Chrissy Teigen’s Chinese Chicken Salad

Remember on The Office when Jim found a movie script that Michael Scott had written called Threat Level Midnight? Yeah, when everything in my life maxes out and I start losing my keys and driving the wrong way down one-way streets (in all fairness, they just changed the directions of the one-ways, but still) and forgetting the memory card for my camera when I’m supposed to be taking pictures of an event and accidentally melting a package of chicken thighs (and the plastic IKEA kids’ plate it was sitting on). And yes, I’ve done all those things in the last 48 hours. So. Chrissy Teigen’s Chinese Chicken Salad is coming at you a little late, but it’s happy to be here. And yes, this is new, un-plasticky chicken.

chrissy teigen's chinese chicken salad

I got this recipe in a Blue Apron box last year (that’s an entire blog post of its own–we get lots of questions about meal kits. I’ve used all of them for lots of reasons, but I’m not using anything right now. And yes, I’m a food blogger than needs all the help she can get.) It was a quick family favorite. I’m not usually one that hops on celebrity bandwagons, and I’m not like a weird Chrissy Teigen superfan or anything, but I do think she’s funny and down to earth and every recipe I’ve tried of hers has been fantastic and her Target line is really cute and oh my gosh am I a weird Chrissy Teigen superfan??

There are a few versions of this recipe floating around, and I haven’t even checked her cookbooks to see if it is in there because I’ve taken what I liked from the different Blue Apron versions + added my own adaptations (I can’t get fresh wonton noodles where I live and I’m just using an entire bag of coleslaw instead of different cabbages for the sake of simplicity and my own sanity. I also doubled the sauce/dressing because there is not nearly enough in the original recipe and it’s delicious.)

Just as a warning, after I made this, it looked like a bomb went off in my kitchen. Please refer to the aforementioned Threat Level Midnight Scenario. I was running short on time and so all inhibitions were down and I probably made this in the messiest, least efficient way possible. Also my noodles, as you may have noticed, are a little browner than they should be. Luckily, they tasted good, possibly because they were blessed with a few swear words. While I was making this, I felt like I was on a very un-fun version of a cooking competition show. What I’m saying is the potential for mess here is very great, but if you stay calm and do things in an organized way, you can keep it under control.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When boiling, cook the noodles according to package directions, drain, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt, toss, and set aside (it’s okay for them to be cold).

For the crispy wonton wrappers, the original recipe calls for fresh wonton noodles. Since I don’t live in the kind of place where you can easily find fresh wonton noodles, I just got wonton wrappers from the produce department,

wonton wrappers for chinese chicken salad

but if you can find the noodles, by all means use them because they are delicious. If you’re using the wrappers, use a sharp knife, cut the wonton wrappers into 1/4″ strips (you will probably need to divide the wrappers into a few stacks to make sure they’re all cut evenly).

wonton strips for chinese chicken salad

Place on a large baking sheet and drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and make sure they’ve been separated. Set aside.

getting ready to bake wontons for chinese chicken salad

Whisk together the dressing ingredients and set aside.

Place the cabbage, shredded carrot, and the dark green ends of the green onions in a large salad bowl. Set aside.

veggies for chinese chicken salad

You can use anywhere from 1-2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, depending on how much protein you want to add and what you can find (what I’m saying is don’t stress if you can only find 1 3/4 pound packages of chicken thighs.)

chicken thighs for chinese chicken salad

Trim excess fat from chicken thighs and cut into 1/2″ slices. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat 2-3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken in a single layer and cook 3-4 minutes. Add the white ends of the green onions and the garlic and then flip/stir it to make sure all the sides have been browned. When done, remove from heat.

When the oven is ready, add the wonton wrappers and bake for 4-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, stir, and then return to the oven for another 4-5 minutes or until light brown and crispy. Remove from oven.

When the chicken and wonton wrappers are cooked, add them to the bowl

chinese chicken salad

and drizzle with the sauce. Toss and serve immediately.

chrissy teigen's chinese chicken salad

chrissy teigen's chinese chicken salad

Chrissy Teigen's Chinese Chicken Salad

This delicious protein- and veggie-packed Chinese Chicken Salad will become a family favorite!

