If you’re looking for a light, yet flavorful meal, a Hoisin Glazed Chicken and Cucumber Salad is the perfect option. This dish combines tender, savory chicken with a sweet and savory hoisin glaze, paired with the crisp, refreshing crunch of cucumbers and other fresh vegetables. The result is a vibrant salad that’s both satisfying and full of flavor, making it an excellent choice for a healthy lunch or dinner.
The chicken is marinated and coated in hoisin sauce, a rich and slightly sweet Chinese condiment made from soybeans, garlic, vinegar, and sugar. The glaze gives the chicken a shiny, flavorful coating as it’s grilled or pan-seared, locking in the juices and creating a tender, juicy bite. Once cooked, the chicken is sliced thin, allowing the hoisin glaze to shine and blend perfectly with the salad.
Cucumbers are the star vegetable in this salad, providing a cool, crisp texture that contrasts beautifully with the savory, slightly sweet chicken. Sliced thinly, they add a refreshing crunch and lightness to the dish. To complement the cucumbers, you can add thinly sliced carrots, bell peppers, and fresh herbs like cilantro or mint. These vegetables enhance the overall freshness of the salad while adding a burst of color.
The dressing is simple yet flavorful, made from a combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of honey or sugar to balance the tanginess. This dressing brings together all the elements, complementing the sweetness of the hoisin glazed chicken and the freshness of the vegetables. It ties the salad together, giving each bite a savory, umami-rich flavor.
For an added touch, sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top, which provide a subtle nuttiness that enhances the flavors of the salad. You can also add a few chili flakes or a drizzle of sriracha for a bit of heat if you prefer.
This Hoisin Glazed Chicken and Cucumber Salad is a delightful, balanced meal. The combination of tender chicken, refreshing cucumbers, and a savory dressing makes for a satisfying, light dish that’s perfect for warm weather. It’s also a great option if you’re looking to enjoy a meal that’s both healthy and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 cucumbers thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 Green onions sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then brush with the hoisin glaze.
- Place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the cucumber salad. In a bowl, combine sliced cucumbers, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, green onions, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Slice the chicken and serve with the cucumber salad.
- Enjoy!
Chicken + cucumbers. Yum! Easy to make and fast. Also, love that it’s healthy.
Easy to make and full of flavor! Even my picky kid liked it. Thumbs up from me!
Just okay, needs something. Might add some chili flakes for kick next time. 😒
Adding chili flakes sounds like a great idea! I think it will really elevate the flavors. 😃
Hoisin glaze? I thought that was something you put on a car! 😂 Anyway, chicken was okay.
Super easy to make! My kids loved it, but I used less sugar in the salad because I’m watching my diet.
That’s great to hear! I always try to reduce sugar in my dishes too. Did you enjoy the hoisin glaze?
Less sugar? How can it be sweet then? I thought the honey was the only sugar. Sounds kinda weird, but whatever works!
This was kinda bland for me. I think I under-salted the salad and my hoisin was less flavorful. Next time I’ll taste and adjust as I go.
I replaced cucumbers with lettuce. Is that okay? Taste didn’t change much, I think.
Eh, not for me. I think the chicken was a bit dry… maybe bake it for less time next time?
5 stars easy. I followed it exactly and the chicken was juicy. I let it rest longer than “a few minutes” and it helped.
Hoisin? Never heard of it. Is it like ketchup or what? 🤔
Too complicated for me. Where do I get hoisin sauce?
This dish was amazing! The hoisin glaze added such a unique flavor. I’m making it again next week!
I totally agree! That hoisin glaze is the bomb! Can’t wait to try it again myself.
Are you sure this is the best? I mean, hoisin sauce ain’t for everyone. What if someone doesn’t like sweet flavors?
This recipe was awesome! The chicken came out juicy and the flavors were just perfect. Definitely making this again!
Easy peasy! I’ll make this again for sure.
Not bad, but 400°F for 18-20 min seems too short for chicken breasts. Mine were still pink in the middle until I cooked longer. Otherwise the taste is solid.
Totally agree—400°F for only 18-20 min is risky for thicker breasts. I usually go more like 25-30 and check temp. Taste is really good though!
Mine came out fine at 18-20, so maybe it depends on thickness. Did you weigh yours or pound them thinner?
Was the honey supposed to be in the glaze? I forgot and it was still good! 🤷♂️
Pretty good, but I felt like the baking time was slightly off for my oven. Mine took closer to 25 minutes to be fully cooked. Salad was great though—crisp and tangy.
Good to hear! I’ve also noticed baking times vary a lot with ovens and chicken thickness—25 minutes makes sense. Did you bake at the same 400°F and use fresh or thawed breasts?
