This easy napa cabbage salad with ramen noodles combines tender shredded cabbage and green onions with a sweet and tangy Asian sesame dressing. The best part is the crunchy topping of ramen noodles and slivered almonds toasted in butter until golden brown.

It's an easy 20-minute recipe perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and weeknight dinners!

Napa Cabbage Salad tossed with Asian sesame salad dressing and topped with ramen noodles and slivered almonds that have been crisped in butter.

Notes from my kitchen

Have you ever been to a potluck dinner where salad is the talk of the food table? Napa salad recipe is one of those dishes.

Trust me. I've brought it to countless backyard barbecues. The unique combination of tender, crinkly cabbage, sweet Asian sesame vinaigrette, and an irresistible crunchy topping never fails to impress.

But my love of this salad does not stop there. It's fabulous as a light side salad, but can easily be turned into a satisfying main dish.

Just add shrimp or chicken, and voilà, you have a hearty dinner salad that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Marjory

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Notes from my kitchen
Ingredients
How to make napa cabbage salad with ramen noodles
What to serve with napa cabbage salad
Storage and Make Ahead Tips
More Asian-inspired recipes
📋 Recipe

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make napa cabbage salad and Asian sesame salad dressing:

Of special note:

Napa, nappa, Chinese, or celery cabbage. It goes by all these names. It has pale green crinkly leaves and a milder, more tender texture than regular green cabbage.
- Regular green cabbage or bagged coleslaw mix will work, although the texture will be firmer and more traditional slaw-like.
Instant ramen noodles - Vegetable, shrimp, and chicken-flavored varieties are perfect. Break the noodles into small pieces before toasting them.
- Note: Ramen noodles are cooked and freeze-dried, which is why you can crisp them on the stovetop with butter or oil. They don't need to be cooked again before using them in this recipe. Bottom line: Other types of pasta noodles will not work.
Seasoning packet (optional) - Sprinkle a little over the ramen and almonds as they toast, or leave it out entirely. It generally has a high sodium content. The toasted topping and sesame dressing provide plenty of flavor on their own. Season the topping with salt and pepper, if desired.
Butter is used to brown the noodles and almonds. You can replace some of the butter with olive oil. I recommend using at least half butter to retain the signature flavor.
Canola oil, avocado oil, or another neutral-flavored oil works best in this salad dressing.
Low-sodium soy sauce - Use coconut aminos for a sweeter dressing.
Rice vinegar - Use seasoned for a sweeter dressing and unseasoned if you're watching your carbs.
Sugar - We use a sugar compromise: half granulated sugar and half powdered Stevia sweetener.
Slivered almonds or sliced almonds work well.

Additional topping suggestions: Sesame seeds and chopped cilantro.

The recipe card below includes ingredient amounts, step-by-step instructions, and nutritional information.

How to make napa cabbage salad with ramen noodles

Use these pictures to guide you in making the recipe:

Thinly sliced Napa cabbage and sliced green onions in a bowl.

Combine thinly sliced Napa cabbage and green onions in a large salad bowl.

Hand holding sesame salad dressing in a small mason jar with a lid.

Shake dressing ingredients together, then toss with the cabbage mixture to coat.

Broken ramen noodles and slivered almonds in a large skillet with a spatula. A seasoning packet is being sprinkled over the top.

Toast broken ramen noodles and almonds in butter until lightly golden brown.

Chinese Napa Cabbage Salad in a large bowl.

Top the salad with the warm, crispy ramen noodles and almonds, reserving some to serve on the side.

Small bowl of napa cabbage ramen salad with a small glass jar with crispy ramen and nut topping next to it and a large bowl with more salad behind it.

What to serve with napa cabbage salad

As a side salad, it pairs nicely with Asian-inspired meals, such as sesame beef stir-fry or teriyaki-glazed salmon.

For a larger spread, pair it with cucumber salad with rice vinegar for another fresh, easy side.

To turn it into a main dish, top the salad with rotisserie chicken, cooked shrimp, or another favorite protein. The sweet sesame dressing and crispy ramen topping add plenty of flavor, so simply seasoned proteins work especially well.

Storage and Make Ahead Tips

If you want to prepare napa cabbage salad ahead of time, prep the components and store them separately until ready to serve.

Prepare the salad dressing up to 5 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Shake well to emulsify the dressing before using.
Prepare the topping, cool completely, and store it in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. You can heat the topping on the stovetop with a little oil or butter, if desired, to crisp it up.
Prep the cabbage as close to serving time as possible. Wash, dry, and slice it no more than 1-2 days in advance for the best results. Store it in a sealed container or plastic bag in a crisper drawer.

Napa cabbage salad is best enjoyed fresh, while the cabbage and ramen topping are crisp. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days, but keep in mind that the cabbage will soften and the ramen will lose its crunch.

More Asian-inspired recipes

If you enjoy the sweet, savory, and sesame flavors in this Napa cabbage salad, try one of these recipes next.

Shrimp Egg Roll in a Bowl – All the flavors of an egg roll with shrimp and plenty of cabbage, no wrapper needed.
Shrimp Sushi Bowl – An easy deconstructed sushi bowl with shrimp, crisp vegetables, and creamy sriracha sauce.

Would you like more easy, healthy, carb-conscious recipes?

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