Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

This easy Mandarin chicken pasta salad recipe showcases bright and bold Asian flavors with mandarin oranges, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 55 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 rice vinegar, orange juice, vegetable oil, soup mix, sugar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic together until well blended. Cover and refrigerate.

Step 2

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in bowtie pasta and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Transfer to large bowl.

Step 3

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