Mandarin Chicken Salad combines flavorful chicken with crunchy greens and chow mein noodles and sweet mandarin oranges. This take on popular orange chicken salad recipes makes a delicious and refreshing lunch or dinner.

Mandarin chicken salad

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Many moons ago when my husband and I first got married I went through a phase where we made about 3 different big salads on rotation all the time. It was partially because they were quick and partially because I spent my early 20s trying to get work as an actress and fitting into low rise jeans.

God I’m glad low rise jeans aren’t a thing anymore.

Now, this mandarin chicken salad is back in rotation on our dinner table but mainly because it has something for everyone. My husband and I eat it all put together as a big salad and our kids get the deconstructed version with grilled chicken, mandarin oranges and the crunchy chow mein noodles.

So everyone’s happy and that feels like winning.

Ingredients

Ingredients for mandarin chicken salad: Grilled chicken breasts, chopped romaine, rainbow slaw, mandarin oranges, slivered almonds, chow mein noodles, and dressing

To make this giant salad you need:

• Chicken– We like to use this orange ginger Asian chicken, but rotisserie chicken or any other lightly flavored grilled chicken works well.
• Coleslaw mix– For this salad to add extra color and crunch, use a bag of coleslaw mix. You can use standard coleslaw mix, but I highly recommend rainbow slaw or the broccoli slaw mix.
• Greens or lettuce– Go for a crisp crunchy lettuce for the base of this salad or use your favorite field greens.
• Oranges– You can use fresh mandarin oranges or clementines. Just peel them and separate the sections before you throw them into the salad. Or for ease, go for a large can of mandarin oranges. Either or.
• Chow Mein Noodles– For extra crunch and yum factor add these crispy noodles.
• Almonds– If you aren’t into almonds feel free to skip these, but they add more texture. And if you are vegetarian you could up the almonds and get rid of the chicken.
• Dressing– Feel free to use any dressing you like but my dressing of choice is this homemade creamy orange ginger dressing. 

How to Make

Slice the grilled chicken breasts for the mandarin chicken salad

Making this Chinese chicken salad is pretty easy. 

To make it start by slicing up 2 grilled chicken breasts that you’ve let cool. I highly suggest using this orange ginger Asian chicken. Don’t feel like grilling chicken? No sweat. Use rotisserie chicken instead. Just shred up the breasts.

Once you’ve got the chicken prepared, set it aside and move on to assembling the salad. To assemble the salad, rough chop 2 hearts of romaine or a head of iceberg or Boston lettuce. Put it in a big salad bowl. Top it with a 10 ounce bag of coleslaw mix and 4 mandarin oranges you’ve peeled and separated into segments or 1 large can of mandarin oranges that you’ve drained and rinsed. Add a quarter cup of slivered almonds and and a half cup of chow mein noodles. Then gently toss everything together to combine.

Mandarin chicken salad

Finish the salad by topping the salad with sliced chicken breasts and this creamy orange ginger dressing or your favorite store bought dressing. Enjoy!

Variations

Mandarin Chicken Salad

You could switch this salad recipe up a little and add some extra veggies to it or omit any ingredients you aren’t into.

Other veggies that would be particularly yummy in this salad include:

• Crunchy roasted chickpeas
• soybeans
• bell pepper

Can you make this salad ahead of time?

Mandarin chicken salad

You can prep the different elements ahead of time, but don’t assemble it until you are ready to eat it. If you assemble it too soon, it may get soggy.

I don’t like or don’t eat chicken. What can I substitute in its place?

Mandarin chicken salad

If you don’t like chicken and aren’t vegetarian, adding grilled shrimp or even salmon would be a delicious substitute.

To make this salad vegetarian friendly, I would omit the chicken and make the following substitutions:

• Add extra almonds for extra protein.
• Toss in roasted chickpeas for crunch, texture and protein. I talk about how to roast chickpeas in my sweet garlic chili chickpea and broccoli salad.
• Consider adding a cup of soybeans or even some firm grilled tofu to the salad.

Other Big Salads You Might Like

Thai Chicken Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing

This mandarin chicken salad is one of the most flavorful salads my family makes and happily feeds adults and kids. If you’re looking for another big salad try one of my other favorites:

• Sriracha Lime Chicken Salad
• Thai Chicken Salad
• Lemony Loaded Greek Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad

Did you make this recipe? I love hearing what you think! Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram or Facebook @seasonedsprinkles and let me know what you think.