Costco Chinese Chicken Salad is an easy-to-prepare dish extremely popular in Costco stores. It is made with chicken, carrots, celery, green and red peppers, and green onions in a light vinegar-based dressing.
The salad can be kept in the fridge for about a week, and it makes for an excellent meal for those on the go, whether you’re running to pick up some items from Costco or want to enjoy a healthy salad at home. This recipe offers great taste at an affordable price point.
How To Make Costco Chinese Chicken Salad?
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (~4 breasts)
- 3/4 cup wine vinegar
- 3 red or yellow bell peppers, diced
- 1 cup green onions, chopped
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 1 tsp cumin (optional)
- 1/2 tsp curry powder (optional)
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Making Method
Step 1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts.
Step 2. Place the chicken breasts on a non-stick baking sheet. Combine the vinegar and water in a small bowl until you get a smooth mix. (You can substitute water with apple cider vinegar)
Step 3. Score each side of the chicken lightly with a knife to be easier to press the chicken against each other to coat evenly.
Step 4. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour over the vinegar-water mix. Cover with foil, and bake for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Step 5. Remove from the oven, peel off the skin, and shred into small pieces.
Step 6. Cut the celery stalks into small pieces, chop green onions into 1-inch sections and finely dice red or yellow bell peppers.
Step 7. Prepare your favorite salad dressing. I like to prepare my dressing by combining brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and minced garlic.
Step 8. Prepare the salad by placing the chicken, celery, red and yellow bell peppers, green onions, and a bit of the dressing on top of each other in a serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 9. Before serving, sprinkle cumin and curry powder (optional) on top and toss again.
Nutrition Facts of Costco Chinese Chicken Salad
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 413 |
| Total Fat | 11.2g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.1g |
| Cholesterol | 78mgs |
| Sodium | 674mgs |
| Potassium | 2770mgs |
| Carbohydrate | 21.9g |
| Protein | 46.7g |
7 Incredible Healthy Nutrition of Costco Chinese Chicken Salad
1. High in Vitamin C
The Costco Chinese Chicken Salad is a very tasty and healthy dish loaded with Vitamin C. One serving of the Costco Chinese Chicken Salad (approx. 3 oz) carries almost half the daily recommended amount of vitamin C (94 percent). This important antioxidant boosts your immunity and helps fight against infections.
It also helps strengthen your bones, especially when you have osteoporosis or broken bone.
2. Lots of Dietary Fiber
Along with vitamin C, the Chinese Chicken Salad is a very good source of dietary fiber. Good dietary fiber lowers the bad cholesterol levels in your blood and improves several cardiovascular diseases risks.
The high amount of dietary fiber present in this salad also helps boost your digestive system and aids in reducing constipation.
3. Very low in Sodium
The nutrition facts of the Costco Chinese Chicken Salad include 458 mg sodium, which is very low compared to other similar dishes.
Excess sodium consumption is associated with several health risks, including high blood pressure, which can cause heart diseases or stroke.
4. Rich in Protein
The Costco Chinese Chicken Salad includes 46.5 grams of protein per serving, making it an excellent source of protein for vegetarians. Protein helps strengthen your bones, muscles, and connective tissues, thus supporting your overall health.
Low protein levels also cause many health problems, including muscle loss, osteoporosis, and poor immunity.
5. High in Iron and B Vitamins
The Costco Chinese Chicken Salad contains a significant amount of iron and B vitamins, essential micronutrients that help improve your nervous system’s functioning maintain healthy skin, vision, and red blood cells in the body.6. Low in Fat and Sodium
The Costco Chinese Chicken Salad is a very low-sodium dish which means you can enjoy it without worrying about adding extra Sodium to your diet. The salad also contains only 1.1 grams of fat per 3 ounces serving, which is low compared to similar salad dishes.
7. Good Source of Potassium
The Costco Chinese Chicken Salad contains 555 mg potassium, which is significant for only two servings of the salad as a meal or one serving as a side dish.
Potassium helps lower blood pressure and maintain healthy heart function.8. Contains all Essential Vitamins and Minerals.
Is Chinese Chicken Salad From China?
This is a common question, especially for those curious about the origin of the Costco Chinese Chicken Salad.
The fact is that the Costco Chinese Chicken Salad was not introduced to Costco stores by China, but rather Canada, where it had been created and roasted in the past.
Have Any Side Effects To Eat Costco Chinese Chicken Salad?
You will find some Costco Chinese Chicken Salad reviews on the Internet about the side effects of eating this dish. However, there is no scientific data available to prove those claims.
Those effects may be because of the dressing used for making this salad; if you use a store-bought dressing, which is often made with sugar or lots of unhealthy oils, you might experience negative side effects like diarrhea or an upset stomach.
How To Store Costco Chinese Chicken Salad?
If you plan to store the Costco Chinese Chicken Salad for a long time, you need to keep it at room temperature, especially in hot weather. You should avoid bringing the salad to a place where temperatures can get over degrees Celsius.
Please take out the salad and cover it with a plastic or glass container to store it at room temperature. You can also put it in a sealed plastic bag and put it in your refrigerator.
Can Kids Eat Costco Chinese Chicken Salad?
This is a very good and healthy salad for your kids. You can include it in their diet without worrying about its effects on their growth and development.
The only thing you have to take care of is healthy store-bought dressing, which can be made by mixing one tablespoon of brown sugar with four tablespoons of vinegar and three teaspoons of soy sauce.
Conclusion
The Costco Chinese Chicken Salad is a must-try dish for anyone who loves salads and soups. It’s easy to make, contains all essential nutrients, and is an excellent choice for vegetarians.
All in all, the Costco Chinese Chicken Salad constitutes an ideal meal for your health when served with a warm bowl of soup. This salad also makes a great side dish to accompany other meals.
