This mandarin orange chicken salad with bowtie pasta is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for an easy lunch or light dinner. Made with juicy chicken, crisp veggies, and sweet mandarin oranges, it’s tossed in a simple homemade dressing that brings everything together. If you love asian salads, this is a great option that doubles as a complete meal or crowd-pleasing side dish.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh, bright flavors with sweet mandarin oranges and savory dressing
- Made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store
- A great chicken salad that works as a side dish or complete meal
- Perfect way to use leftover chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken
- Loaded with crunchy vegetables and satisfying texture
- Easy to customize with your favorite add-ins
- A lighter twist on classic Asian chicken salad
Looking for other Asian-inspired salad recipes? Try our edamame cucumber salad, wonton salad with sesame dressing, or cashew crunch salad with chicken and homemade dressing.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a handful of ingredients for this mandarin orange chicken salad recipe, but a few swaps can make it your own.
- Chicken - Use cooked, chopped chicken breast, leftover rotisserie chicken, or any leftover chicken you have on hand for a quick shortcut.
- Mandarin oranges - Canned works perfectly, but fresh mandarin oranges can be used for a brighter flavor.
- Rice vinegar - Adds a light tang to the salad dressing. You can substitute rice wine vinegar if that’s what you have.
- Sesame oil - A small amount of sesame oil adds rich, nutty flavor—don’t skip it.
- Nuts - Use sliced almonds or slivered almonds for crunch, or swap for cashews.
- Greens - Spinach works well, but you can also use romaine lettuce, salad greens, or even napa cabbage for a more traditional feel.
- Vegetables - Red bell peppers and green onions add color and a mild onion flavor, but you can also add shredded red cabbage or snow peas.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Make the dressing smooth - Blend the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor for a well-emulsified, flavorful salad dressing.
- Cook noodles just right - Boil the bowtie noodles until al dente, then rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and keep them from sticking.
- Use what you have - This is one of those asian salads that works with whatever veggies you have in your fridge.
- Add extra crunch - Top with sesame seeds, wonton strips, or even crispy noodles/crunchy noodles for texture.
- Boost the flavor - Add a little fresh ginger or an additional splash of soy sauce for extra depth.
- Make it heartier - Increase the chicken or noodles to turn this into more of a complete meal.
How to Make Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad With Bowtie Noodles
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Cook the bowtie noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water, then set aside to cool.
In a blender or food processor, combine the dressing ingredients (avocado oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper). Blend until smooth and well combined.
Step 2: Chop the bell pepper, slice the green onions, and prepare the chicken if not already cooked.
In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cooked noodles, chicken, mandarin oranges, bell pepper, green onions, and almonds.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve immediately or chill before serving.
Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. For best texture, store the dressing separately if making ahead and toss just before serving. The greens may soften slightly as the salad sits. This salad is best served cold and does not require reheating.
This can be a gluten free mandarin orange chicken salad with the use of gluten free noodles and tamari in place of soy sauce. It is dairy free. For a vegan/vegetarian option, simply omit the chicken and use maple syrup in the dressing in place of honey.
Other Asian-Inspired Recipes
If you make this mandarin orange chicken salad recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad With Bowtie Pasta
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 8 ounces bowtie noodles
- 6 cups spinach
- 3 cups shredded or chopped chicken
- 1, 10.5 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 bell pepper, small dice
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds or cashews
For the dressing:
- ⅓ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bowtie noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water, then set aside to cool.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the dressing ingredients (avocado oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper). Blend until smooth and well combined.
- Chop the bell pepper, slice the green onions, and prepare the chicken if not already cooked.
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cooked noodles, chicken, mandarin oranges, bell pepper, green onions, and almonds.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve immediately or chill before serving.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Use rotisserie chicken - Grab a store-bought rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut.
- Prep ingredients ahead - Chop veggies and cook noodles ahead of time for quick assembly later.
- Make the dressing in advance - Store your homemade dressings in the fridge until ready to use.
- Assemble just before serving - For the freshest texture, toss everything together right before serving.
- Great for meal prep - Keep components separate and assemble throughout the week for a quick lunch.
- This can be a gluten free mandarin orange chicken salad with the use of gluten free noodles and tamari in place of soy sauce. It is dairy free. For a vegan/vegetarian option, simply omit the chicken and use maple syrup in the dressing in place of honey.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
Leah Rasmussen
Delicious! A salad with meat and pasta is a meal, and the whole family enjoyed this one. I'll be making again for sure.
Olivia & Annie
So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you all Leah! Thanks so much for sharing and leaving a review!