Mine usually takes way longer too… like 30-35. I just go by internal temp—165°F—because the “18-20” always seems optimistic. The salad part was the best though, not gonna lie.
Wow. Just wow. This was the best chicken I ever had. Friends asked for the recipe!
This needs more spices. Bland overall. 😕
Not a fan of hoisin sauce. It tasted sweet but not in a good way. Probably won’t make again.
5 stars just for how easy it is! Even a beginner can do it. Thanks for sharing!
Honestly, I messed it up because I accidentally used regular vinegar instead of rice vinegar. The salad turned sharp and weird, but I guess that’s on me 😅
Pretty good! I like how it’s not too complicated. Next time I’ll cut the honey just a bit because my glaze tasted a little sweet for me. Also, I used regular vinegar instead of rice vinegar and it still worked.
Nice! Cutting back the honey is a great call—mine got a little sweet too until I dialed it in. Also good to know regular vinegar still worked; I might try that next time.
Kinda confused though—your ingredients list says 1 tbsp rice vinegar for the glaze AND then 1/4 cup rice vinegar for the salad… so which is it? I used apple cider vinegar once and it was way too tangy for me 😅
Took longer than 20 minutes to cook… Maybe my oven runs cool? But still tasty!
Wow, my kids actually ate the cucumbers! This recipe is a win! 🙂
That’s awesome! Getting kids to eat veggies is a real victory! 😄
Not gonna make this. I dont like cucumbers… but chicken sounds good! 🍗
Pretty tasty, but I think 18-20 minutes might be a little short for thick chicken breasts. Mine came out borderline, so I had to bake a few more minutes. Flavor was solid though.
Totally agree—mine were on the thick side too. I ended up doing closer to 23 minutes at 400°F and they were perfect. Flavor’s really good though, like sweet-salty hoisin vibes.
Huh, I followed it exactly (18-20) and mine was a little dry?? maybe my breasts were thinner. Also I thought the recipe said 1/4 cup rice vinegar for the salad, but it’s kinda confusing with the 1 tbsp earlier—either way tasted okay.
I don’t know about the sourness in the cucumber salad… should it really have that much vinegar? Seemed off.
Very easy recipe! My kids loved it too. Plus, it looks fancy even though it’s simple. Winner in my book!
Too much vinegar in the salad for my taste. Could use less next time.
I don’t like cilantro, can I leave it out? Will it still taste good? 🤷
Delicious! I added some chili flakes to spice it up, great results!
I’m skeptical about 18-20 minutes for 4 chicken breasts at 400°F. Mine was undercooked in the middle, so I had to keep baking. Flavor was nice though—just watch the timing and thickness.
Totally get the timing skepticism. 18-20 min can be wildly different depending on thickness—mine ran more like 25-30 before the middle was safe. Flavor was still great though!
I tried this and it came out a bit dry (even though it looked done on the outside). Maybe my breasts were thinner? Still tasty glaze, just don’t blindly trust the minutes.
Hoisin sauce? Isn’t that for stir fry? I was confused but it actually worked. Not gonna lie.
Super easy and quick! My kids loved it. The salad was a nice touch! A+ recipe from me!
Not gonna lie, I wasn’t sure about hoisin + cucumber, but it surprised me. I’d make this again, especially for meal prep. Good textures.
I was skeptical too, but I think I’d swap the cucumber for something less watery? Mine would get soggy quick. Also, is that 1/4 cup rice vinegar in addition to the 1 tbsp—seems like a lot lol.
Okay this combo actually sounds way better than I expected—hoisin + cucumber is like sweet/salty + fresh crunch. Love that it’s meal-prep friendly!
Hoisin sauce? What even is that? Didn’t have any so I swapped it with BBQ sauce. Still tasted fine, lol.
Absolutely divine! I just added a pinch of chili flakes and it was perfect. 🥢🥢
Tried this recipe but the chicken didn’t turn out great. I think I overcooked it… had to drown it in sauce to save it.
I followed the recipe exactly but the chicken turned out dry. Maybe my oven is too hot?
This was not what I expected. The cooking time was way off, and my chicken was dry. I’m not impressed.
I don’t like chicken, I used tofu instead and it was super good!
Easy to follow but those cucumbers are crunchy! I like mine softer.. perhaps parboil them next time.
I totally get you! I don’t like crunchy cucumbers either. Parboiling sounds like a win! 😋
Chicken, sauce, cucumbers – what’s not to like? Delish! Also, quick prep is a bonus.
Hoisin sauce is kinda weird for chicken if you ask me. I used BBQ sauce instead—ads way better taste!
