Discover the vibrant flavors and satisfying crunch of our delicious Chinese Chicken Salad, featuring a delightful mix of fresh vegetables, juicy chicken, and crunchy ramen noodles. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for a light and nutritious meal, making it an ideal choice for any occasion.

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Easy Chinese Chicken Salad

Our easy Chinese Chicken Ramen Salad recipe requires no cooking (although you can certainly complicate it by baking or boiling your own chicken!) – it’s made with a host of crispy vegetables, crunchy noodles, sliced almonds, juicy mandarin orange segments, tender shredded chicken, and finished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

This homemade Asian chicken salad dressing is tossed into all the fresh greens, red cabbage, and other fillings and turns a basic bowl of veggies, noodles, and fruit into the best tasting Chinese chicken salad.

Don’t forget our deliciously simple sauce, made using only honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice vinegar; it’s prepared with natural sugar so you can feel good about serving it with your food.

I love adding chicken to this Oriental chicken salad to make it more like a filling main meal, but it’s also a great side dish for potlucks and large group gatherings.

Why We Love This Asian Chicken Salad Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in 10 minutes.
  • Uses a handful of healthy, fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients.
  • The delicious dressing compliments the contrasting tastes and textures.
  • Leftovers are great for a healthy lunch option or a light weeknight dinner.
  • Perfect for potlucks, picnics, and make ahead meals.
Chinese Chicken Salad ingredients

Chinese Chicken Salad Ingredients

  • Shredded chicken
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Red Napa cabbage
  • Shredded carrots
  • Green onions
  • Radishes
  • Ramen noodles
  • Sliced almonds 
  • Mandarin oranges
  • Sesame seeds
  • Honey
  • Sesame oil
  • Soy sauce
  • Rice wine vinegar

Substitutions and Additions

  • Choose Your Protein: I used pre-shredded roasted chicken from the deli section of the grocery store, but you can also boil or bake and shred your own chicken breasts or use a rotisserie chicken. You can also replace the chicken with tofu or shrimp.
  • Vary The Veggies: An Asian chicken salad recipe is very forgiving. Feel free to include any other vegetables, like sugar snap peas, bell peppers, water chestnuts, edamame, bean sprouts, or bok choy. Try other leafy greens like kale or spinach
  • Swap The Soy Sauce: You can swap the soy sauce for coconut aminos or tamari (for a gluten-free option).
  • Create Your Crunch: Any crunchy noodle will work in this recipe. Try chow mein noodles, crunchy wonton strips, or any of your favorites.
  • Change up the Nuts: Swap out the almonds for cashews or peanuts
Chinese Chicken Salad with sesame seeds

How to Make Chinese Chicken Salad

  1. Make the Dressing: Mix together the sauce ingredients until fully blended. Set aside. 
  2. Assemble the Salad: Combine all salad ingredients except for sesame seeds, toss, mix in the salad dressing, and top with sesame seeds.
  3. Serve: Serve and enjoy!

Tips For Making The Best Chinese Chicken Salad

  • You can substitute an Asian vinaigrette instead of preparing a homemade dressing if you want to save time.
  • If you prepare the chicken yourself, you can boil and shred or bake and shred it. If you choose to bake this chicken, be sure to season it properly beforehand with salt and pepper. 
  • You can save time by purchasing already shredded lettuce, cabbage, and carrots. 

How to Store Chinese Chicken Salad

  • To Store: You can store the leftovers in an airtight container for up 3-4 days in the refrigerator. After that it will become soggy. If possible, keep dressing separate to maintain crunchiness.
Chinese Chicken Salad in a bowl

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Chinese Chicken salad?

Regardless of what this salad is called, it’s an Asian-inspired mixture of shredded chicken, lettuce, vegetables, noodles, and almonds. The name simply refers to the numerous Chinese-style seasonings and flavors such as soy and sesame.

Is Chinese Chicken Salad healthy?

Yes, this salad is healthy! It is packed with protein from the chicken and contains plenty of vitamins from the vegetables. I’ve also cut out any refined sugar from the dressing by using honey and you can use low sodium soy sauce to reduce the salt.

Can I prepare my salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare your salad in advance — it’s a perfect make-ahead meal to enjoy throughout the week. I like to store my dressing, chopped veggies, and shredded chicken in separate containers in the fridge. Then, when you’re ready to eat, simply toss it all together and serve.

top shot of Chinese Chicken Salad

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5 from 3 votes
Chinese Chicken Salad featured image

Chinese Chicken Salad

Serves — 8
Chinese Chicken Salad is fresh, satisfying, and filled with healthy, nutrient-dense ingredients. The perfect contrast of tastes and textures all tossed in a delicious homemade dressing!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

Salad:

  • 2 cups shredded chicken cooked
  • 3 cups shredded romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup red cabbage thinly chopped
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 green onions chopped
  • 3 small radishes thinly sliced
  • 1 package of ramen noodles uncooked and crushed
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup mandarin oranges drained (about ½ 15oz can, well drained)
  • Sesame seeds

Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • cup rice wine vinegar

Instructions
 

  • In a small mixing bowl, add all ingredients together for the sauce. Mix well until fully blended. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all salad ingredients except for sesame seeds. Toss well, distributing the ingredients evenly.
  • Pour salad dressing in and mix again.
  • Top with sesame seeds before garnishing.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: You can store the leftovers in an airtight container for up 3-4 days in the refrigerator. After that it will become soggy.
Tips:
  • You can substitute an Asian vinaigrette instead of preparing a homemade dressing if you want to save time.
  • If you prepare the chicken yourself, you can boil and shred or bake and shred it. If you choose to bake this chicken, be sure to season it properly beforehand with salt and pepper.
  • You can save time by purchasing already shredded lettuce, cabbage, and carrots.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 296mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4558IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

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  1. 5 stars
    Just made this salad and used PF Changโ€™s vinaigrette to save time. It was delicious!