Easy Mandarin Chicken Salad Recipe

Everyone needs an Easy Mandarin Chicken Salad Recipe in their kitchen!

Fresh lettuce is accented with some colorful sliced strawberries, sweet mandarin oranges, and lots of crunchy toppings all tossed with a toasted sesame dressing. It’s a crowd-pleasing favorite! Chicken salad is always delicious, but this simple recipe takes it to a new level of flavor.

Easy Mandarin Chicken Salad Recipe

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Fresh And Delicious Chicken Salad!

Delightfully festive, Mandarin chicken salad is uber-healthy and makes an impressive addition to any picnic or buffet table.
Salad with chicken or any other meat can also be an entrée (AKA ‘protein salad’). Or make it into a sandwich for a low-calorie, energizing lunch.
This quick and easy recipe can be made in minutes with just 3 steps. Easy peasy!

Chicken Salad Ingredients

SALAD MIX: While iceberg lettuce has lots of crunch, is doesn’t have the nutrition, color, and variety that lettuce blends have. So look for chopped kale, baby spinach, romaine, or peppery-flavored arugula for a salad packed with nutritional punch.

CHICKEN: What a perfect way to use up leftover chicken! Save kitchen time and use a pre-made rotisserie chicken, or batch cook chicken breasts to keep on hand all week long.

FRUIT: Mandarin oranges and strawberries are colorful and beautiful in this salad. Fresh blueberries or raspberries, sliced peaches, or chopped red and green apples would all be vibrant and amazing as well!

DRESSING: Mandarin chicken salad needs a dressing that complements the unique flavors! A pre-made toasted sesame dressing is a real time-saver, but a DIY lemon vinaigrette would also be delicious.

TOPPINGS: A little cheese and some nuts give this salad some crunch! Bleu cheese crumbles, Mexican Cotija, and goat cheese have that dry, crumbly texture and a tangy flavor! Toasted walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, water chestnuts, or sunflower seeds are also good substitutions for almonds!

PRO TIP: For best results, saute sliced almonds in a dry pan until barely fragrant. This will intensify their flavor and make them extra crunchy!

How Do You Make Chicken Salad?

It’s uber easy to make this delicious salad with chicken:

Mix the first 5 ingredients together in a serving bowl, as directed in the recipe below.
Toss with dressing and mix.
Top with feta and sliced almonds.

Serving Suggestions

Since this salad ‘has it all’, serve it simply with a side of breadsticks, or as a side dish along with baked lemon chicken thighs, lime grilled chicken kabobs, or some hearty Crock Pot ribs.

How Long Does Chicken Salad Last?

Keep Mandarin chicken salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir before serving. PRO TIP: Add fresh lettuce greens and crumbled feta to make the salad brand new!

Other Entree Type Salads!

Mandarin Chicken Salad in a bowl with dressing being poured on

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Easy Mandarin Chicken Salad Recipe

Discover how delicious healthy eating can be with this easy chicken salad recipe!

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Prep Time 12 mins

Total Time 12 mins

Servings servings

Author The Shortcut Kitchen

Ingredients

6-8 cups chopped lettuce
¾ cup cooked chicken shredded
11 ounce can mandarin oranges
⅔ cup strawberries sliced
2 green onions sliced
½-⅔ cup toasted sesame dressing
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds
¼ cup feta cheese crumbled

Instructions

Combine lettuce, chicken, oranges, strawberries and green onions in a large bowl.
Drizzle dressing over top and gently toss to combine.
Top with feta and sliced almonds.

Notes

Allow guests to add their own dressing to the salad since some people prefer more dressing and some prefer less.
Keeping the dressing separate will help the salad stay fresh for longer.
Refrigerate mandarin chicken salad covered for up to 4 days.
Add a bit of fresh lettuce greens and some crumbled feta to freshen the salad up again.