What do you mean weird? Hoisin is awesome on chicken! Your BBQ sauce is probably just covering up the flavor lol.
I disagree! Hoisin adds a unique flavor that’s just delicious with chicken. BBQ is too basic for me.
Made it and it turned out great! Just a bit too sweet for my liking, but otherwise fantastic.
Glad it turned out great! You could always reduce the honey a bit next time to balance the sweetness. Happy cooking!
The balance of sweet/salty is dead on. I used low-sodium soy sauce and it still worked. Also, the sesame oil really makes the salad pop.
I found the hoisin too sweet for my taste. Maybe less honey next time? I’m not an expert cook, but it felt a bit off.
I followed the recipe exactly, but my chicken came out dry. Maybe my oven runs hot? Idk what went wrong. 🤷♀️
Happened to me too! I think the chicken needs a bit more time sometimes. Just eyeballing it can be tricky.
Maybe try checking the oven temp? Sometimes they can be off. I usually use a thermometer to make sure.
More like a salad than a meal. Could use some rice or somethin to fill it out. 😒
I added garlic to the chicken for extra flavor. So good! Will be a regular dish now!
Tried this and it was okay. The sauce was really sweet for my taste, maybe less honey next time?
This recipe is a game changer! The blend of hoisin and honey is sooo good on the chicken. Will definitely make again!
This is giving takeout vibes. Hoisin, soy, honey—yeah, that’s the flavor. I served it with rice and it was perfect. Also, cilantro made it pop.
I’m not sure about the honey though… feels a bit too sweet for chicken salad. Also you only bake 18-20 min—my breasts were huge and needed closer to 30. Still, flavors were nice.
Yes!! The hoisin + soy + honey combo is spot on. I did the same with rice and it tasted like takeout for real. Cilantro always makes it pop—agree 100%.
This was so yummy! The hoisin sauce made the chicken taste amazing. Will make again for sure!
Cucumber salad was refreshing! I add some extra mint to it and it was yum! 😋
Wow, extra mint sounds like a great idea! I never thought of that. Can’t wait to try it!
This recipe is a game changer! The hoisin glaze makes the chicken sooo flavorful. Will definitely make this again!
I tried this recipe yesterday, and it did taste great! But my chicken turned out a bit dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? Anyone else had this issue?
Is hoisin sauce healthy? Seems so sweet. idk if I should try this…
Delicious! But I omitted the sugar from the salad. Didn’t need it. Next time I might add a dash of chili.
Meh… didn’t wow me. The glaze was sticky but bland somehow? Maybe my hoisin brand was weak. Also my cucumber salad got watery fast.
The hoisin sauce is too sweet for my taste. I might try cutting it with a bit more soy sauce next time.
Can’t believe how simple this was! Great for a busy weeknight. Thanks for sharing!
I made this last night and it was super easy! Will definitely make again!
This sounds like a perfect sweet-savory combo. I like that the cucumber salad is tangy to balance the hoisin glaze—very refreshing. Gonna try it with a little extra cilantro!
What’s a hoisin? Never heard of it. Can I just use ketchup? 🤷♂️
Chicken was dry, my oven must be broken lol. But the salad was fresh.
I had the same problem with the chicken! It was dry for me too. Maybe we overcooked it? The salad was so good though!
I dont think your oven is broken, maybe try checking the temp? Dry chicken happens to the best of us! 😅
Cucumbers?? What do cucumbers have to do with chicken? This is weird.
Cucumbers add a refreshing crunch and balance out the flavors! It’s not weird, it’s creative!
not for me. chicken taste nuthin special. guess im not a hoisin fan.
I feel like this is too many steps for chicken. Can’t I just grill it? 🤔
This recipe was amazing! The hoisin glaze gave the chicken a sweet kick. Will definitely make it again!
The flavor is there, but my glaze got a little too thick and sticky. Next time I’ll thin it slightly with a splash of water or more vinegar. Salad was perfect regardless.
Good point! I’ve had hoisin glazes turn sticky if they reduce too much—adding a splash of water or a touch more vinegar makes it loosen up nicely. Also love that the cucumber salad still held up.
Hoisin sauce? Sounds fancy. I just used BBQ sauce lol. Still turned out okay.
Why use hoisin when BBQ is tastier? I bet your chicken was just as good.
BBQ sauce? That’s interesting! I think hoisin gives it a different flavor tho. Wouldn’t hurt to try it next time!
This recipe is delicious! The hoisin glaze is a game changer.
I dunno, hoisin sauce is kinda sweet for me. I might stick to teriyaki next time. Just my opinion!
Totally agree! That hoisin glaze gives such a unique flavor. I added some extra garlic to mine, and it was fantastic!
