Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad
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Salad as a meal? Yes, please! This quick and easy Vietnamese shredded chicken salad is packed with bright, spicy Southeast Asian flavors.
As much as I love salad as a meal, it’s not usually enough for my husband, who is more of a protein-and-two-sides kind of guy. However, this is one salad I can get away with serving for dinner—it’s satisfying and packed with bright, spicy Southeast Asian flavors. Plus, it’s a breeze to make. Just shred a rotisserie chicken, chop some veggies, whisk the dressing, and voila—dinner is done! The recipe makes enough for 2 to 3 main course salads, and if you want to round out the meal, just add some store-bought crispy spring rolls on the side.
“Delicious and the perfect light meal for a warm summer night!”
What You’ll Need To Make Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad
- Shredded Chicken: Adds protein and a savory flavor. Using store-bought rotisserie chicken makes this salad quick to pull together.
- Napa Cabbage: The primary greens used in the salad providing a crunchy and refreshing texture. Feel free to buy the pre-shredded variety.
- Scallions: Offer a mild onion flavor and a bit of bite.
- Carrots: Add sweetness and vibrant color.
- Red Bell Pepper: Contributes a sweet, crisp element and additional color.
- Fresh Mint: Enhances the salad with a bright, herbal note.
- Fresh Cilantro: Adds a fresh, citrusy flavor.
- Peanuts: Provide a crunchy, nutty element. These should be added right before serving the salad.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Adds a tangy, zesty flavor to the dressing.
- Sriracha Sauce: Brings a subtle spicy kick.
- Garlic: Infuses the dressing with a robust, aromatic flavor.
- Sugar: Balances the acidity and heat with a touch of sweetness.
- Fish Sauce: Adds a deep, savory umami layer to the dressing and gives it an authentic Vietnamese flavor.
- Vegetable Oil: Creates a smooth, emulsified dressing.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a large salad bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients except for the peanuts.
In a separate bowl or jar, combine all of the ingredients for the dressing; whisk or shake until the sugar is dissolved.
Right before serving, add the dressing to the salad.
Toss to combine.
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the peanuts. Serve cold.
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Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad
Salad as a meal? Yes, please! This quick and easy Vietnamese shredded chicken salad is packed with bright, spicy Southeast Asian flavors.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 heaping cups cooked shredded chicken, from one store-bought rotisserie chicken
- 4 cups shredded napa cabbage
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup grated or matchstick carrots
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup roughly chopped fresh mint
- ½ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ cup chopped peanuts
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice, from about 3 limes
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce (preferably a brand imported from Thailand or Vietnam)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients except for the peanuts. In a separate bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the dressing; whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Right before serving, toss the dressing with the salad. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the peanuts. Serve cold.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 417
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Sugar: 12g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 20g
- Sodium: 1169mg
- Cholesterol: 50mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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I made this last week and my son and husband LOVED it. We have a nut allergy so I used sunflower seeds instead of the nuts and it was fine. I also used Oyster sauce instead of the fish sauce because that’s all I had and it was fine too. Great recipe!!! This is going into my easy dinner list! Thank you 🙂
Delicious salad and it scales well to feed a crowd. My husband’s extended family visited one summer and this was the main course for one of the meals I served. It was summer, it was hot, and this salad was just what we wanted. I recommend dressing just the amount you think you will eat as it will get soggy with time. Undressed it keeps well for a couple of days.
This was so yummy and refreshing! I used red cabbage instead of napa and really liked it. Every recipe from this site is 5 stars, in my opinion. 🙂
Loved this – just the right amount dressing. Tastes so good. It’s a keeper! Thanks Jen.
This is an amazing recipe–honestly, every one of yours has been a huge hit in our home–thank you so much! Like some other readers, I have trouble finding Napa cabbage in my local store, but I’ve actually found that romaine lettuce, thinly sliced nearer the heart than the end, is a really good substitute and adds the crunch that you need.
Its not often that everyone likes a meal, but it seems consistent with your recipes that everyone one eats their dinner. Same with this salad. Its a great way to use up baked chicken left overs and a meal so full of fresh healthiness that we feel satisfied but also not overly stuffed.
This is an amazing salad, everyone from my girlfriends to my sons loved it. It keeps well and is a filling and hearty meal. The dressing is worth the extra effort.
I make this salad all the time. I throw some of those dried La Choy Chow Mein noodles on top for some added crunch.
One of the nicest Vietnamese salads I’ve made, very fresh, beautiful flavours. Yum!
This is our favorite recipe on this site. The rotisserie chicken provides a lot of extra flavor but I’ve also used cubed, cooked chicken breast. My kids also love this recipe, which is saying a lot for cabbage! Thank you!!
What are good substitutes for the nappa cabbage??? I’m finding it difficult to find here in New Zealand. Thanks!!
Hi Nicole, Are you able to find Chinese cabbage or Savoy cabbage? Those would work well 🙂
I used red cabbage, because that’s what was in my fridge, with delicious results.