Chinese Shredded Chicken Cucumber Salad

This Chinese Shredded Chicken Cucumber Salad (涼拌黃瓜雞絲) is light, garlicky, and refreshing - perfect for hot summer days! Tender shredded chicken and crisp cucumbers are tossed in a simple sesame, garlic, and rice vinegar dressing. It's an easy Chinese cold dish and one of my favorite ways to use leftover chicken.

Jump to:

• What Is Chinese Shredded Chicken Cucumber Salad?
• How to Cook and Shred Chicken
• How Much Shredded Chicken You'll Need
• How to Make Chinese Chicken & Cucumber Salad (Step by Step)
• Storage
• FAQ
• More Delicious Chinese Cucumber Recipes!
• Chinese Shredded Chicken & Cucumber Salad Recipe
• Pin for later!

What Is Chinese Shredded Chicken Cucumber Salad?

In Chinese, this dish is called 涼拌黃瓜雞絲 (liáng bàn huáng guā jī sī), which literally translates to cold mixed cucumber and shredded chicken.

It's a simple Chinese cold dish made with shredded cooked chicken and crisp cucumber tossed in a savory sesame-garlic dressing. It can be served as a cold appetizer, side dish, or part of a family-style meal.

It's also a great way to use leftover cooked chicken, which makes this especially quick and easy to put together.

How to Cook and Shred Chicken

We usually make this dish when we already have leftover cooked chicken, but you can easily cook chicken specifically for this recipe too.

You can use either chicken breast or chicken thighs. I prefer chicken breast because it shreds easily and works well with the light cucumber dressing.

Cooking the chicken

You can pan-fry, poach, slow cook, or pressure cook the chicken. For a quick option, I usually pan-fry it.

Heat a little cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and lightly season with salt. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Shredding the chicken

Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate or cutting board and let it cool slightly.

Using two forks, pull the chicken apart in opposite directions until it is shredded into thin pieces.

How Much Shredded Chicken You'll Need

You'll need about 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken for this recipe.

The exact amount of chicken you need will depend on the size of the pieces you're cooking. A large chicken breast may be enough, while smaller chicken breasts may require two.

This recipe is also very flexible, so it's fine if you have a little more or less chicken.

How to Make Chinese Chicken & Cucumber Salad (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 2 medium cucumbers
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt, for salting cucumbers
• Additional salt, to taste
• 2 scallions, chopped, optional

If you haven't already, shred your cooked chicken.

Next, prepare the cucumbers. You can julienne them into long, thin strips or cut them into small batons. Either works well for this salad.

Place the cucumber in a mixing bowl and toss with 1 teaspoon salt. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. The salt will draw out excess moisture from the cucumber.

Drain and discard the liquid.

Add the shredded chicken, cucumber, garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, and scallions to a large bowl. Toss everything together until evenly combined.

Taste and add additional salt if needed.

Serve immediately, or refrigerate for about 10-15 minutes if you prefer the salad extra cold.

Storage

Store leftover Chinese Shredded Chicken Cucumber Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

The cucumbers will continue to release liquid as the salad sits, so you may want to drain off any excess liquid before serving leftovers.

This dish is meant to be served cold or at room temperature, so there is no need to reheat it.

Meal Prep Tip: For the crispest cucumbers, store the cooked shredded chicken, cucumber, and dressing separately and toss them together shortly before serving.

FAQ

Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Yes! Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for this recipe. Simply shred the breast or thigh meat and use about 2 cups.

What kind of cucumbers should I use?

Persian or English cucumbers work especially well because they have tender skin, smaller seeds, and tend to be less watery. Regular cucumbers work too. If they have large seeds, you can scoop the seeds out before slicing.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes. Try replacing the chicken with shredded or thinly sliced firm tofu, tofu skin, or cooked king oyster mushrooms.

What if I don't have rice vinegar?

You can substitute another mild vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar. Since different vinegars vary in acidity, start with a little less and adjust to taste.

Can I add other vegetables?

Absolutely. Shredded carrots, thinly sliced bell peppers, or bean sprouts can add extra crunch and color.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! Simply double all of the ingredients. It makes a refreshing cold dish for potlucks, cookouts, or family-style meals.

More Delicious Chinese Cucumber Recipes!

Have you ever stir fried with cucumbers before? It's actually so good! You can try it with my beef cucumber stir fry or shrimp cucumber stir fry! Tender beef or juicy shrimp with crisp cucumbers - perfectly savory and refreshing!

If you're looking for a tasty easy veggie side dish, try my Chinese Cucumber Salad (涼拌黃瓜)! A cool and garlicky cucumber salad that's simple, refreshing, and packed with flavor.

Switch your pickles up with this Chinese Cucumber Pickles (醃黃瓜) - Crunchy pickled cucumbers with Sichuan peppercorns, rice vinegar, and a hint of spice-a great make-ahead side.

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