This inspired Chinese chicken salad makes me hungry just looking at it. With a lip-smacking soy ginger dressing that is restaurant-worthy, it’s a better than Costco Chinese chicken salad because nothing beats homemade…and made with love. Once you see how fresh and crisp this is, you’ll have no need for store bought.
What is Chinese Chicken Salad?
Well, there’s nothing really Chinese about Chinese chicken salad!
It’s an inspired salad… that usually features fresh vegetables, Napa cabbage, shredded chicken, and the main ingredients that are the “inspired” portions of the recipe…crunchy chow mein noodles, and soy sauce and ginger seasonings.
I remember eating these crunchy noodles any chance I would get. On a Sunday afternoon, I’d have childhood memories of Chinese takeout and the little paper bags filled with these delectable morsels.
Crispy chow mein noodles are fun and tasty. I can eat them like eating a bag of chips. You can never have just one.
What to serve with chinese chicken salad
This salad, as stand-alone-perfect as it is, should be served with an equally appealing finishing touch.
Bring on the soy ginger dressing! Wow, it’s savory sweet and has that tongue-hugging flavor that makes it an ideal Chinese chicken salad dressing recipe.
I’m pretty sure I eat the most gigantic bowl of this easy Chinese chicken salad recipe every time I have it with soy ginger dressing.
My husband does too (and he’s not a big salad person)! He’s a bit of my taste tester and I know if he wipes the plate clean, it’s a home-run recipe.
In addition, complete your easy Chinese chicken salad dish with these sides to set the entire table:
- grilled or BBQ meats
- quick and easy baked salmon
- side of sautéed mushrooms
- simple, fried salt and pepper shrimp
- vegetarian Pancit bihon (Filipino rice noodles)
- YES So EASY Fried Rice Recipe as a side
Chinese chicken salad dressing recipe
This is an easy Chinese chicken salad dressing recipe that can really elevate the entire dish.
I’m especially particular about soy ginger dressing because whenever I eat out, I am always in search of great Asian dressing, or else a cabbage salad just doesn’t hit the spot for me.
Let me tell you, this salad dressing is balanced and tangy, sweet, zesty, and you need it in your life. It has that restaurant style flavor.
Put it on so many salads like a sesame noodle veggie salad, Asian soba noodles salad with peanuts, and even make a simple crunch salad go a step further.
It’s always a treat when you get made-with-love salad dressing where you can taste the difference, and taste that it’s made from scratch.
Ingredients in Soy Ginger Dressing
This is a Chinese chicken salad dressing recipe of my dreams, and I love that in reality, it’s so simple to create with mostly pantry staple ingredients!
- Honey – any honey
- Grated Fresh Ginger – This one is a must. It has to be fresh ginger for this one (or else it’s not my recipe).
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – if you don’t have low sodium, then just don’t add any more salt
- Toasted Sesame Oil – must be toasted
- Garlic Powder – has to be fresh garlic powder. Garlic chunks are not quite appealing so save the time, and just use gp
- White Distilled Vinegar
- Mayonnaise – Adds creaminess and flavor (if you can’t have mayo, you can sub olive oil)
- Salt to taste – a pinch will do
Steps to make the Dressing
Easily add all these ingredients in a bowl and whisk until throughly mixed and very smooth. If you can use an electric whisk or processor, even better.
If you cannot eat mayo, you can use some olive oil instead.
How to Make Chinese Chicken Salad
Don’t be intimidated to make a delightful Asian salad recipe because you may not find the ingredients.
These are the ropes of a simple variation of an easy Chinese chicken salad with tongue-hugging soy ginger dressing that you can make at home, with accessible ingredients.
Once you master this foundation of texture, how to cut for the best bites, and how to balance flavors, you can always add more variances of veggies and proteins along the way.
Just don’t forget the crunchy Chinese chow mein noodles!
Ingredients for Easy Chinese Chicken Salad
Chicken Breast – poach in salted water and fork shred
Napa Cabbage – Also called “Chinese Cabbage”, Napa is soft, mildly sweet, and lightly crisp. Remove a few outer layers of the cabbage, wash it well, and pat it dry. Wet leaves will be soggy. Then slice lengthwise, not like Romaine which is more chunky. Also, cut a little thinner so it’s fluffy in the salad.
