Whole30 Chinese Chicken Salad Gluten Free

If you have a jar of All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce waiting in the fridge, this gluten-free Chinese Chicken Salad can be on your dinner table tonight. It is crisp, bright, tangy, savory, and satisfying, with plenty of fresh vegetables, sweet mandarin oranges, toasted nuts, sesame seeds, and slices of crispy Cracklin’ Chicken. It is a complete meal in one bowl and a great choice for a fresh weeknight dinner.

Table of Contents

• A healthy twist on Chinese chicken salad
• All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce is a fab salad dressing!
• Can you swap the vegetables in the salad?
• What other protein can I substitute for Cracklin’ Chicken?
• Can I make this dish ahead of time?
• Ingredients
• How to make Chinese Chicken Salad
• Got extra All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce?
• Printer-Friendly Recipe Card
• Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

A healthy twist on Chinese chicken salad

Classic restaurant-style Chinese chicken salads often get their crunch from chow mein noodles or fried wonton strips. This version skips those ingredients and still delivers plenty of texture. Thinly sliced cabbage, carrots, scallions, cilantro, mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, sesame seeds, and crispy chicken create a salad that is fresh, filling, and full of contrast.

This paleo-friendly Chinese Chicken Salad is also gluten-free and Whole30-friendly when made with compatible ingredients. The flavor is bold enough for dinner but light enough to feel refreshing. The cabbage stays crisp, the citrus adds sweetness, and the chicken makes the salad hearty enough to serve as a main course.

All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce is a fab salad dressing!

All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce works beautifully as more than a cooking sauce. It can double as a quick Asian-inspired salad dressing because it has the salty, tangy, savory flavor you want in a Chinese chicken salad dressing. It has notes similar to a soy sauce-based dressing with sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic, but it is made with coconut aminos and fish sauce and sweetened with orange juice.

For this salad, whisk the sauce with a little avocado oil to create a rounder, more balanced dressing. If you prefer a sharper and tangier dressing, you can leave the oil out. Either way, taste the dressing with a piece of cabbage before tossing the salad so you can adjust it to your liking.

Can you swap the vegetables in the salad?

Yes. Napa cabbage, red cabbage, and julienned carrots give this Chinese Chicken Salad great color and crunch, but the recipe is flexible. You can use romaine lettuce, green cabbage, baby arugula, iceberg lettuce, or another crisp salad base you enjoy.

Other raw vegetables also work well. Sliced cucumbers, radishes, snap peas, snow peas, and thinly sliced red bell pepper are all good additions if you have them on hand. The goal is to keep the salad crisp, fresh, and colorful while giving the dressing plenty of surface area to cling to.

What other protein can I substitute for Cracklin’ Chicken?

Cracklin’ Chicken is the top choice for this recipe because the crispy skin and juicy meat make the salad especially satisfying. It adds the crunch that many Chinese chicken salad recipes get from fried noodles, while keeping the dish gluten-free and paleo-friendly.

If you do not have Cracklin’ Chicken ready, you can use leftover cooked chicken, including sliced chicken breast or shredded chicken. Roasted shrimp, cooked salmon, fried tofu, or leftover steak can also be used. The salad is adaptable, but crispy chicken gives it the best texture and flavor.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

This salad is best served right after it is tossed. Once the dressing is added, the cabbage begins to soften and release moisture. The toasted almonds and sesame seeds also lose some of their crunch if they sit too long.

If you want to get ahead, prepare the components separately. Slice the vegetables, make the dressing, cook the chicken, drain the mandarin oranges, and toast the almonds and sesame seeds in advance. Store everything separately and assemble the salad just before serving. Leftovers are still edible, but the texture will not be as crisp and lively as a freshly tossed salad.

Ingredients

• Cracklin’ Chicken (air fryer or stovetop method): Crispy, savory chicken makes this salad hearty and satisfying.
• All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce: A quick, flavorful dressing for this Asian-inspired salad.
• Avocado oil (optional): Whisk it into the sauce for a smoother, more balanced dressing.
• Napa cabbage, cored and thinly sliced: Savoy cabbage or regular green cabbage can also be used.
• Red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced: Adds color and crunch.
• Carrots: Peel and julienne them for the best texture.
• Green onions or scallions: Slice thinly for a mild onion flavor.
• Fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped: Adds freshness and herbal flavor.
• Canned mandarin oranges in 100% juice: Drain before adding to the salad.
• Toasted almond slivers: Toasted cashews, hazelnuts, peanuts, or other nuts can be used instead.
• Toasted sesame seeds: Sprinkle on top just before serving for extra crunch and flavor.

How to make Chinese Chicken Salad

Prepare Air Fryer Cracklin’ Chicken or stovetop Cracklin’ Chicken, then set it aside. The chicken stays delicious at room temperature, so you can finish the salad while it rests.

While the chicken cooks, measure the All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce into a bowl. Whisk in the avocado oil if you are using it. You can also combine the sauce and oil in a jar and shake until blended. Taste the dressing with a small piece of cabbage and add more oil if you want a milder dressing.

In a large bowl, combine the Napa cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, scallions, and cilantro.

Pour most of the dressing over the vegetables.

Toss thoroughly so the vegetables are evenly coated. Taste and add more dressing if needed.

Transfer the dressed vegetables to a serving platter.

Add the drained mandarin oranges, then arrange the sliced Cracklin’ Chicken over the top.

Right before serving, sprinkle the salad with toasted almonds and toasted sesame seeds.

Serve immediately while the vegetables are crisp and the toppings are crunchy.

Got extra All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce?

If you have extra All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce, use it to bring quick flavor to other Asian-inspired meals. It can work as a stir-fry sauce, marinade, or dressing, making it a useful sauce to keep in the refrigerator.

Here are a few recipe ideas that also use this versatile sauce:

• Asian Steak Salad
• Paleo Hiyashi Chuka (Cold “Ramen” Salad)
• Instant Pot Chinese Beef Stew
• Paper-Wrapped Chicken