Hoisin? I thought it was the same as teriyaki sauce?? 🤔
Ugh, why do people think hoisin sauce is sweet? I thought it was gonna be savory but my family hated it.
Made this last night—so flavorful! The hoisin + honey glaze caramelized nicely, and the cucumber salad tasted super fresh. I added a pinch of chili flakes and it was even better.
Just made this—super flavorful. The hoisin + honey combo is money, and the cucumber salad is the perfect cool-down. I did end up needing 2-3 extra minutes on the chicken, but overall it was a win.
Yes!! Hoisin + honey is such a cheat code. I love how the cucumber salad balances it with that cool tang—making this again for sure.
I tried it and mine was tasty, but I think my oven runs hot. I had to pull the chicken a little earlier than the 18-20 mins or it got dry. Still, would make again.
Really simple but tastes fancy! My family loved it.
Not a fan, way too many steps for chicken. Cooking should be easier than this!
I understand your point, but isn’t cooking supposed to be fun? I think the steps are worth it for the flavor! 🙌
Not bad, but I think I put too much vinegar in the salad. A bit overpowering. Maybe 1/4 cup instead of 1/4 cup?!
I think 1/4 cup is too much for rice vinegar, but it really depends on your taste. Maybe try a little less next time!
Too much vinegar?! It’s all about balance, just fix it with some sugar or more cucumbers! 🤷♂️
I don’t know, the flavors didn’t really come together for me. The sauce was too sweet. Meh.
My partner hates cilantro and said “nope” to it at first, but I did half cilantro/half parsley and it worked. The chicken itself is the star.
Love this tip—my husband is the same with cilantro. Half/half is genius. Chicken is definitely the star here.
Chicken good. Cukes not good.
The ingredients are too fancy for my budget. Can I just use ketchup instead of hoisin?
Hoisin is sweet and tangy, ketchup is more like…just sweet. You might wanna try another sauce if you can. But hey, if it saves you money, do what you gotta do!
Using ketchup instead of hoisin? That’s different! Might change the whole flavor, but if it works for you, go for it!
Not bad, but next time I’ll add more honey for sweetness!
I don’t like green onions, can I leave them out? That’s the only part I’m skeptical about. Overall sounds good tho.
Delicious!!!
Delicious is right! The hoisin-honey glaze sounds like it would caramelize perfectly in the oven. I also love the cucumber salad vibe—fresh and crunchy to balance the sweet sauce.
Looks good but I think 18-20 min at 400°F might be short for thick chicken breasts. I’d check temp (165°F) and maybe bake a bit longer. Also that’s a lot of vinegar in the salad—maybe start with less sugar too?
Made this tonight and it was a hit. The hoisin-honey glaze smells amazing, and the cucumber salad is super refreshing. I did add a little extra lime since I had one—still great!
Tried this. Simple and quick. And healthy! I like recipes like these. Good stuff!
Yum! But I think I put too much vinegar in the salad. Oops!
Too much vinegar? That sounds like disaster. Good luck choking that down! 😂
No worries! A little extra vinegar can add a nice kick. Just balance it out with some sugar or honey next time!
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it! 🥢
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about hoisin on chicken, but this is actually a vibe. The green onions + cilantro make it feel fresh, like restaurant food.
Hoisin on chicken?? I tried once and it was kinda sticky and weird, lol. Do you rinse the cucumbers after slicing or just let them soak in that vinegar mix?
Same! I always think hoisin will be too sweet, but the rice vinegar balances it really well. Green onions + cilantro is such a nice fresh touch.
Uh, do you really need all that vinegar? It was a bit too tangy for my taste. Next time, I’m cutting it down.
I thought the salad would be boring, but wow, the vinegar really brought it to life. Kudos!
Absolutely! The vinegar adds such a nice zing. Glad you enjoyed it!
This was absolutely delicious! The hoisin glaze was a game changer. Definitely making this again!
Yummers! So good. I added some chili flakes for a kick. Highly recommend!
I’m confused why there are two rice vinegar amounts—one in the glaze and another for the salad—maybe that’s correct but the ingredient list threw me off. Still, I followed it and it turned out fine.
Good idea pairing sweet/salty chicken with a tangy cucumber mix. I did have to bake mine closer to 24 minutes though (thicker breasts). Still a keeper.
This is a dish my mom makes but a little different! She uses ginger and garlic. But still, I love this recipe!
This was so delicious! The hoisin glaze gave the chicken such a lovely flavor. Will definitely make again.
Not gonna lie, hoisin glaze on chicken is my weakness 😅. This was sweet-salty in the best way. Next time I’ll slice the chicken thinner so it soaks up the glaze more.
