger, sesame oil and olive oil. Whisk until smooth or shake vigorously until fully combined.
2. Prepare the salad. In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients and toss gently until evenly mixed.
3. Dress the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving and toss until everything is evenly coated. Top with sesame seeds, if desired, and serve immediately.

Tips for Making the Best Chinese Chicken Salad

• Use rotisserie chicken – one of the easiest ways to add extra flavor while keeping prep time to a minimum. The juicy, seasoned chicken blends perfectly with the crisp vegetables and homemade dressing
• Thinly slice the vegetables – this is the key to a great Chinese chicken salad so you get a little bit of everything in every bite. Slice the romaine and napa cabbage into thin ribbons and shred or julienne the carrots for the perfect texture.
• Toast the almonds – this enhances their natural flavor and makes them even crunchier. Simply cook them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they’re lightly golden and fragrant. Let them cool completely before adding them to the salad.
• Use fresh ginger and garlic – this makes a huge difference in the overall flavor of the dressing. While garlic powder and ground ginger can work in a pinch, fresh ingredients provide a much more vibrant taste that’s worth the extra minute of prep.
• Don’t overdress the salad – start by adding about three-quarters of the dressing and gently toss everything together. Add more as needed until the ingredients are lightly coated.
• Drain the mandarin oranges well – If using canned mandarin oranges, be sure to drain them thoroughly before adding them to the salad. Excess liquid can water down the dressing and make the salad soggy.
• Taste and adjust – give the dressing one final taste before pouring it over the salad. Add an extra drizzle of honey if you’d like it sweeter, a splash of rice vinegar for more tang, or a little more grated ginger for extra zing.

Variations and Substitutions

• Add more crunch – for even more texture and crunch, try adding in crispy wonton strips, chow mein noodles, crushed ramen noodles or toasted sunflower seeds.
• Change the protein – switch up the protein by using grilled shrimp, salmon, thinly sliced steak, tofu or edamame.
• Add more veggies – boost the nutrition even more by adding in red bell pepper strips, snap peas, snow peas, slices of cucumber, shredded zucchini, purple cabbage, asparagus, shredded brussels sprouts or avocado.
• Make it gluten-free – you can easily substitute tamari or coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
• Add some heat – mix in a little sriracha, chili garlic sauce, crushed red pepper flakes or thinly sliced jalapeños into the Asian dressing for a kick of spice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prepping and Storage Tips

• To Prep Ahead – this is such a good salad for meal prep! Prepare the dressing up to 5 days ahead and store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. Chop all the veggies and shred the chicken up to 2 days in advance. Store everything separately until ready to assemble.
• To Store – undressed salad will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. Once dressed, the salad is best enjoyed within 24 hours, although leftovers are still delicious. Store the dressing separately for the freshest texture.

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!