This healthy Chinese chicken salad is packed with crisp cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, sugar snap peas, tender chicken, and a light soy sesame dressing. It is fresh, colorful, satisfying, and full of crunch.
This healthy Chinese chicken salad is the kind of meal that feels refreshing but still leaves you satisfied. It is light, crisp, and full of texture, with shredded cabbage, carrots, sugar snap peas, bean sprouts, cashews, herbs, and cooked chicken tossed together in a savory soy sesame dressing. Instead of relying on fried wontons or crispy noodles for crunch, this salad gets its bite from fresh vegetables and nuts, making it a lighter option without losing flavor.
The dressing is simple, tangy, and deeply flavorful. Low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and garlic powder create a balanced vinaigrette that coats the vegetables beautifully. If you enjoy a slightly sweeter dressing, a little agave can be added, but it is completely optional. For a lower-carb version, skip the mandarin oranges and leave out the optional sweetener.
Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad
Chinese chicken salad is a popular restaurant-style salad, but this version is designed to be fresher and lighter while still tasting bold and satisfying. By leaving out fried wontons and rice noodles, the salad becomes less heavy and allows the natural crunch of cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and snap peas to shine. The combination of chicken and vegetables also makes it filling enough for lunch or dinner.
One of the best parts of this healthy Chinese chicken salad is how well it holds up. Unlike lettuce-based salads that can wilt quickly, shredded cabbage, carrots, and snap peas stay crisp for longer. That makes this recipe a great choice for meal prep, potlucks, packed lunches, or a make-ahead dinner. For the best texture, keep the dressing separate and toss it with the salad just before serving.
This recipe is also a smart way to use leftover chicken. Shredded rotisserie chicken works especially well because it is already cooked, tender, and easy to add straight into the bowl. You can also use any cooked chicken you have on hand, either shredded or chopped. The chicken adds protein, while the cabbage, carrots, peas, and sprouts add fiber and freshness.
For faster preparation, a mandoline slicer can be helpful when shredding cabbage and carrots. It saves time and creates thin, even pieces that mix easily with the dressing. If you do not have one, a sharp knife, box grater, or food processor can also work well.
The soy sesame dressing is easy to customize. Fresh garlic, ginger, citrus zest, or herbs can be added if you want a brighter or more aromatic flavor. The dressing can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake or stir it well before using, since the oil and vinegar may separate as it sits.
Mandarin oranges are optional, but they add a juicy sweetness that pairs nicely with the savory dressing and toasted sesame flavor. Cashews bring richness and crunch, while cilantro and scallion add a fresh finish. Every bite has a mix of crisp vegetables, tender chicken, bright citrus, and nutty dressing.
Serve this healthy Chinese chicken salad as a main dish for lunch or dinner, or offer smaller portions as an appetizer or side salad. It is colorful, crunchy, easy to prepare, and full of flavor without feeling heavy.
More fresh and flavorful recipe ideas:
Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad
Equipment
- Mandoline slicer
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 6 ½ cups savoy cabbage, shredded
- 1 ½ cups carrots, shredded
- 1 ¼ cups sugar snap peas
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1 can mandarin oranges, 11 oz can; optional
- ½ cup cashews
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 stalk scallion, chopped
Soy Sesame Dressing
- 3 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 5 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon agave, optional if you prefer sweetness
Instructions
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Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl. In a separate bowl or jar, mix the soy sesame dressing ingredients until well combined. Toss the salad with the dressing immediately before serving.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 21.82g,
Protein: 21.2g,
Fat: 28.41g,
Saturated Fat: 4.68g,
Cholesterol: 39.38mg,
Sodium: 510.78mg,
Potassium: 763.47mg,
Fiber: 6.84g,
Sugar: 8.41g,
Vitamin A: 9608.19IU,
Vitamin C: 60.74mg,
Calcium: 84.47mg,
Iron: 3.53mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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