This Chinese Chicken Salad is an easy, light and healthy salad recipe made with tender, bite-size chicken, onions, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, and chow mein noodles with a delicious dressing.
If you’re looking for a chicken recipe that’s perfect as a main dish or as part of a huge spread at a party or potluck, then you’ve come to the right place. That’s exactly what you’ll get with this chicken salad. My mom made this recipe all the time. I have no idea where she got the recipe, but I got it from her.
I’ve been making it for as long as I can remember, and that’s just as long as my family has been loving it. It has everything I and my family love in chicken salad with a tasty twist that helps keep things interesting. I love to make this as lunch for a couple of days, a fun dinner, or whip up a double batch and bring it to potlucks and parties. It’s always welcome, and I rarely have leftovers.
Chinese Chicken Salad
This chicken salad is loaded with all the flavor and texture we love in chicken salad, but it has an extra tasty Asian twist that I can’t get enough of. Tender, white meat chicken is combined with celery, onions, bean sports, water chestnuts, chow mein noodles, and zesty seasoning. Then, it’s all combined with a creamy Asian-infused mayonnaise dressing that delivers a delicious blast of American-Asian fusion flavor that everyone always loves. It’s a delicious main course or side for any big party.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s an easy recipe with delicious ingredients that are easily found at your local grocery store.
- It’s a hearty salad recipe that can be served for lunch, dinner, or at potlucks.
- And, it’s a family favorite that’s been in the family for 30 years.
Tips
- Make the mayonnaise dressing first so it can chill before mixing it with the other ingredients. This lets the flavors meld together completely.
- For the best texture, cook the chicken while avoiding browning it to keep every bite soft and tender.
- Let the chicken mixture cool a bit before adding the mayonnaise dressing.
What to Serve with Chinese Chicken Salad
Serve any of your favorite Asian or American dishes with this Chinese chicken salad. Its American-Asian fused flavors make it highly versatile:
- Fried rice
- Lo mein
- Egg drop soup
- Corn chowder
- Baked potato
- Roasted asparagus
- Garlic bread
- Chinese dumplings
FAQ
If you have questions about this recipe, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about this Chinese chicken salad.
What is Chinese chicken salad?
It’s a fusion dish that combines elements of both American and Asian cooking.
Is Chinese chicken salad healthy?
It’s fairly healthy. The addition of the mayonnaise will exclude it from most super healthy food lists, but as recipes go, this is a fairly healthy one filled with lean protein and vegetables.
What is Chinese chicken salad dressing made of?
There are two major variations – oil-based and mayonnaise-based. Mayonnaise dressings like the one in this recipe typically contain mayo, lemon juice, soy sauce, and ginger.
Can Chinese chicken salad be made in advance?
Absolutely. The flavors meld together wonderfully as it sits, so it’s easy to make it the day before you’ll be serving it.
How to Store Leftovers
You can store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Don’t freeze this recipe. The mayonnaise can break while defrosting.
Chinese Chicken Salad Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients to create its delicious complex flavors. You can find them easily at your local grocery store.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- Butter
- Garlic salt
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- Black pepper
- Water chestnuts
- Celery, diced
- Onions, diced
- Bean sprouts
- Chow mein noodles
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon juice
- Soy sauce
- Ground ginger
- Salt
How to Make Chinese Chicken Salad
Making this salad is a very easy affair. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.
Step 1: Make the Sauce
Combine the mayo, lemon juice, soy sauce, ground ginger, and salt in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to mix.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Melt butter in a large skillet or frying pan, sprinkle the chicken with seasonings and pepper and cook on all sides until the chicken is no longer pink.
Step 3: Make the Chicken Salad
Add the chicken, water chestnuts, celery, onions, bean sprouts, and chow mein noodles to a large bowl and stir. Pour the dressing over the ingredients, stir, and enjoy.
Try This Delicious Chinese Chicken Salad Today
This Chinese chicken salad is a fantastic fusion of American and Chinese flavors that make for one delicious dish. From the main course at home to an addition to any potluck or party, this chicken salad is always the right decision. Once you try this recipe, you’ll make it again and again. You’ll have to if you want your friends and family to give you any peace!
More Delicious Salad Recipes That You’ll Enjoy
Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein – Made with tender beef, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, cabbage, water chestnuts, red bell pepper, lo mein noodles in a savory lo mein sauce.
Orange Teriyaki Chicken – This recipe takes the best flavors from orange chicken and teriyaki chicken and combines them into one delicious and unique recipe.
Cream Cheese Wontons – A delicious, savory cream cheese, green onion mixture wrapped in wonton wrappers and fried. So crispy, delicious and a favorite appetizer recipe.
And, here’s a Bang Bang Chicken recipe from Deliciously Seasoned that you might enjoy too!
Chinese Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1 ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Chicken
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Making the Salad
- (2) 8 ounce cans diced water chestnuts
- ½ cup celery diced
- ½ cup onions, chopped
- 4 cups bean sprouts
- (2) 5 ounce containers chow mein noodles
Instructions
For the Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine mayo, lemon juice, soy sauce, ground ginger and salt together. Place in the fridge to chill until chicken is cooked.
For the Chicken
- In a skillet or large frying pan, melt butter.
- Add chicken and sprinkle with seasonings and pepper.
- Cook on all sides until the chicken is no longer pink.
Making the Salad
- In a large bowl, add cooked chicken, water chestnuts, celery, onions, bean sprouts and chow mein noodles. Stir.
- Pour sauce over mixture, stir to combine, and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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Sounds interesting! Chicken breasts vary greatly in size. How many cups of cut up chicken would you recommend?
Hi Gretchen, I would say about 4-5 cups of cut up chicken. I hope you enjoy this recipe. :)
Are you using fresh bean sprouts in this recipe?
Hi Lori, Yes, they are fresh. :)
I would like to try this but have a question first. The “Slap Ya Mama” seasoning is a Cajun seasoning, what does that do to the Chinese flavoring?
Hi Toni, we just use that seasoning on almost any meat. The flavor still tasted great. You can omit it if you’d like. We hope you enjoy this recipe. :)
Thanks, I’ll pick some up and try the recipe.
Awesome! I hope you enjoy that seasoning as much as we do. :)