A Chinese BBQ Chicken Chop Salad is a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy elements, offering a fresh take on classic barbecue flavors. With tender grilled chicken coated in a flavorful BBQ sauce, this salad combines crispy vegetables, a tangy dressing, and a touch of sweetness for a satisfying and vibrant meal. It’s the ideal dish when you’re looking for something light yet packed with rich flavors.
The BBQ chicken is the centerpiece of this salad. Marinated in a tangy Chinese BBQ sauce made from soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, garlic, and five-spice powder, the chicken becomes juicy and flavorful. After grilling, the chicken develops a smoky char, adding depth to the dish. Thinly sliced into strips, it’s easy to incorporate the savory chicken into every bite of the salad.
The salad itself is a colorful mix of fresh vegetables. A variety of leafy greens, such as romaine or napa cabbage, serve as the base. They add a crisp, refreshing crunch that pairs wonderfully with the tender chicken. Shredded carrots, bell peppers, and cucumber add color and texture, while a sprinkle of green onions brings a hint of freshness and brightness to the dish.
To add extra flavor and texture, the salad is topped with roasted peanuts or cashews. These crunchy nuts provide a satisfying contrast to the tender chicken and crisp vegetables, enhancing the overall experience. The peanuts also complement the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, bringing a lovely nutty flavor to the dish.
The dressing for this salad is key to bringing everything together. A mix of sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and a bit of honey creates a tangy, slightly sweet dressing that ties the grilled BBQ chicken and vegetables together. It’s savory enough to complement the rich flavors of the chicken, while the slight sweetness enhances the overall taste.
For an extra layer of flavor, garnish the salad with sesame seeds or cilantro, adding a burst of freshness and a mild, aromatic touch.
This Chinese BBQ Chicken Chop Salad is a great option for lunch or dinner. It’s a healthy yet flavorful meal, packed with protein from the chicken, healthy fats from the nuts, and plenty of vitamins from the vegetables. Whether you’re craving something fresh and crunchy or rich and savory, this salad has it all.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced
- 1 carrot shredded
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, and vegetable oil.
- Place chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag and pour half of the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade, discarding the marinade. Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken into thin strips.
- In a large bowl, combine salad greens, cucumber, carrot, cilantro, peanuts, and the remaining half of the marinade. Toss to coat.
- Divide the salad mixture among 4 plates and top with sliced grilled chicken. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
This salad is absolutely fantastic! The chicken is so flavorful and the crunch from the peanuts is a nice touch. Will make again!
My kids loved it! Especially the peanuts. Easy to make, too! 👍
Way too much honey for my taste, felt like I was eating candy salad. Yikes!
Candy salad? Really? Honey isn’t that sweet! Maybe you didn’t wash your greens properly? 🥴
I actually love the sweetness! The honey gives it a nice balance. Just use less next time if you don’t like it. 👍
I’m not sure about mixing hoisin with salad, seems weird. Might just stick to regular dressing next time.
This is the best salad ever!! Chicken was so juicy and I could eat those peanuts all day.
I totally agree! The chicken is the star of this salad. So delicious!
Sounds good, but can you really taste the peanuts? I prefer almonds.
I love the idea of mixing BBQ with salad, but my chicken was dry 😩. Anyone else have this problem?
Chicken salad? Nah, not for me. I’ll stick to burgers. 🥴
Are you supposed to eat it cold? I served it warm and it was great, but I feel like I went off-script. 🤔
Absolutely loved this recipe! The flavors were amazing. Will make again for sure!
So glad you enjoyed it! The combination of flavors really makes this dish pop! 🌟
I used honey mustard instead of honey because I ran out, and it turned out fine. LOL
So simple! I threw in some bell peppers and it was still delish.
Skeptical about the hoisin sauce, but it surprisingly worked well with the chicken! Good job!
Took me longer than expected and my dressing didn’t taste like the one I’ve had in restaurants. 😩
Mmm… yumm! But I don’t usually cook, so good luck with this if ur like me.
This salad was a hit at my family dinner! The flavors blend perfectly. Will make again! 😋
Hoisin sauce? Aren’t you supposed to use barbecue sauce for a BBQ chicken? 🤔
Too many ingredients for a simple salad. Just use lettuce and chicken next time.
Best salad ever! I added avocado and it was like a flavor explosion! 😍
Avocado? That sounds amazing! I’m definitely trying this next time. 🥑
I followed the recipe, but my chicken ended up dry. What did I do wrong?
