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 burrata salad, mango salad, Tuscan kale salad, ramen noodle salad, BBQ chicken salad and this fresh and delicious Chinese chicken salad. You can never have too many salad recipes!
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? It has plenty of crunch and the perfect balance of flavors.
Table of Contents
Chinese Chicken Salad Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need green and purple cabbage, carrots, green onions, cooked chicken, almonds, wontons and sesame seeds. You will also need vegetable oil, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil for the dressing.
How Do You Make Chinese Chicken Salad?
Place both types of cabbage along with the carrots, green onions, chicken and almonds in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad, and gently toss to combine. Add wonton strips, sesame seeds and additional green onions on top, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Salad
- 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.
- 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 breast but rotisserie chicken and leftover roasted chicken also work just as well.
- Wonton strips can be found in the salad dressing aisle near the croutons.
- Not a fan of green onions? Cilantro is also a nice addition.
Quick Tip
You can prepare the salad ingredients and dressing up to 8 hours before you plan to eat, then toss everything together right before serving.
Recipe FAQs
This salad is hearty enough to serve as a main course, but it also pairs well with other Asian inspired recipes such as orange chicken, chicken fried rice, sweet and sour pork, and General Tso’s chicken.
This salad is best when eaten immediately. The dressed salad will last up to 4 hours in the fridge. After that time, the wontons may get soft.
This salad is not a traditional Asian dish. In fact, many people think the Chinese chicken salad was invented in American! The dish gets its name from the use of Asian ingredients such as wontons, sesame seeds, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and sesame oil.
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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 lettuce, napa cabbage or iceberg lettuce instead of red cabbage and green 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.
- Veggies: Feel free to add other vegetables such as bean sprouts, red bell pepper, snap peas or snow peas, baby corn or water chestnuts.
I make this salad constantly – it’s great for a ladies lunch, the perfect potluck offering and makes for a simple yet satisfying dinner.
More Great Salad Recipes
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Chopped Salad with Chicken
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Shrimp Salad Recipe
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Three Bean Salad
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Greek Salmon Salad
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Chinese Chicken Salad Video
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Chinese Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the salad
- 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
For the dressing
- 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
Instructions
- Place the green cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots, green onions, chicken and almonds in a bowl.
- For the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl; whisk until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the wonton strips and sesame seeds over the salad.
- Garnish with sliced green onions, then serve immediately.
Notes
- 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.
Wow! This salad looks amazingly delicious. Thanks a lot for the recipe.
I love that this salad is flavorful and fast! I’m with you and can never have too many salad recipes and enjoy them all year round! This is a fast favorite for me!
This salad is so good, especially with the wonton strips for some extra crunch!
This salad looks impressive but is so easy to make. The flavors of the dressing are delicious. This would be a great dish to bring to the next summer potluck I’m invited to.
Oh yum! You had me at the homemade sesame ginger dressing. Such an amazing salad with a variety of vibrant colors.