Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

An easy chicken pasta salad showcases bright and bold Asian flavors with mandarin oranges, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Bake your own chicken for added flavor or cut the prep time with pre-cooked or canned.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 8 mins
• Total Time: 53 mins
• Calories: 425 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments, drained
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped, peeled fresh ginger
• 1 (8 ounce) package bow tie (farfalle) pasta
• 2 diced Roma tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) bag fresh spinach
• 0.25 cup vegetable oil
• 0.25 cup orange juice
• 0.33333334326744 cup rice vinegar
• 0.5 cup diced red bell pepper
• 0.5 cup coarsely chopped red onion
• 0.5 cucumber - scored, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced
• 0.5 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Whisk together the ginger root, rice vinegar, orange juice, vegetable oil, sesame oil, soup mix, sugar, and garlic until well blended. Cover dressing and refrigerate until needed.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add bowtie pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Place pasta in a large bowl.

Step 3

Toss the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, carrot, spinach, mandarin oranges, chicken, and almonds with the pasta. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture, and toss again to coat evenly. Serve immediately.