Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing

This Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing is a bright, crunchy, and utterly satisfying weeknight-ready dish. It blends tender chicken and al dente rotini with crisp romaine, colorful red cabbage, and crunchy almonds and chow mein noodles for texture. The sesame-forward dressing is tangy with rice vinegar, slightly sweet from honey, and rounded with soy and Dijon for depth. This recipe is easy to assemble, makes great leftovers, and travels well for lunches or potlucks.

Why you’ll love this salad: It’s a complete meal in a bowl — protein, veggies, and carbs — with a dressing that ties everything together without overpowering the fresh ingredients. The mix of soft pasta, crunchy vegetables, and crisp toppings gives you a variety of textures in every bite.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked and sliced chicken
• 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 6 ounces cooked rotini pasta, about 2 cups
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage
• ½ cup sliced red onion
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• ¼ cup roasted almonds
• ⅓ cup chow mein noodles
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

Make-Ahead Tips

If you want this Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing for lunches all week, cook the rotini, slice the chicken, and shred the cabbage and carrots a day ahead. Store the dressing in a separate jar and toss it with the salad right before serving to keep everything crisp. The assembled salad will keep well for 2–3 days refrigerated if the dressing is kept apart until serving.

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Medium bowl or jar for the dressing
• Cutting board and sharp knife
• Colander for draining pasta
• Measuring cups and spoons

Flavor Variations

Want to change things up? Add sliced cucumber or bell pepper for extra crunch, swap roasted cashews for almonds, or stir in chopped fresh cilantro for a herbal lift. For a little heat, add a pinch of chili flakes to the dressing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The following directions have been rewritten for clarity and maintain the ingredient amounts exactly as listed above.

1. Prepare the rotini: Cook 6 ounces rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well in a colander and rinse briefly under cold water to stop the cooking. Set the pasta aside to cool to room temperature.
2. Prepare the chicken: If your 2 cups cooked and sliced chicken is not already cooked, cook it by your preferred method (poached, baked, or pan-seared) until fully done, then slice into bite-sized pieces. Ensure the chicken is cooled before adding to the salad to keep the lettuce crisp.
3. Wash and chop the greens: Rinse 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce thoroughly and dry it well. Place the chopped romaine in a large mixing bowl.
4. Add the raw vegetables: To the bowl with romaine, add 1 cup shredded red cabbage, ½ cup sliced red onion, and ½ cup shredded carrots. Toss gently to combine the vegetables.
5. Add pasta and chicken: Add the cooled rotini pasta (about 2 cups) and the 2 cups cooked and sliced chicken to the bowl with the vegetables. Toss so the ingredients are evenly distributed.
6. Add crunchy toppings: Sprinkle ¼ cup roasted almonds and ⅓ cup chow mein noodles over the salad. These will add texture and a toasty flavor contrast to the soft pasta and chicken.
7. Season the salad base: Season the combined salad ingredients with salt and pepper to taste. Start with a light pinch and adjust later after dressing is added.
8. Make the sesame dressing: In a medium bowl or jar, combine 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 6 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon salt. Whisk or shake until the honey is fully dissolved and the dressing is emulsified.
9. Dress the salad: Pour the sesame dressing over the salad. Use tongs or salad servers to toss everything gently but thoroughly, ensuring the dressing coats the pasta, vegetables, and chicken evenly.
10. Adjust final seasoning: Taste the assembled Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing and adjust with additional salt or pepper if needed. If you prefer a brighter tang, add a little more rice vinegar; for more sweetness, add a touch more honey.
11. Serve: Transfer the salad to serving plates or a large platter. Sprinkle an extra pinch of sesame seeds and a few extra chow mein noodles or chopped almonds on top for garnish and crunch. Serve immediately for the best texture.

Notes on Ingredients

Each ingredient was kept to the amounts listed in the ingredient section. The dressing balances tangy rice vinegar with sesame and soy for that classic flavor profile. If you need to increase yields, scale the ingredients proportionally to maintain the same balance of dressing to salad.

Timing

• Prep time: 15–20 minutes (assuming cooked chicken)
• Cook time: 10–12 minutes for the pasta if cooking from dry
• Total time: 25–35 minutes

Serving Suggestions

This Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing is great on its own for a light dinner or as part of a larger spread. It pairs nicely with miso soup, steamed edamame, or a simple citrusy fruit salad to cleanse the palate. For a picnic, pack the dressing separately and toss just before serving to keep everything crisp.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you’ve already dressed the salad, expect slightly softer vegetables after a day or two. If storing undressed, place the dressing in a sealed jar and combine with the salad when ready to eat.

Troubleshooting

• If your dressing tastes too sharp: Add an extra ½ teaspoon honey at a time until the acidity is balanced to your liking.
• If the salad is too dry: Add another teaspoon or two of vegetable oil or a splash more rice vinegar depending on whether you want more richness or tang.
• If chow mein noodles get soggy: Add them just before serving for maximum crunch.

Final thoughts

This Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing is a reliable, flavorful recipe that comes together quickly and satisfies big and small appetites alike. It’s a great option for quick weeknight dinners, healthy lunches, or crowd-pleasing potlucks. The layered textures and balanced dressing make it a repeat-worthy favorite, and the recipe scales easily to feed more people or provide lunches for the week.

Enjoy this vibrant, crunchy salad as a satisfying one-bowl meal — and don’t forget to taste as you go to make the dressing and seasoning perfect for your palate.