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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Asian Chicken Salad recipe with spicy Asian dressing

    LAST UPDATED: December 28, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: January 8, 2021 By Toni Dash 16 Comments

    Asian Chicken Salad recipe with spicy Asian dressing

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    asian chicken salad title image

    Asian Chicken Salad is fresh, crunchy and great all year round. Full of crisp shredded cabbage, refreshing cucumber, carrots, moist shredded chicken, and onion. Tossed in a spicy homemade Asian dressing brimming with bold exciting flavors!

    asian chicken salad title image

    If you are a big fan of Chinese Chicken Salad you’ll love this Asian salad too.

    Fresh crisp ingredients with a spicy Asian dressing. Adding in shredded chicken makes the salad a filling main dish any time of the year.

    You’ll love Mongolian Beef Salad and Vietnamese Noodle Bowl with Lemongrass Chicken too.

    The bold flavors make this light, refreshing salad recipe a winner any time of the year.

    Asian Chicken Salad

    Recipe Ingredients + Notes

    Cabbage. Shredded cabbage is used for a cool crunch. Store bought shredded cabbage can be used or you can shred it yourself. You can prep this ahead of time as it keeps well.

    Cucumber. Fresh and hydrating. A wonderful salad ingredient that absorbs some of the dressing flavor.

    Carrots. Another crispy fresh ingredient.

    Cilantro. Fresh cilantro is a classic herb in Asian recipes. If you don’t love cilantro add more cabbage instead (try red cabbage to add more color).

    Green onions. These are sliced and added to the salad. 

    Chicken breast. Shredded chicken breast is used. You can make it yourself or use store bought chicken. Boneless chicken thighs could also be used.See the additional NOTES below for options.

    Soy sauce. Use light or regular soy sauce. Gluten-free or regular soy sauce both work great.

    Oil. Two oils are used in the spicy Asian dressing. Use a very light tasting oil like a mild olive oil or vegetable oil.

    Sesame oil. Just 1 teaspoon is used but adds so much to the flavor of the dressing.

    Mirin. Mirin is a rice cooking wine and is widely available in the Asian food section of the grocery store. It adds a little bit of sweetness. 

    Lime juice. Adds some fresh tangy flavor to the dressing.

    Garlic. Fresh garlic is a classic for this recipe.

    Honey. Adds just the right sweetness to the dressing.

    Ginger. Freshly grated ginger has a bold robust flavor. If you are short on time substitute ginger paste.

    Sriracha. This popular hot chili sauce adds a touch of spicy heat to the dressing. Using between 1 and 2 tablespoons is recommended. If you want it super spicy, add more to your preference.

    Optional toppings

    Sesame Seeds. These can be toasted and used to garnish the salad with them. These add a nice nutty taste. Or sprinkle them on raw!

    Crispy wonton strips. These won’t work for gluten-free diners but for an extra crunch add them on top.

    asian chicken salad ingredients

    How to Make the Shredded Chicken

    Best homemade shredded chicken. This is my all time favorite recipe for shredded chicken. You’ll see from all the comments and 5 star reviews that I’m not alone!

    The chicken is full of flavor and it has a fast shredding trick that’s a life changer. It would be my first recommendation for this Asian salad recipe. 

    Homemade poached chicken. Another option is to make poached chicken. Cooking it in water will help keep the chicken from drying out.

    The chicken will have a very light flavor. Instructions for poaching below.

    Rotisserie chicken. Store bought rotisserie chicken can also be used. That saves the cooking time. If it’s warm you can still use the shredding trick in the recipe above.

    Store bought pulled chicken. Stores now ever sell pulled chicken or shredded chicken from their rotisserie chickens. It is usually available in the deli section. It takes all the work away for you.

    serving Asian salad

    How to Poach Chicken Breasts

    1. Place 8-ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts in a pan and cover with water. 
    2. Add ½ teaspoon EACH of salt and pepper. 
    3. Bring to a boil, once it has started boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 6-7 minutes. 
    4. Turn off the heat and place a lid on the pan. Let it set for 5 minutes.
    5. Verify the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Using an Instant Read food thermometer is the easiest way to ensure the chicken is done.
    6. Shred the chicken using 2 forks.

    NOTE: if using larger chicken breasts the cooking time will be longer.

