This quick and easy Asian chicken salad is perfect for a weeknight meal, especially when it’s hot or you don’t feel like using the stove. It’s made with leftover cooked chicken or Rotisserie chicken, wombok cabbage (aka napa cabbage), crunchy veggies, aromatic herbs and a delicious ginger garlic dressing. Optional fried noodles give it an extra crunch!

Quick & Easy Asian Chicken Salad

Looking for a quick and easy dinner option that doesn’t require cooking? Try this Asian-inspired chicken salad! It’s perfect for hot summer nights or when you just don’t feel like turning on the stove.

Made with cooked chicken (leftovers or rotisserie), crisp napa cabbage (wombok/Chinese cabbage), crunchy veggies, fragrant herbs, and a flavourful ginger garlic dressing, it’s a satisfying and healthy meal that comes together in no time. Top it off with some crispy fried noodles for an extra crunch that’s sure to please!

You can make a Paleo/Whole30 or vegetarian version of this salad. See notes in the recipe card below.

How To Make Asian Chicken Salad

I make a variation of this salad almost every week and use up whatever vegetables I have on hand. We often have rotisserie chicken in the fridge for quick and easy meals, so that’s usually the protein but you can also use cooked shrimp/prawns, grilled sliced beef steak or pork. Tofu or tempeh would be a great vegetarian alternative.

The full recipe card with ingredients and a nutritional breakdown is below. You will also find some tips for making the best couscous under the recipe. Here are some step-by-step photos and video to guide you along.

Ginger Garlic Sesame Dressing

Step 1. Make the garlic ginger dressing first. This can be done ahead of time and the dressing will keep for up to 4-5 days in the fridge.

If using palm sugar, add about a tablespoon of shaved sugar or sugar granules to a mixing bowl and pour in the hot water. This will dissolve it so you don’t get any grainy sugar bits. You can do the same with any sugar you might be using, brown or coconut will work well as an alternative.

Then combine this sugary water with lime juice, fish sauce, grated or minced garlic and ginger, and about 1/4 cup of a store-bought Japanese sesame dressing. This is my little trick for adding delicious sesame flavour. I use a brand called Kewpie, you can find many different ones in Asian grocery stores and online. This dressing is usually called Goma dressing. My friend Chihyu at I Heart Umami has a great paleo/Whole30 recipe for this dressing.

Salad Vegetables & Chicken

Step 2. Prepare the vegetables. I like to use a combination of wombok cabbage (also known as Napa cabbage or Chinese cabbage) and some other leafy greens like baby gem lettuce or cos lettuce. White or red cabbage can be used instead of wombok, which I often do. I find that 1/4 of a wombok cabbage is usually enough for 3-4 salad servings.

Cut everything into strip shapes and grate the carrots; slice the onion very thinly (you can use white onion or green onions instead of red). I only had coriander (cilantro) on hand but I often add mint as well.

Step 3. Shred or slice the chicken or whatever protein you’re using.

Step 4. Add all vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Pour in half of the dressing and mix through.

Divide salad between bowls and top with a generous handful of sliced chicken and sprinkle with a tablespoon or two of crunchy fried noodles. Finish with a drizzle of the remaining dressing and sprinkle some chopped chili or chili oil over the top, if you like a little extra spice.

More Asian Salad Recipes

Full Recipe 

Find the full list of ingredients, instructions, and nutritional breakdown below. If you have questions or cook this recipe, please let me know in the comments, and make sure to rate this recipe so it’s easy for others to find.

Description

Looking for a quick and easy dinner option that doesn’t require cooking? Try this Asian chicken salad with wombok cabbage, ginger garlic dressing and crunchy fried noodles.

1/4 wombok cabbage, sliced thinly

7 baby gem lettuce leaves, cut lengthways and sliced thinly (about 2 cups)

1/4 red onion, finely sliced

Try This Next Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes with Parmesan Orzo Recipe

1 medium carrot, grated

1 medium cucumber, sliced into strips

Large handful of coriander (cilantro), chopped

300 g / 10 oz cooked chicken meat, shredded (e.g. Rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken breast)

2/3 cup crunchy fried noodles (like these ones)

For the dressing

2 tablespoons hot water

1 tablespoon grated palm sugar (or granules, brown or coconut sugar can be used)

Juice of 1 lime

3 tablespoons fish sauce

1 garlic clove, grated or minced

1 teaspoon of grated or minced ginger

1/4 cup Japanese sesame dressing (e.g Kewpie) 

• Make the garlic ginger dressing first. This can be done ahead of time and the dressing will keep for up to 4-5 days in the fridge. If using palm sugar, add about a tablespoon of shaved sugar or sugar granules to a mixing bowl and pour in the hot water. This will dissolve it so you don’t get any grainy sugar bits. You can do the same with any sugar you might be using, brown or coconut will work well as an alternative.
• Then combine with lime juice, fish sauce, and a few tablespoons of the store-bought Japanese sesame dressing. This is my little trick for adding delicious sesame flavour.
• Prepare the vegetables. I like to use a combination of wombok cabbage (also known as Napa cabbage or Chinese cabbage) and some other leafy greens like baby gem lettuce or cos lettuce. White or red cabbage can be used instead of wombok, which I often do. I find that 1/4 of a wombok cabbage is usually enough for 3-4 salad servings.
• Cut everything into strip shapes and grate the carrots; slice the onion very thinly (you can use white onion or green onions instead of red). I only had coriander (cilantro) on hand but I often add mint as well.
• Shred or slice the chicken or whatever protein you’re using.
• Add all vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Pour in half of the dressing and mix through. Divide salad between bowls and top with a generous handful of sliced chicken and sprinkle with a tablespoon or two of crunchy fried noodles.
• Finish with a drizzle of the remaining dressing and sprinkle some chopped chili or chili oil over the top, if you like a little extra spice.