My kids loved this! We added some avocados too, it was a hit! 🙂
This salad is amazing! The flavors mix so well, especially the dressing. My kids love it too! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I didn’t have peanuts so I used cashews, still turned out yummy. Chicken was juicy!
Eating salad makes me feel like a rabbit but this chicken is worth it! LOL! Great recipe!
Salad can be awesome! The chicken sounds delish, can’t wait to try this!
I dunno… chicken and salad? Sounds kinda weird, man. But maybe I’ll give it a shot.
This salad is absolutely delicious! The flavors are so vibrant! Definitely a keeper.
I totally agree! This salad is soooo good! I added some sesame seeds too and it just made it pop! 🥗
Hmmm, sounds nice but isn’t hoisin sauce kinda weird for a salad? 🤔 I think I might skip this one.
Simple recipe for a busy weeknight! The kids loved it and wanted seconds!
I dunno, kids and salad? Are you sure they actually liked it? Mine just push veggies around their plate.
This sounds amazing! I can’t wait to try it. Kids love salad when there’s chicken involved!
Too salty for my taste. Maybe cut down the soy sauce next time? 🤔
Not sure why y’all love this. My salad ended up soggy and the marinade was just boring.
Refreshing and light! Perfect for summer BBQs. I’m making it again this weekend.
I thought the chicken was supposed to be crispy, it wasn’t. Anyone else have that problem?
Not bad, but the peanuts were too crunchy for my taste. Maybe I’ll skip them next time. ⭐⭐
I get what you mean! The peanuts can be a bit much if you’re not into crunchy stuff. Maybe try some sunflower seeds instead next time! 🥗
Yum! I added sesame seeds instead of peanuts, and it was still great! 👌🏻
Will try this with tofu instead for a veg option. 🌱
Meh, didn’t really taste like Chinese food to me. Just chicken and some greens. 🤷♂️
DELICIOUS! I could eat this every day. 😍
Totally agree! This salad is so fresh and tasty. I’ve made it thrice this week! 🌟
Looks good, but I’m not sure about the peanuts. Do they really fit in? 🤔
Wasn’t very impressed. The sauce was too sweet for my taste. Maybe less honey next time?
Wasn’t sure about using hoisin in a salad. It’s alright, but I prefer my salads without sauces.
Easy to make and taste good! If you like Asian flavors, you will love this! 🍽️
This recipe is great! I tried it yesterday and my family loved it! 🌟
I don’t have a grill, can I bake the chicken instead?
I don’t know, it seemed kinda bland. Maybe I’m used to more spices? 🤷♀️
I felt the same way! Maybe add some chili flakes or sesame oil next time? It could really amp up the flavor! 🔥
This was a hit at my BBQ! The flavors were amazing, will definitely make again. 🔥
I tried making it but my chicken got burnt. Maybe grill time needs to be longer? I don’t know… 😩
Oh no! Burning chicken is the worst! Make sure your grill isn’t too hot, that can happen. Try cooking on a lower heat next time.
Grill time is usually fine, maybe just check the chicken earlier? Cant burn it! 😂
It was okay, but I felt like there was something missing. Maybe more spices?
Simple and quick! I used bottled dressing instead, lol, still good! 😋
Maybe try making your own dressing next time? It’s not that hard! 🤔
Glad to hear you liked it! Bottled dressing is a lot easier sometimes. 😂
Best salad I’ve ever had! Using this for my next BBQ! 🌟🍗
Yum! My kids loved it too, even the veggies! Definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Looks good, but my kids are super picky! I doubt they’d touch the greens. 😅
That’s awesome! I’m so glad your kids loved it! Any tips on getting kids to eat more veggies?
Not sure about this one. The ingredients don’t seem to go together, but maybe I’m just not a salad person.
It’s okay, I guess. Just not my fav. Prefer pizza any day over a salad.
Pfft, salad? Can’t beat a good pizza. But hey, some people like their greens.
I don’t know about this recipe. Is it really BBQ if you don’t use BBQ sauce? 🤔
BBQ is more about the grilling technique than the sauce! Plus, hoisin gives it a nice twist. Give it a try! 👍
I thought it was okay, but my chicken turned out a bit dry. Must’ve overcooked it.
So easy to make! I just marinated the chicken and stuck it in the oven, worked well too. Yum!
Too much work for a salad! Just wanted a quick dinner, but this was a bit of a hassle.
I feel you! Sometimes, you just want something easy. Maybe try a simple stir-fry next time.
I think it’s not that much work. The flavors are worth it! A good salad can be filling.
