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mandarin chicken pasta salad
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4.67 from 6 votes

Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

Mandarin chicken pasta salad with tiny and sweet mandarin oranges and just the right amount of bow tie pasta, is a great spring salad full of flavor and textures. Delicious sweet red onion, bright mandarin oranges and red peppers provide a great texture. Pair with freshly made chicken or canned chicken for a quick pot luck salad.
Prep Time10 mins
chill30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Pasta Recipes, Salad Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 11 cups
Calories: 213kcal
Author: Trisha Haas - Salty Side Dish

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cucumber sliced and quartered
  • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup matchstick carrots
  • 2 cups chopped or shredded chicken breast cooked (see note on chicken below)
  • 1 can 29 oz, mandarin oranges (reserve 1/4th cup juice)
  • 1 teaspoon dry ginger
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 package dry onion soup mix
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 8 ounces bowtie/farfalle pasta cooked, drained and rinsed in cold water
  • 1/3 rd cup sliced almonds

Instructions

  • MAKE YOUR PASTA If you haven't done this yet, go ahead and prep your pasta by boiling, draining and rinsing with cold water to cool down.
  • MAKE YOUR DRESSING: Drain mandarin oranges to measure 1/4 cup juice. Pour into a small mixing bowl. Discard remaining juice from can of oranges. Set oranges aside.
  • In the smaller bowl with the orange juice, add ginger, vinegar, oil, onion soup mix, minced garlic and sugar. Mix well and let set for 30 minutes.
  • ASSEMBLE YOUR SALAD Add the rest of your salad ingredients - cucumber, bell pepper, onion, carrots, chicken and drained oranges to a mixing bowl. Mix well.
  • Stir in precooked and cooled bow tie pasta and stir well.
  • ALMONDS: If you plan on serving your pasta immediately, you can add onions while mixing. If you are going to serve next day, its best to add almonds closer to serving time so they stay crunchy.
  • Pour orange dressing over pasta and mix well to evenly coat.
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings | Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 74mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g