You can eat the leaves and white part of the cabbage.
Red Cabbage – This cruciferous gem gives nice hearty texture, not to mention, red cabbage is very nutrient dense.
Use a mandolin (my favorite time saver and best way to make those thin slices like at the Asian restaurants) or cut with a chef knife. Thin slices are more pleasing and palatable.
Carrots – Take a shortcut with shredded carrots or, buy fresh carrots and cut like matchsticks.
Cilantro – Chop well. Save the rest of the cilantro by placing in a glass of water with a bag over the top and store in the fridge.
Scallions – Slice in half inch long pieces. Store the rest by placing in a glass of water with a bag over the top, and put in the fridge.
Mandarin Oranges – Optional, but I do love good mandarins. These add signature Chinese chicken salad flavor.
Crispy Chow Mein Noodles – these are getting to be very popular in regular grocery stores. If you can’t find them, here is chow mein noodle topper I recommend without msg.
Additional Add-Ins to try
- edamame
- chickpeas
- cashews, almonds, or peanuts
- dried cranberries
Steps
- Wash, prep, and slice everything as suggested.
- Mix everything together, toss in the dressing.
- Add the crunchy chow mein noodles last so they remain extra fresh and crisp.
Yes, you should use a glass container with a tight lid. Store dressing on the side. Salad that is already dressed cannot be saved.
Yes! Store in big glass mason jars with a tight lid. Do NOT put the dressing. Leave the dressing on the side. Have the crispy chow mein noodles in s separate container until ready to eat the salad.
The chow mein noodles are not gluten free. Here is a gluten free chow mein noodle topper to try for an exciting gluten free, easy Chinese chicken salad recipe. You can find a gluten free soy sauce at most stores.
Absolutely, it’s packed with nutritious vegetables and just mind the chow mein noodles. I say, balanced is best. For the sesame dressing, eliminate the mayo for a much healthier salad.
Yes. I love extra of this dressing. Double the dressing recipe to make more dressing. Store it in a glass container in the refrigerator.
Sides such as sauteéd mushrooms, easy baked salmon, fried salt and pepper shrimp, and vegetarian Filipino style noodles that are light and savory, work very well to complete the dinner table.
Chinese Chicken Salad with the Best Soy Ginger Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 large chicken breast poach and fork shred
- ½ large Napa Cabbage cut lengthwise and thin
- ½ Red Cabbage cut lengthwise very thin sliced
- 1 large Carrot julienned
- ¾ cup Scallions one inch pieces
- ¾ cup Cilantro chop well
- 1 cup Chow Mein Noodle crunchy salad toppers
- 1 small can Mandarin Oranges keep whole
Soy Ginger Dressing
- 4 tbsp Honey
- 1½ tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh Grated Ginger
- 1 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 tbsp White Distilled Vinegar
- 1½ tbsp Mayonnaise optional but it adds creaminess (sub olive oil if you can't have mayo)
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- a pinch Sea Salt to taste
Instructions
Prep the Ingredients
- Clean, dry, and cut all the vegetables. Prepare all ingredients out in front of you.
- Poach the Chicken by submerging in boiling water with some salt. Then remove and fork shred very well. (12 minutes, should be opaque inside and internal temp 165F)
Make Soy Ginger Salad Dressing
- Take all soy ginger dressing ingredients and whisk very well in a bowl, until everything is completely smooth and incorporated.
Make Chinese Chicken Salad
- Mix all the ingredients for the salad (save the crunchy chow mein noodles for last). Gently hand mix very well.Then toss with soy ginger dressing, or serve with the dressing on the side.Top with a generous amount of crunchy chow mein noodles.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
- for meal prep salad, store in Mason jars with the dressing and chow mein noodles on the side
- make it a party and serve with sides rice with BBQ skewers, Char Siu, Lumpia, or Karaage Style Fried Chicken
- make it vegetarian by omitting the chicken
- make it easy by using precooked Rotisserie chicken from the store
- make it elevated by frying your own chow mein noodles
- make it more vege-full by adding avocado, edamame, and topping with almond slivers
- make it spicy by adding Thai Chilis
- make it low fat by taking out the mayo in the soy ginger dressing
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