This salad was a huge hit at my dinner party! The flavors are amazing, and the marinade makes the chicken so juicy. I’ll definitely make it again!
I’ve never used hoisin sauce before, what does it even taste like? Kinda skeptical.
I dunno, I’ve never heard of it either. Just gonna stick with my ranch dressing 😂.
Hoisin sauce is kinda sweet and tangy, like a thicker soy sauce with a bit of spice. It’s really good, trust me!
I followed the recipe, but the chicken didn’t cook right. Maybe my grill is broken?
This is da bomb! Grill chicken was perf! Did I add too much peanuts? I dunno, loved it!
My family loved it! The crunch of the peanuts was a nice touch. Yum!
That’s awesome! I’m glad your family enjoyed it. The peanuts really do add a nice crunch!
I don’t know… peanuts in salad? Sounds weird to me. But hey, if you liked it, that’s what matters.
Amazing flavors! Used cashews instead of peanuts because that’s what I had. Still delish!
Cashews sound like a great idea! I might try that next time. Thanks for sharing!
I made this salad and it was super good but my chicken was like rubber. I think I overcooked it. Whoops!
I think chicken is tricky sometimes. Maybe you should try cooking it on a lower heat? 😂
Rubber chicken? That’s rough! I usually get mine to marinate for longer, maybe try that next time? Hope it’s better!
This was super tasty! The hoisin sauce really makes a difference. Will definitely make again!
I agree! The hoisin sauce adds such a great flavor. Glad you loved it!
I don’t know, hoisin sauce is kind of weird. I prefer regular barbecue sauce. Just saying.
I thought salad was just lettuce, but this is next level! Love the crunch from peanuts!
Quick and easy! I’d add more honey next time for sweetness. Loved the colors!
Tasty! But I think I added too much soy sauce. Needs balance. Next time, I will dilute it.
Balance? What’s that? 😂 I just dump in everything! But I see what you mean. Maybe add more honey next time?
I think soy sauce is tricky! Just a little can go a long way. Next time, maybe try starting with less? 🌱
This salad is amazing! The hoisin sauce gives it such a great flavor. Will definitely make again!
wheres the actual BBQ sauce like the title says???
I thought the hoisin sauce was too sweet. My family didn’t like it as much. Next time I’m gonna try less honey or maybe switch it up a bit.
I don’t think it’s too sweet! I love hoisin sauce. Maybe just try a different brand next time?
Yum! I love how fresh and crunchy it is. My sister is picky and she ate it all! 🥗
This was shockingly good—sweet, salty, and the hoisin really sticks to the chicken. I grilled a little too long and it got slightly dry, but the salad totally saved it. Will make again!
Right?! That hoisin really clings—mine did too. I also let mine go a touch long once and it was drier, but slicing thin helped a lot. Glad the salad saved yours!
Dang, hoisin marinade sounds good. I’d add more honey though—1 tbsp seems low. Also do you think grilling longer than 6-8 mins will still be okay if you rest it?
My grill time was way off—6-8 minutes per side cooked one piece fast and the other took longer. But once sliced thin, it was fine.
Wait—discard the marinade? I’m always worried about food safety so I followed it exactly. Good call, even though I wish I could use more sauce.
Wait, I thought you could boil it and then use it? Like, just simmer the marinade for a few minutes, then it’s safe, right? I usually don’t throw it out…
Totally agree—discarding the marinade is the safest move since it touched raw chicken. I do wish the recipe gave a little more sauce though; 1/2 cup feels stingy for 4 servings!
Not gonna lie, I found it a bit too sweet with the honey + hoisin. Next time I’ll reduce honey or add more soy to balance.
I like the flavor combo, but 4 cups greens feels like not enough for two chicken breasts unless you’re serving huge slices. Still tasty though.
Good point! If you slice the chicken thin and go heavy on the greens, 4 cups can work, but otherwise it feels a bit skimpy. Next time I’d probably bump to 5–6 cups.
The marinade is the star. I marinated overnight and the chicken came out super tender. Also the cucumber + carrot crunch is perfect.
Totally agree—this marinade really makes the chicken. I did overnight too and it was juicy and tender. The cucumber + carrot crunch is such a nice contrast with the salty-sweet sauce!
Pretty easy weeknight meal. I’m giving it 4 stars even though my cutting skills are trash 😅
I didn’t have hoisin so I used teriyaki (same vibe right?). It was… okay. The idea is good, but this recipe really depends on actual hoisin.
The cilantro and peanuts make it taste like something you’d get from a restaurant. My kid even asked for seconds and that never happens.