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Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 94 reviews

This Chinese Chicken Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish packed with crisp Napa cabbage and Iceberg lettuce, tender cooked chicken, sweet mandarin oranges, and crunchy toppings like chow mein noodles, wonton strips, and almonds. The salad is perfectly complemented by a flavorful, tangy dressing made with hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. It’s a quick, no-cook recipe ideal for a light lunch or dinner with an Asian-inspired twist.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 4 cups Napa cabbage, shredded
  • 3 cups Iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 2 ½ cups cooked chicken, diced
  • 1 cup carrots, julienned
  • 11 oz. mandarin oranges, drained and patted dry
  • 1/3 cup green onions, diced
  • ½ cup chow mein noodles
  • ½ cup crispy wonton strips
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or avocado, vegetable, or canola oil)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon peanut butter (optional)
  • ¾ teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Make the Dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients—including rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, peanut oil, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, optional peanut butter, toasted sesame oil, and ground ginger—in a jar with a lid. Shake well until thoroughly mixed, then refrigerate to chill and allow flavors to meld.
  2. Prepare the Salad Base: On a large serving platter, evenly layer the shredded Napa cabbage and chopped Iceberg lettuce to create a fresh, crisp salad foundation.
  3. Add Initial Dressing: Lightly drizzle some of the prepared dressing over the layered cabbage and lettuce to infuse the base with flavor without wilting the greens.
  4. Layer Main Ingredients: Evenly distribute the diced cooked chicken, julienned carrots, mandarin oranges, and diced green onions over the salad base, adding texture, protein, and a sweet citrus note.
  5. Finish with Dressing and Toppings: Pour additional dressing over the assembled salad to enhance the flavors, then sprinkle the salad with sliced almonds, crispy chow mein noodles, wonton strips, and toasted sesame seeds, giving it a satisfying crunch and nutty aroma.
  6. Serve: Offer the remaining dressing on the side so guests can add more if desired, and serve immediately for optimal freshness and texture.

Notes

  • For best texture, add crunchy toppings like chow mein noodles and wonton strips right before serving.
  • If peanut butter is omitted, the dressing will still be flavorful but slightly less rich.
  • Use pre-cooked chicken to save time; rotisserie chicken works well.
  • Mandarin oranges should be well-drained to avoid watering down the salad.
  • To make this salad vegan, omit the chicken and substitute soy sauce with a tamari or coconut aminos alternative.
  • The salad is best eaten fresh; storing leftovers may cause the crunchy ingredients to soften.

Keywords: Chinese chicken salad, Asian salad, easy chicken salad, healthy salad, mandarin orange salad, crunchy salad, no-cook salad

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/chinese-chicken-salad-recipe/