Notes

Gluten-free version: Omit the fried noodles, you can replace them with cooked rice noodles for extra carbohydrates. You can also use crunchy roasted peanuts or other nuts/seeds.

Paleo version: Use coconut sugar or honey instead of palm sugar, omit the fried noodles and replace those with toasted coconut flakes or toasted peanuts or other nuts/seeds.

Vegetarian version: Replace fish sauce with soy sauce and use grilled tofu or tempeh in place of chicken.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: A third of the salad
• Calories: 375
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 1766.2 mg
• Fat: 19.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 21.2 g
• Fiber: 2.8 g
• Protein: 29.7 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg

Keywords: Chicken salad, Wombok Salad, Napa Cabbage Salad, Asian Salad, Ginger Garlic Dressing

More Recipes With Rotisserie Chicken

Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes with Parmesan Orzo Recipe

Shrimp laced with buttery garlic and thyme and a burst tomato sauce served on a creamy Parmesan orzo.

Juicy, succulent shrimp laced with garlic, butter, and thyme, tucked into a silky burst tomato sauce, and piled high on creamy, luscious Parmesan orzo. WHAT A DREAMBOAT DINNER. I love this recipe!

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In This Post:

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How To Make This Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes (with Pictures)

Step 1: Blister and Smash the Tomatoes

Get the tomatoes hot and blistery; then give ’em a gentle smash with the back of a spoon or a small plate. It’s… very fun.

Step 2: Cook the Shrimp

Make a little clearing right in the center of the tomatoes where you can add your shrimp to cook for a couple of minutes. Salt it up!

Step 3: Get the Garlic and Butter Going In There

Throw in a bunch of freshly sliced garlic and a knob of butter. Stir it up a few times until it’s dreamy.

Step 4: Make a Creamy Orzo

Put a lid on the shrimp and make a quick creamy orzo – butter, Parmesan, cream, lemon, and salt.

Step 5: Put It All Together

Piping hot orzo goes on the plate first, and then we pull our shrimp and tomatoes back out to pile on top.

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Lindsay’s Notes

This recipe is in heavy rotation at the moment – and it never fails to make me feel like I’m eating at a fancy restaurant and/or generally have my life together. Is my laundry all over my table? Yes. Have I been using dry shampoo for the last 4 days? Yes. But am I also eating a kind of fancy and beautiful dinner? YES! Three cheers for doable “fancy” recipes. 10/10 recommend.

Creamy orzo with the twang of Parmesan, sweet burst tomatoes gently bubbled into a sauce, and a pile of jumbo, delicate, buttery, garlic-laced shrimp. Pass me a glass of wine and I am living my best life.

As far as family approval goes, Bjork and I love the whole big, beautiful thing – no thyme for him (a true crime and I don’t want to spend any more time talking about it), and lots of thyme, salt, and pepp for me. The girls are hit and miss with the shrimp and tomatoes, but you better believe they love the creamy Parmesan orzo which is, of course, just mac and cheese in disguise. They’ll usually eat a few of the fresh little tomatoes on the side, too. Winning for everybody!

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Print

Description

Shrimp laced with buttery garlic and thyme and a burst tomato sauce served on a creamy Parmesan orzo.

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Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes:

Creamy Orzo:

Popular Recipe Thai Chicken Drumsticks (Baked)

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1. Cook the Orzo: Cook according to package directions. Drain, toss with a bit of oil, and set aside.
2. Soften the Tomatoes: Add the tomatoes and olive oil to a pan over medium high heat so they can soften and get a bit blistered on the outside. I usually cover the pan to avoid extra splatters.
3. Smash the Tomatoes: Once they’re soft (5 minutes or so), give them a gentle smash with the back of a spoon or applying even pressure with a plate or similar flat object. You want the tomatoes to be partially burst / smashed so they release some juices.
4. Cook the Shrimp: Make a little clearing in the center of the tomatoes and add your shrimp right in; season them with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
5. Give it Some Flava-Flave: Add the garlic, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the pan and stir to mix it all together. Let it get saucy and bubbly; then remove from heat and cover with a lid.
6. Make the orzo: Mix the orzo with butter, half and half, Parmesan, and lemon. Stir to combine; warm it up over the heat if necessary.
7. Pile it up: Serve immediately so the orzo doesn’t get too starchy and sticky! Pile it on a plate with a big scoop of steamy shrimp and tomatoes. Top with thyme. So good!

Notes

This amount usually makes enough for just Bjork and I to finish the shrimp, with plenty of orzo for us and the girls. If you wanted to serve 4 adults, I would use 2 pounds of shrimp!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Saute
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: shrimp and orzo, orzo recipe, shrimp and tomatoes

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Frequently Asked Questions For Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes

What can I use instead of shrimp?

Chicken would be delicious! I would probably pan-fry the chicken first, then take it out and set aside while you build your tomato sauce, then add the chicken back in at the end.

How long do the leftovers last?

You can definitely eat this meal as leftovers for 1, maybe 2 days after you make it, but it’s one of those meals that really shines when it’s made fresh.

Can you make this vegetarian / meatless?

Use zucchini in place of the shrimp! Or, similarly, this recipe is great.

How do you make this gluten-free and/or dairy-free?

Use gluten free orzo, dairy-free butter (or olive oil), and something else creamy in place of the half and half and Parmesan – a knob of dairy-free cream cheese would be good!

Another option would be to skip the creamy orzo and serve this with quinoa or another gluten-free, dairy-free option.

My Favorite Shrimp Recipes

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