Name: Chinese Chicken Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 4 cups green cabbage (shredded); 1 cup purple cabbage (shredded); 1 cup carrots (shredded); 1/4 cup sliced green onions (plus more for garnish); 3 cups cooked chicken; 1/2 cup slivered almonds (toasted); 3/4 cup wonton strips; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/4 cup rice vinegar; 1/4 cup hoisin sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (finely grated); 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

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This recipe for Chinese chicken salad is loaded with chicken, veggies, wontons and almonds, all tossed in a sesame ginger dressing. An impressive salad that’s perfect for potlucks and parties!

I often serve salads when I’m entertaining, especially during the warmer months. Some of my favorites include ramen noodle salad, BBQ chicken salad and this fresh and delicious Chinese chicken salad.

I love to order Chinese chicken salad at restaurants, but I had never attempted to make it myself at home. I’m a big salad eater, especially at lunch time, and I decided it was time to create my own version of the restaurant favorite. Dare I say this is even better than the restaurant version?

How to make Chinese chicken salad

This salad starts with a base of shredded green cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots and green onions. Cooked chicken and almonds are added to the mix, and everything gets tossed in a savory Asian ginger dressing. The finishing touch is a generous sprinkling of wonton strips and sesame seeds.

How to make Chinese chicken salad dressing

The dressing for this salad is a blend of rice vinegar, vegetable oil, sesame oil, fresh ginger and hoisin sauce. Hoisin sauce is a sweet and savory Asian condiment that can be found in the ethnic aisle of most grocery stores. You’ll want to grate your ginger on a the fine edge of a box grater, or on a microplane so that it’s in tiny pieces that blend into the dressing.

Tips for chinese chicken salad

I like to shred my own cabbage using a mandoline. If you’re looking to save some time, you can buy a bag of coleslaw mix instead.
You can use any cooked chicken you have on hand – I used diced grilled chicken but rotisserie chicken and leftover chicken also work just as well.
Wonton strips can be found in the salad dressing aisle near the croutons.
You can prepare the salad ingredients and dressing up to 8 hours before you plan to eat, then toss everything together right before serving.

Asian chicken salad variations

There are so many ways to alter the ingredients in this recipe to suit your tastes.

Protein: Try grilled shrimp or cubed tofu instead of chicken.
Greens: Use shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce instead of cabbage.
Avocado: Add one diced avocado to the mix for a fresh new flavor.
Oranges: Add one small can of drained mandarin oranges for a sweet and savory salad.
Noodles: Try using chow mein noodles or broken up ramen noodles instead of the wonton strips.

I make this salad constantly – it’s great for a ladies lunch, the perfect potluck offering and makes for a simple yet satisfying dinner.

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