Inspired by The Cheesecake Factory, this Crunchy Mandarin Chicken Salad is bright and satisfying. It features shredded rotisserie chicken and juicy mandarin oranges. You’ll also get crisp lettuce and crunchy cabbage. Toasted ramen noodles and almonds finish it with a big, happy crunch. It's drizzled with a perfectly balanced tangy-sweet dressing just before serving.
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🗝️ Recipe's key points
- This ramen chicken salad is light, vibrant, and delightfully crunchy in every single bite.
- Fancy enough for company, easy enough for a casual family lunch.
- This recipe is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. It’s also great for picnics and potlucks.
Crunchy, zesty, and dangerously addictive; this mandarin salad delivers big flavor with hardly any fuss.
🛒 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
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Ramen noodle salad
- Romaine lettuce – Crunchy romaine is perfect for this mandarin orange chicken salad. Iceberg works great, too.
- Red cabbage – Adds additional crunchy texture and a pop of bright color.
- Chicken – Use leftover shredded rotisserie chicken for convenience and delicious flavor.
- Mandarin oranges – Canned mandarin oranges offer a syrupy sweetness that's hard to beat. Of course, feel free to use fresh mandarin oranges (aka clementines) instead.
- Ramen noodles – These broken up dried noodles offer the same texture that you'd get from croutons in a salad. Don't use the fresh noodles that come refrigerated.
- Carrot – Freshly shredded or very thinly sliced. Carrot is naturally sweet which pairs well with the sweet mandarins. They also add to the pretty orange color of the salad.
- Green onions – Thinly sliced for subtle onion flavor.
- Almonds – Sliced almonds add extra crunch and nutty flavor. Toasted almonds would add extra flavor, if you like.
Asian salad dressing
- Rice wine vinegar – Adds tangy acidity to brighten the dressing. Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar will also work.
- Honey – Provides natural sweetness to balance the savory and sour notes. Adjust as needed.
- Sesame oil – Imparts a rich, nutty aroma and depth of flavor.
- Hoisin sauce – Contributes sweet, salty, and slightly spicy umami complexity.
- Soy sauce – Delivers salty, savory depth and a touch of fermented richness. I prefer a low-sodium soy sauce.
- Ginger – Adds warm, zesty pungency with a hint of citrusy freshness. Perfect for any Asian dish!
- Garlic – For depth of savory flavor.
- Vegetable oil – Creates a smooth, emulsified base and helps carry the other flavors. I don't suggest olive oil as the flavor is a bit overpowering and could clash with the other flavors of this dressing.
🗒 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Prepare the salad ingredients.
- Add the chicken, lettuce, and cabbage to a large salad bowl.
- Add the rest of the fresh salad ingredients to the bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce.
- Add in the ginger and garlic.
- Slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil, whisking constantly until emulsified.
- Toss the salad to ensure an equal distribution of all the ingredients throughout.
- Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
🥫 Storage
Once you toss it and add the dressing, eat this Asian chicken salad right away. The crisp veggies will soften fast.
The fresh salad and dressing can be stored separately in the fridge when making this the night before.
📚 Variations
- Gluten-free: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. Use gluten-free ramen, and check that your hoisin sauce is certified gluten-free (many brands contain wheat).
- Vegetarian: Skip the shredded chicken. Add more veggies for volume. Try snap peas, edamame, cucumber, bell pepper, or avocado. Grilled tofu or roasted chickpeas offer a protein-packed vegetarian alternative.
- Noodles: Swap the ramen noodles with wonton strips and crispy rice noodles. These alternatives are a popular choice by many restaurants serving this crunchy mandarin orange chicken salad.
- Other mix-ins: Consider including pepitas (pumpkin seeds) for extra crunch, dried cranberries, or golden raisins for extra sweetness.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Make sure to drain canned or jarred mandarin oranges before assembling the salad to avoid excess liquid.
- I only toss the salad just before serving to keep the crunchy texture of the dried ramen noodles. If you're making this Chinese chicken salad ahead, only add the ramen just before serving when you drizzle the dressing.
- Salad dressing, when stored in an airtight container or jar, will last for up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Give it a good stir or shake before using again.
- Make the dressing at least 15–20 minutes ahead so the garlic and ginger flavors meld and mellow, then whisk again before drizzling.
- Pop your large serving bowl in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes before tossing. A cold bowl keeps the greens crisp and refreshing, especially in summer.
🤔 FAQs
Absolutely! Prepare the salad ingredients and dressing separately, then toss everything together just before serving. This keeps the ramen noodles deliciously crunchy.
Yes! Rotisserie chicken is one of my favorite shortcuts. It adds great flavor and makes this salad come together in just minutes.
Of course! Romaine lettuce, Napa cabbage, or a combination of both works beautifully while still providing plenty of crunch.
Yes. Fresh clementines or mandarin oranges add wonderful freshness, although canned mandarins provide a sweeter, more traditional flavor.
Once dressed, the salad is best enjoyed the same day. If stored separately, the ingredients will stay fresh for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
Definitely! Snap peas, edamame, cucumbers, bell peppers, or avocado all make delicious additions.
