Vietnamese chicken salad is simple but delicious - a great way to enjoy leftover chicken alongside vegetables, mint and a punchy Asian dressing that's perfect for your lunchbox too.

Vietnamese chicken salad close up of part of bowl

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There are not many dishes I make that have me wanting to get another cabbage, but this is one of them. Cabbage is one of those vegetables that I like in a few dishes (like Ethiopian tikel gomen) but it is never going to be a favorite.

It's a good thing it keeps well as I am often guilty of letting it hide at the bottom of the fridge, waiting for me to get round to using more of it.

This Vietnamese chicken salad, though, is one where cabbage is the perfect fit. And it's transformed into something truly delicious. This crunchy, flavorful salad has become a firm favorite for lunch.

bowl of Vietnamese chicken salad in blue-rimmed bowl with corner of other bowl to side

A delicious way with leftovers

As well as being delicious, one particularly fantastic thing about this salad is it's an ideal way to use some leftover chicken. Plus, this time of year it's great for some of that excess turkey from your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

It's so good, in fact, you might find yourself cooking chicken specifically to make it - if you do, it's worth cooking with a bit of lime juice to really get the flavor going.

Vietnamese chicken salad simply consists of shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, herbs and a dressing. You often top it with peanuts, too.

making Vietnamese chicken salad - mixture in mixing bowl

The dressing is not your average vinaigrette, though.

It really packs a flavor punch and makes everything delicious. It softens the vegetables slightly and gives them a powerful Asian flavor that's then balanced out by the fresh mint.

How to make Vietnamese chicken salad

As you might guess from this description, the salad is also really easy to prepare:

Shred the chicken and the vegetables.
Roughly chop the herbs.
Whisk up the dressing.
Put it all together and serve.

It's best eaten right after it is made so the vegetables retain a bit more crispness but it also works as a lunchbox meal as well (and if you're looking for lunchbox salads, see this collection of make ahead salads).

side view of bowl of Vietnamese chicken salad topped with peanuts

Like many salads, the exact quantity of everything can be varied to taste and what you have, both the amount of chicken and vegetables and the flavors of the dressing, but I would encourage you to keep everything in there as the flavors all go so well and really work together.

Even if you are not sure about fish sauce, the salad just wouldn't be the same without it so do give it a try.

This Vietnamese chicken salad is a quick, easy and delicious salad that's not only a handy way to use up leftovers, it's also a bit of a veggie-filled detox from the likely heavy holiday dinner you may have had before. It might be a salad, but it's one that's perfect for this time of year and has quickly become a favorite in our house.

bowl of Vietnamese chicken salad from above with lime and mint sprig to side

Try these other tasty ways with leftover turkey:

Leftover turkey pie with bechemel and raisins
Thai red curry (perfect for many leftover meats)
Pastilla (Moroccan savory pie)
Plus see more lunch recipes in the archives.

overhead view of a bowl of Vietnamese chicken salad with lime to side.

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