Easy and quick! My kids went crazy for it! They ate everything. 🙂
I found this recipe too sweet for my taste. I think less honey would help.
I get that! It’s always a bit of trial and error with flavors. You could definitely adjust the honey for your preference.
I’m confused about the vinegar—there’s 1 tbsp in the glaze and then 1/4 cup plus sugar for the salad. I used everything like written and it turned out… kinda vinegary. Maybe I should’ve halved it?
I think you were right to notice the vinegar amounts—1 tbsp in the glaze + 1/4 cup in the salad is pretty punchy. If your cucumbers were watery, that vinegar flavor can really stand out. Halving the salad vinegar (and maybe adding it back a teaspoon at a time) is a totally reasonable fix.
yum!!!
Absolutely! Can’t wait to try this recipe! 🥢
Super easy to make! My kids loved it. Thanks for sharing! 😊
This is my new go-to recipe for dinner parties. So tasty and colorful! 😍
I tried this and it was okay, but the hoisin sauce was too sweet for me. 🤷♂️
I’m glad to hear it! This recipe sounds great for impressing guests. 😋
Chicken was dry :/ next time I’ll check it sooner.
I made something similar, but I think the recipe might be a bit vinegar-heavy. You’ve got rice vinegar in both the glaze and the salad—hope it won’t overpower the chicken. Still, the flavors look good on paper.
Why do we need honey AND sugar? Seems a bit much. Anyway, it was decent.
It was edible, I guess. The salad was okay but kinda sour for me. I might cut the sugar next time or add more cucumber. Chicken was good if you like sweet sauces.
Edible is still a win 😅 I think the issue might be you used too much rice vinegar—also the recipe says 1 tbsp honey but only 1 tbsp sugar? Feels like it could be imbalanced. Maybe add a little more sesame oil? Idk, just my guess.
Totally get it—this salad’s got a few tangy hits (rice vinegar + extra vinegar + sugar). I usually start by cutting the sugar in half, and it definitely helps. More cucumber is a great idea too!
My hoisin sauce was kinda salty already, so I might have overdone the soy sauce + extra salt. The salad part slapped (cilantro is king). Will try less soy next time.
I think you might have used too much hoisin. Like, hoisin is already sweet and salty, so adding soy + extra salt could ruin it. But hey, if the salad was good then it’s still a win. What brand hoisin was it?
Totally get it—hoisin + soy can get salty fast. Next time I’d try tasting the glaze before it goes on the chicken, and maybe cut soy in half first. Also love that you said the salad slapped—cilantro really makes it!
So good! Just tried it for dinner and my whole family loved it! Who knew cucumbers could taste so great like this?
This was outstanding! The hoisin glaze was a game changer for the chicken. Will definitely make again!
1/4 cup cucumbers plus 1/4 cup vinegar? Idk my brain read that wrong lol. I ended up eyeballing. Flavor still worked, but I’m skeptical of the exact measurements. Still, nice balance overall.
Haha I’ve definitely read “1/4 cup” wrong before 😅 But yeah—there’s only 1/4 cup rice vinegar total split between the glaze (1 tbsp) and the salad (1/4 cup). If your flavor was still good, you were probably super close on the vinegar-to-sugar balance.
Simple and delicious! I added some crushed peanuts on top for crunch. Yumm!
So good! The chicken came out juicy and the glaze wasn’t too sticky. Will totally repeat. 5 stars.
Made this tonight—super tasty. The hoisin + honey glaze caramelized nicely and the cucumber salad tasted fresh and not too sweet. I added a little extra sesame oil because I’m that person. Would make again!
The measurements confused me a lil—there’s 1 tbsp rice vinegar in the glaze and then 1/4 cup rice vinegar in the salad, plus 2 tbsp soy. I’m scared I’ll mess it up but I’ll give it a shot.
Totally get you—those vinegar amounts look wild at first. But it’s just for two different parts: 1 tbsp goes in the glaze for the chicken, and the 1/4 cup goes in the cucumber salad to make it tangy. If you measure carefully, you’ll be good! 🙂
Wait so is the salad like super sour with 1/4 cup vinegar?? I’d maybe start with less (like 2-3 tbsp) and taste as you go. I always ruin recipes when I trust the measurements lol but you can save it.
Very easy weeknight recipe. I appreciate that it’s not a million steps. I brushed the chicken with extra glaze and it caramelized nicely.
The ingredients are solid, but the recipe confused me a bit: you list rice vinegar twice (1 tbsp and then 1/4 cup). I used 1/4 cup for the salad part and the 1 tbsp for the glaze—still turned out fine, just please clarify.