📗 Related Recipes
Leftover oranges? Don't let them go to waste! Try these top recipes that celebrate their sweet, vibrant flavor in every bite:
- Orange Quinoa Salad - A bright quinoa salad with orange, fennel, and scallion that makes a perfect picnic side for pork, chicken, or fish.
- Strawberry Poppyseed Salad - This Panera copycat recipe features grilled chicken, strawberries, mandarin oranges, and butter lettuce tossed in citrus poppyseed dressing and topped with toasted pecans for a light, satisfying summer meal.
- Mandarin Orange Fluff Salad - A tangy, creamy, and incredibly easy dish that combines orange segments, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped topping into a uniquely delicious summer dessert.
- Fennel Orange Salad — A bright, citrusy salad with shaved fennel and sweet orange segments. Add slivered red onion. Serve it over torn romaine leaves. Orange-Lemon vinaigrette with tarragon dresses the springtime salad.
🍽 What to serve with crunchy mandarin chicken salad
This crunchy chicken salad is a flavorful and wholesome meal as is, but you can enjoy it alongside a slice of Dutch Oven Bread or even load it into sandwich buns or pita bread for a portable snack or lunch option.
Steamed rice, crunchy spring rolls, or potstickers would also make a lovely addition to this summer chicken salad.
Stick to the sweet orange notes of this Asian slaw salad by completing the meal with a slice of Almond Orange Cake or these Orange Creamsicle Bars.
🔪 All Our Way recommends the following
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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Large salad bowl – The best size for comfortably holding and tossing all the salad ingredients together without spilling.
- Small mixing bowl – To assemble the salad dressing.
- Sharp knife – For preparing the fresh salad ingredients, like the lettuce, cabbage, and green onions.
- Cutting board – A sturdy level surface for slicing and grating.
- Vegetable grater – For shredding the carrot.
- Dry measuring cups and spoons – Used to accurately portion out ingredients like honey, vinegar, and oil.
- Whisk – Blends the dressing ingredients together until they are fully combined and emulsified.
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
I don't know about you, but when estate(summer) rolls around, I start craving meals that are light, colorful, and full of crunch. Standing over a hot stove loses its charm when the temperatures climb!
This Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad feels fancy enough for guests, yet easy enough for a Tuesday lunch. Sweet mandarini(mandarins) add a juicy pop. Crunchy cabbage brings texture. Crisp lettuce keeps it fresh. Toasted almonds add a warm, nutty crunch. Irresistible ramen noodles make it extra crispy. Together, they balance flavor and crunch perfectly.
I especially love making this after picking up a rotisserie chicken from the supermercato (grocery store). In less than thirty minutes, dinner is on the table, and everyone thinks I've been cooking all afternoon.
If you’re going to a picnic, a family reunion, or a neighborhood barbecue, preparati(be ready). Someone will ask for the recipe before the meal is over. It disappears fast around our table!
As we say in Italian, "Mangia bene, ridi spesso e ama molto" — Eat well, laugh often, and love deeply. That's exactly what summer meals should be all about.
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📖 Recipe
Crunchy Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad With Ramen Noodles
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 3 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
- 2 cups red cabbage shredded
- 2 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- ½ cup mandarin oranges canned, drained
- 1 packet ramen noodles crushed (flavor packet discarded)
- ½ cup shredded carrot
- ⅓ cup green onions sliced
- ¼ cup almonds sliced
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon honey may use hot honey - really yummy!
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
For the salad:
- In a large bowl, toss lettuce and red cabbage with chicken. Add mandarin oranges, crushed ramen noodles, carrots, green onions, and sliced almonds.
For the dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, honey, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic.
- Slowly drizzle in vegetable oil, whisking constantly well mixed.
- Before serving, drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
To make ahead:
- Prep all your ingredients ahead of time, but don’t combine everything until you’re ready to serve. To avoid soggy lettuce, wait until the last minute to add your dressing
Notes
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Make sure to drain canned or jarred mandarin oranges before assembling the salad to avoid excess liquid.
- I only toss the salad just before serving to keep the crunchy texture of the dried ramen noodles. If you're making this Chinese chicken salad ahead, only add the ramen just before serving when you drizzle the dressing.
- Salad dressing, when stored in an airtight container or jar, will last for up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Give it a good stir or shake before using again.
- Make the dressing at least 15–20 minutes ahead so the garlic and ginger flavors meld and mellow, then whisk again before drizzling.
- Pop your large serving bowl in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes before tossing. A cold bowl keeps the greens crisp and refreshing, especially in summer.
📚 Variations
- Gluten-free: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. Use gluten-free ramen, and check that your hoisin sauce is certified gluten-free (many brands contain wheat).
- Vegetarian: Skip the shredded chicken. Add more veggies for volume. Try snap peas, edamame, cucumber, bell pepper, or avocado. Grilled tofu or roasted chickpeas offer a protein-packed vegetarian alternative.
- Noodles: Swap the ramen noodles for wonton strips and crispy rice noodles. These alternatives are a popular choice by many restaurants serving this crunchy mandarin orange chicken salad.
- Other mix-ins: Consider including pepitas (pumpkin seeds) for extra crunch, dried cranberries, or golden raisins for extra sweetness.
Nutrition
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