Name: Chinese Chicken Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce; 2 Tablespoons soy sauce; 1 Tablespoon honey; 1 Tablespoon ginger paste; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 4 cups Napa cabbage (shredded); 4 cups iceberg lettuce (chopped); 1 cup carrots (shredded); 2 cups grilled chicken breast (sliced or cubed); 11 ounces mandarin oranges (drained); 4 green onions (sliced); 1/2 cup slivered almonds; 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds; 1 cup chow mein noodles

By: Jill Mills Updated: Jul 13, 2026

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Grilled chicken, crunchy veggies, and mandarin oranges are tossed in a ginger sesame dressing in this easy Chinese Chicken Salad recipe. Ready in 20 minutes, it’s an easy lunch or dinner that requires 0 cooking.

When I’m craving a salad with bold flavors and lots of fresh, crunchy veggies, I turn to this Chinese chicken salad. It might not be the most authentic Chinese recipe, but it is loaded with Asian flavors and ingredients. It’s inspired a bit by my ramen noodle salad, though this version has more of a true salad base with cabbage and lettuce. Instead of ramen noodles, Asian-style crunchy noodles add that texture. There’s still lots of ginger, sesame, and umami flavor.

I love to eat this Chinese chicken salad in the summer. It’s so light and refreshing but filling enough to work for dinner. The boys, who rarely consider salad to be an actual meal, are even satisfied after a bowl of this salad.

Why This Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe Is A Family Favorite

Ready in 20 minutes. Since this salad starts with pre-cooked chicken, it’s super quick and easy to prepare. It takes just a few minutes to chop the veggies, whisk together the dressing, and combine everything in a bowl.
Savory Asian flavors. The dressing is made with a combination of rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce plus a bit of sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. It adds that savory umami flavor with a bit of a bite from the earthy ginger and garlic, which is just so good.
Lots of crunchy texture. The base of this Chinese chicken salad is a mixture of cabbage and lettuce, which starts it off with a bit of crunch. Carrots, almonds, and sesame seeds add much, while the grilled chicken and mandarin oranges round it all out.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make Chinese chicken salad

Ingredient Notes

Here’s an overview of everything needed to make the ginger dressing and the salad itself. Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact measurements.

For the Dressing:

Rice vinegar – Adds a tangy base to the dressing.
Hoisin sauce & soy sauce – Adds the savory umami flavor to the dressing.
Honey – For a bit of sweetness.
Ginger & garlic – I like to use ginger paste to really give the dressing some gingery flavor and minced garlic.
Olive oil – If you run out of olive oil, vegetable oil or canola oil can be used instead without altering the flavor profile significantly.
Sesame oil – Adds a bit of nutty flavor.

For the Salad:

Cabbage & lettuce – I like to use equal parts Napa cabbage and iceberg lettuce for the salad base. The cabbage adds some extra crunch and flavor, while the lettuce provides the volume and variety in texture.
Carrots – For color, flavor, and texture.
Grilled chicken – You can use leftover cold grilled chicken straight from the fridge, or warm it up. If using pre-cooked chicken from the freezer, thaw it completely and warm it to 165°F (74°C) before tossing.
Mandarin oranges – Adds a citrusy twist to the salad. Be sure to drain them well.
Green onions – Green onions add a light onion flavor without overpowering the rest of the dish.
Almonds – Add some nutty crunch to the salad.
Sesame seeds – Toasted sesame seeds add more nuttiness to the salad.
Crunchy noodles – If you cannot find Asian-style crunchy noodles, wonton strips work as well.

How To Make Chinese Chicken Salad

This salad is so quick and easy to make, which is one of the reasons I love making it on busy days. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Lettuce, cabbage, green onions, carrots, oranges, and chicken in a bowl

Make the dressing. Whisk the vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, ginger, and garlic in a bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and sesame oil while whisking constantly to emulsify the dressing. Set aside.
Prep the veggies. Wash and dry the cabbage and lettuce. Chop and shred, then add to a large bowl. Add the carrots.
Assemble. Cut the chicken into bite-sized strips. Add to the salad, followed by the oranges, green onions, almonds, and sesame seeds.
Add the dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss until the greens are evenly coated.
Enjoy. Top with the crunchy noodles just before serving. Enjoy!

Spooning dressing over Chinese chicken salad

Tips & Variations

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this Chinese chicken salad for the first time, plus a couple of customizations.

Whisk the dressing. To get an emulsified dressing where everything is truly combined, it’s important to slowly add the oils and whisk constantly while doing so. The dressing should end up more opaque in color.
Wait to add the dressing. If you don’t plan to serve this Chinese mandarin chicken salad immediately, keep the dressing and the noodles on the side. The lettuce will become soggy quickly, so it’s best to dress it just before serving.
Try another protein. You can substitute the grilled chicken with shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp, cooked edamame, or sliced seared tofu.
Adjust the base. You can adjust the ratio of Napa cabbage to iceberg lettuce based on what you have on hand, or swap in romaine lettuce or pre-bagged coleslaw mix for a faster shortcut.
Add some heat. If you like a bit of heat in your dressing, you can whisk in a teaspoon of sriracha or chili garlic sauce along with the hoisin and soy sauce.

Proper Storage

Store the salad greens and the dressing in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator. The dressed Chinese chicken salad will get soggy quickly, but the unassembled components will stay fresh for up to 3 days.