Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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This Chinese chicken salad is wonderfully flavorful. You can make it in advance and refrigerate until you're ready to serve it.

I like to make a big batch and enjoy it over a few days. It's perfect for lunch or as a light weeknight dinner.

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This salad is so good! The dressing, based on sesame oil and soy sauce with a hint of garlic and ginger, is phenomenal. I also love the crunch that the shredded cabbage provides.

I love main-dish salads you can make ahead of time, such as taco salad, Thai chicken salad, chicken Cobb salad, and turkey salad. Indeed, one of the advantages of this Chinese chicken salad is that you make it in advance. When I anticipate a busy week, I make a big batch on Sunday and have ready-made meals for several days.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Chinese Chicken Salad Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Salad Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card
  • Let's Connect

Ingredients

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Here's an overview of the ingredients needed to make this salad. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.

For the Salad:

  • Shredded cooked chicken: I use pre-cooked chicken breasts. You can use baked chicken breast, grilled chicken breast, or broiled chicken breast. You can also use rotisserie chicken. Just make sure to remove the skin.
  • Shredded green cabbage: Adds a wonderful crunch to the salad. To make life easy, I often use a bag of coleslaw mix that includes shredded carrots, red cabbage, and green cabbage.
  • Sliced green onions: I only use the green parts. They add color and flavor. Mix them into the salad or sprinkle them on top for a pretty presentation.

For the Sesame Dressing:

  • Soy sauce: I use reduced-sodium soy sauce in most of my recipes. You can also use a gluten-free alternative.
  • Sesame oil: I like to use toasted sesame oil. It's so flavorful!
  • Rice vinegar: If you don't have any on hand, it's OK to use white wine vinegar instead. I don't recommend using plain distilled vinegar. It's too acidic.
  • Honey: Just one tablespoon to balance out the other flavors. You can omit this ingredient if you wish.
  • Minced garlic and ginger: You can mince them by yourself or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Freshly minced will taste better. I don't recommend using garlic or ginger powders. They're not as flavorful.
  • Red pepper flakes: They don't make the salad truly spicy. They merely add an extra layer of flavor.

Variations

  1. Some recipes for Chinese chicken salad call for canned mandarin oranges, but I'm not fond of fruit in savory salads. I also don't add grapes to my keto chicken salad. But feel free to add ¼ cup of them if you wish.
  2. You can skip the crunchy noodles often added to these salads. The cabbage provides plenty of crunch. If you'd like, you can add ¼ cup of slivered almonds.
  3. Instead of shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix, you can use broccoli slaw. It's very good!
  4. If you enjoy spicy foods, increase the amount of red pepper flakes. Start with ½ teaspoon and taste. You can always add more.

Chinese Chicken Salad Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this salad:

In a large bowl, toss together the shredded chicken, shredded cabbage, and sliced green onions (or reserve the green onions and sprinkle them on top of the salad after it's ready).

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In a small bowl or jar, mix the dressing ingredients.

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Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

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Cover and refrigerate for one hour to allow the flavor to meld. Toss again before serving.

Expert Tip

One of the best things about this salad is that you can make it in advance and refrigerate it.

In fact, it tastes better as the flavors are allowed to meld, so it's best to make it a few hours before you plan on serving it.

Recipe FAQs

Is this salad truly Chinese?

This is a Chinese-American fusion-type dish. I've been to China in the 1990s, and I was never served this type of salad. However, it's inspired by Chinese flavors and ingredients and is very good!

How can I make this salad crunchy?

While some recipes call for crunchy noodles, those are unnecessary. The cabbage adds plenty of crunch, and you can also add a handful of slivered almonds.

Can I skip the honey?

Yes, you can. But I use just a tablespoon, and I like how it balances out the other flavors.

Serving Suggestions

Much like no-mayo chicken salad and avocado chicken salad, this is a main dish salad. It has chicken and vegetables, and it's very substantial and filling.

It's the perfect lunch, of course. But I also like serving it for dinner, especially in the summer when I don't feel like cooking.

There's no need to serve this salad with sides. Just serve a bowl of it for a tasty, satisfying meal. It goes perfectly with a refreshing glass of cucumber water!

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. But remember to start counting on the day the chicken was cooked. I don't recommend freezing this salad.

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More Salad Recipes

  • Avocado Chicken Salad
  • No-Mayo Chicken Salad
  • Keto Chicken Salad
  • Thai Chicken Salad

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Recipe Card

Chinese Chicken Salad

Check out this flavorful Chinese chicken salad that you can make in advance and refrigerate. I like to make a big batch and enjoy it over several days.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Rest time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 322kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds chicken breasts cooked and shredded
  • 12 ounces coleslaw mix or ½ green cabbage, shredded
  • cup green onions thinly sliced, green part only (2 ounces)

Dressing:

  • 4 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce or a gluten-free alternative
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey real or sugar-free
  • 1 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root minced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Garnish:

  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Use your hands to shred the chicken breasts. Place the chicken pieces in a very large mixing bowl.

    Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (13)

  • Add the shredded cabbage and the green onions and toss everything together.

    Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (14)

  • In a small jar, add the dressing ingredients. Shake well to mix. You can also whisk the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.

    Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (15)

  • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

    Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (16)

  • Cover and refrigerate for one hour to allow the flavors to meld. Toss again before serving and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

    Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (17)

Video

Notes

If you need to cook the chicken, you can follow this recipe for baked chicken breasts.

The nutrition info assumes that real honey was used.

One of the best things about this salad is that you can make it in advance and refrigerate it. In fact, it tastes better as the flavors are allowed to meld, so it's best to make it a few hours before you plan on serving it.

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. But remember to start counting on the day the chicken was cooked. I don't recommend freezing this salad.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 793mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g

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Disclaimers

Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (28) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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Chinese Chicken Salad - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese chicken salad dressing made of? ›

The Asian salad dressing I use in this salad is based on a recipe by David Chang of Momof*cku. It's made with all manner of Asiany ingredients – soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger – but there's plenty of flex here which I've jotted down in the recipe notes.

Is a chicken salad good for weight loss? ›

Chicken salad can assist with weight loss, but there are some factors to consider. Firstly, you should control your portions. Eating too much, even hearty and healthy foods, is a barrier to losing weight. Chicken is one of the lower-fat foods, and its proteins promote satiety.

What is the nutrition info of Chinese chicken salad? ›

Chinese Chicken Salad - 1 serving
  • Total Fat 12g 15%
  • Saturated Fat 2.3g 12%
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 3.5g.
  • Monounsaturated Fat 4.2g.
  • Cholesterol 73mg 24%
  • Sodium 520mg 23%
  • Total Carbohydrates 36g 13%
  • Dietary Fiber 4.1g 15%
Mar 21, 2016

Is it OK to eat chicken salad everyday? ›

Still, using ingredients such as mayonnaise or serving the salad on a croissant adds calories and fat. Therefore, it's best to enjoy chicken salad occasionally in moderate portions and as part of a well-rounded diet.

What is the best store bought dressing for Chinese chicken salad? ›

Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing

It's the best dressing for the ubiquitous Chinese chicken and mandarin orange salad. It's inexpensive, usually on sale, and easy to find in any grocery store.”

What is the healthiest salad dressing in the world? ›

Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest.

Why is chicken salad so high in calories? ›

Salad dressing can add up to as much as 700 calories to a salad. And, not to pick solely on the dressing, fried chicken and marinated meats can add substantial calories as well. Applebee's Santa Fe Chicken Salad has a whopping 1,300 calories for a regular size salad with dressing.

Can you eat unlimited salad and lose weight? ›

Can you lose weight by eating a salad every day? "Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

Which salad dressing is best for weight loss? ›

5 Low-Fat Salad Dressings For Weight Loss
  1. Balsamic Vinaigrette. Salad Lunch GIF. ...
  2. Lemon Herb Dressing. Summer Salad GIF. ...
  3. Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing. Whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. ...
  4. Honey Mustard Dressing. ...
  5. Tomato Basil Dressing.
Nov 23, 2023

How healthy is Chinese chicken and broccoli? ›

Chicken and broccoli

Chicken and broccoli is similar to beef and broccoli, consisting of chicken and broccoli stir-fried in a light sauce. However, it's a leaner option than beef and broccoli that still offers plenty of protein. One cup (153 grams) provides 13 grams of protein and only 145 calories.

Is chicken salad actually healthy? ›

Depending on the ingredients you use (and how much!), chicken salad can certainly be a healthy, nutritious choice. The amount of mayonnaise you use is the biggest factor in determining how healthy chicken salad is since the spread is high in saturated fats and calories.

How many calories are in Chinese chicken salad dressing? ›

Girard's Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing (2 tbsp) contains 6g total carbs, 6g net carbs, 10g fat, 0g protein, and 120 calories.

Is chicken salad healthier than tuna salad? ›

If your iron levels are solid but you could use some more zinc, potassium, or phosphorus, then chicken is a better choice. In the end, the choice between tuna and chicken boils down to what you need. Whichever you choose, you're guaranteed lots of lean, low-calorie protein, with vitamins and minerals galore.

Is rotisserie chicken good for you? ›

A rotisserie chicken is better than some of the other alternatives. Even with additives, a rotisserie chicken is a far healthier choice than a fast food run, says Allers. “It's still lower in fat and calories than fast food. It's serving its purpose – it's fast, but it can still help you create a balanced meal.

What to avoid in salad for weight loss? ›

Crunchy Noodles, Wontons, and Tortilla Strips

All they add to your salad are calories (around 120 per half cup) and fat (half of those calories, at around 60 grams). Same goes for tortilla strips or wontons.

What is chicken salad Chick chicken salad made of? ›

Classic Carol

All white meat, shredded chicken, finely minced celery, mayonnaise, & our secret seasoning.

What is Chinese ginger dressing made of? ›

Directions. Put yogurt, lemon juice, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, onion, garlic, ginger paste, sugar, and black pepper in a blender; blend on High until smooth. Pour dressing into a sealable container, seal, and refrigerate at least 30 minute before serving.

What is in Chang's noodle dressing? ›

Water, Sugar, Refined Salt, Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (Soya Bean, Water, Salt, Rice Extract), Sesame Oil, Vinegar, Vegetable Gum (415). Gluten Free. No artificial colours or preservatives.

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