    Variations

    Sliced or slivered almonds. If you love an extra crunch and nutty flavor add 1/2 cup of slivered or sliced almonds. Roasted cashews would be great too!

    Mandarin orange segments. Some versions of this salad included drained canned mandarin orange segments. For a pop of color and some sweetness, add 1 can (drained).

    Asian salad in a bowl close up

    How to Make it – Step-by-Step

    This Asian salad recipe has two main steps: making the dressing and combining the salad ingredients.

    STEP 1. Make the Asian dressing. 

    In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, oil, mirin, sesame oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, ginger, sriracha and water. Stir to fully combine and dissolve the honey.

    salad ingredients for Asian Chicken salad

    STEP 2. Make the salad.

    In a large bowl combine the cabbage, cucumber, carrots, cilantro and onions. Toss together.

    Add the chicken and toss again. 

    Pour on the dressing, toss to coat.

    Serve with optional toppings if desired.

    Asian Chicken Salad pouring dressing

    Recipe FAQs + Pro Tips

    Time saving tips. Ingredient preparation takes the most time in this recipe. Here are some time saving tips to help cut that time down:

    1. Rather than julienning the cucumber and carrots use a julienne peeler or vegetable peeler to cut them into long narrow strips as shown in the photos.
    2. Substitute half an English cucumber for a traditional cucumber. They are essentially seedless so the step of removing the seeds is not necessary. The thin skin is also edible so peeling is not required unless you want to.
    3. Buy shredded cabbage rather than shredding it yourself. 
    4. Buy shredded chicken (check with your grocery store deli for rotisserie shredded chicken).

    Storing the Asian Salad

    Once the salad has dressing it should be eaten right away. The dressing will make the fresh ingredients soggy if stored.

    How to Make it Ahead

    To prepare ahead, prep all the fresh ingredients. Keep them in airtight containers in the refrigerator (keep the ingredients separate). 

    When it’s time to prepare the salad combine the fresh ingredients and add the dressing.

    Asian salad in a bowl with fork

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    asian chicken salad title image

    Asian Chicken Salad

    Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 7 minutes Serves 4 (main salad) 7 cups salad 1/3 cup dressing
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine: American, Asian
    Prep Time: 19 minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes
    Total Time: 26 minutes
    Servings: 4 main salads (total yield: 7 cups salad + 1/3 cup dressing)
    Calories: 166kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    Spicy Asian Dressing

    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce regular or gluten-free
    • 2 tablespoons oil mild olive oil or vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon mirin
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
    • 1-2 Tablespoons sriracha
    • 2 teaspoons water

    Salad

    • 2 cups cabbage shredded
    • 1 medium cucumber seeded and julienned or cut into long thin slices
    • 1-2 medium carrots peeled and julienned or cut into long thin slices
    • 1 cup cilantro chopped
    • 2-3 green onions sliced
    • 2 cups shredded chicken breast

    Toppings (optional)

    • ¼ cup sesame seeds toasted, optional
    • Crispy wonton strips

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl add the soy sauce, oil, mirin, sesame oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, ginger, sriracha and water. Mix well.
    • In a large salad bowl, toss the cabbage, cucumber, carrots, cilantro and onions. Add the chicken and toss again.
    • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
    • Serve the salad as is or with toasted sesame seeds and crispy wonton strips if desired.

    Notes

    To poach the chicken, place in a pan and cover with water. Add ½ teaspoon salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, once it has started boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 6-7 minutes. Turn off the heat and place a lid on the pan. Let it set for 5 minutes. Cut it in the thickest part and check for doneness. Shred the chicken.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 369mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2948IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kevin says

      January 12, 2021 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      This has all the right flavors! I am going to enjoy this for lunch this week!

      Reply
    2. Beth says

      January 11, 2021 at 3:45 pm

      5 stars
      My husband and daughter love this recipe! I can’t wait to make this recipe again soon! So delicious and easy!

      Reply
    3. Kevin says

      January 11, 2021 at 12:53 pm

      5 stars
      I have been obsessed with salads! This is one that is going to be a hit!

      Reply
    4. wilhelmina says

      January 11, 2021 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      This is the salad of my dreams! It is perfect for lunch or dinner, so hearty and filling, and most of all, tastes incredible!

      Reply
    5. Catalina says

      January 09, 2021 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      Who doesn’t love chicken salad! This one is amazing!

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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