Ingredients

salad

  • 6 ounces linguine noodles
  • 6 ounces fresh wonton wrappers or fresh wonton noodles
  • 1-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of fat and cut into 1/2" slices
  • 16 ounce bag coleslaw
  • 6 ounces shredded carrots
  • 3 green onions chopped (separate green and white ends)
  • 4-5 cloves garlic minced

dressing

  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Optional: Your favorite Asian hot sauce like Sriracha, Gochujang, or Sambal Oelek to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When boiling, cook the noodles according to package directions, drain, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt, toss, and set aside (it's okay for them to be cold).
  • For the crispy wonton wrappers, the original recipe calls for fresh wonton noodles. Since I don't live in the kind of place where you can easily find fresh wonton noodles, I just got wonton wrappers from the produce department, but if you can find the noodles, by all means use them because they are delicious. If you're using the wrappers, use a sharp knife, cut the wonton wrappers into 1/4" strips (you will probably need to divide the wrappers into a few stacks to make sure they're all cut evenly).
  • Place on a large baking sheet and drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and make sure they've been separated. Set aside.
  • Whisk together the dressing ingredients, including hot sauce to taste, and set aside.
  • Place the noodles, cabbage, shredded carrot, and the dark green ends of the green onions in a large salad bowl. Set aside.
  • You can use anywhere from 1-2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, depending on how much protein you want to add and what you can find (what I'm saying is don't stress if you can only find 1 3/4 pound packages of chicken thighs.)
  • Trim excess fat from chicken thighs and cut into 1/2" slices. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 2-3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken in a single layer and cook 3-4 minutes. Add the white ends of the green onions and the garlic and then flip/stir it to make sure all the sides have been browned. When done, remove from heat.
  • When the oven is ready, add the wonton wrappers and bake for 4-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, stir, and then return to the oven for another 4-5 minutes or until light brown and crispy. Remove from oven.
  • When the chicken and wonton wrappers are cooked, add them to the bowl and drizzle with the sauce. Toss and serve immediately.
Author: kate jones
Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a picture, and hashtag it #ourbestbites. We love to see your creations on our Instagram @ourbestbites!

If you’re looking for other Our Best Bites salads with Asian flair, check these out!

Asian Cabbage Salad
Orange Sesame Asian Chicken Salad
Asian Wonton Salad
Thai Peanut Noodle Salad
Healthy Thai Peanut Salad for One
Kale and Cabbage Salad Jars with Tahini Lime Dressing

woman in denim shirt holding a salad bowl
Meet The Author

Sara Wells

Sara Wells co-founded Our Best Bites in 2008. She is the author of three Bestselling Cook Books, Best Bites: 150 Family Favorite RecipesSavoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites, and 400 Calories or Less from Our Best Bites. Sara’s work has been featured in many local and national news outlets and publications such as Parenting MagazineBetter Homes & GardensFine CookingThe Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times.

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Questions & Reviews

  1. Can’t wait to try this recipe. That crispy wonton wrap looks interesting. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

  2. Can you include a list of suggested swears with the recipe so I know how to save my noodles when I burn them?

    1. Honestly, I think it works best when the swears just flow through you. It’s part of the creative process. What burned noodles mean to me may mean something different to you. ??‍♀️

  3. We made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I cheated and used a Rotisserie chicken though because I felt like I had enough pans and dishes going on! Thanks for the great recipe!

  4. I made this for Sunday dinner tonight and everyone thought it was pretty good! We all thought the dressing was too thin, though. It didn’t coat the salad and just ended up puddling on the bottom of the plate. Next time I’d make it in advance and cook it down to thicken it and maybe even add some corn starch. I’m also not a fan of sesame oil so I used a quarter of what it called for and still thought it was plenty strong.

  5. Sounds yummy! Did you use the seasoned rice vinegar or the plain one? My store has two options.

      1. Thank you for not remaking the wonton noodles for your pictures!!! One of the things I love about your blog is that you live real lives and sometimes things get a little too done!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!

  6. I’m gonna try making this with a block of firm tofu… I’m thinking I can press it, cut it into 1/2″ strips, and marinate it in the dressing while I prep everything else. Then I should be able to pan fry it in a bit of oil at the end like you did your chicken… Sub maple syrup for the honey, and voila! Vegan! 🙂 I’m also thinking jjapchae noodles, made from sweet potato starch, because yummmm!

  7. Do the linguine noodles go in the bowl with the cabbage and carrots? They get cooked, but I never see a reference for what to do with them in the recipe directions.

  8. I made a similar salad recently trying to copy the one from Panera. Now I need to try this one! The only thing I wasn’t sure of is if I liked the sesame oil. I think it made the sauce taste kind of burned, do I just not know what sesame oil is supposed to taste like? ?

    1. Sesame oil is REALLY strong and it can easily overwhelm everything. In this recipe, I’d try light sesame oil and start with just one tablespoon and then add a little more if you feel like it needs more. ??

  9. I could totally see swapping the chicken for edamame or for chickpeas sprinkled with garlic powder and seasonings for a vegetarian option – yum! And the idea to bake the wonton strips is a great swap for deep fried. Sounds like the perfect summer dinner.

  10. Hahaha I’m so glad I’m not the only one to “bless” my cooking with bad words. This looks delicious!