This mandarin orange salad is fresh, sweet and loaded with flavor. It is topped with an amazing homemade orange salad dressing that you can’t live without!
Table of Contents
Favorite Spring Salad
Around this time of year, I crave ALL the salads and this mandarin salad is absolutely one of my top recipes. The fresh ingredients mixed with the sweet orange vinaigrette is such a great combination. We love to top it with grilled chicken to make it a full meal.
This mandarin salad always makes an appearance for the holidays! It comes from my Aunt’s ‘Favorites’ cookbook and everyone loves it! In her original recipe, she also adds in green onions, mushrooms, avocado and tomatoes, however my family prefers it with just mandarins, cranberries and nuts. Another holiday favorite passed down over the years is this ambrosia salad!
This salad is so versatile…you can really add in anything and it would still be just as delicious! Just make sure to keep in the mandarin oranges because that’s what makes the whole salad recipe! It is SO good!
Recipe Ingredients
The star of the show is this delicious orange salad dressing. It calls for only a few simple ingredients and is so easy to make. It’s similar to a poppy seed dressing, but with an orange twist. The orange juice and zest add a fresh flavor that is simply irresistible.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
Orange Salad Dressing
- Frozen orange juice concentrate: Do not add any water to this. Just use it as-is.
- Orange zest: This adds even more citrus and a bit of lovely freshness. Naval oranges work well.
- Olive oil: The good fat that brings it all together and helps coat the salad in dressing.
- Vinegar: I used an apple cider vinegar, but distilled or white wine vinegar would work as well.
- Sugar: Not a lot, but just a little to help balance the sweetness.
- Lemon juice: This add the tartness the dressing needs.
- Salt: Just a little to help enhance all of the other flavors.
Salad
- Spring mix: You can also opt for spinach, if you prefer.
- Mandarin oranges: I love to use the canned because they are so juicy and add a really nice citrus.
- Dried cranberries: This adds a lovely tartness and sweetness to the salad.
- Sliced almonds: Swap out almonds for walnuts or pecans. You can even use candied pecans if preferred.
How to Make Mandarin Orange Salad
It takes such a little amount of time and effort to create something that may become your new holiday tradition.
- Toss the salad. Add the spring mix, mandarin oranges, cranberries, and almonds to a large bowl and toss.
- Make the Orange Salad Dressing. Add all ingredients in a mason jar and shake until combined.
- Dress the salad. Drizzle the dressing over the spring mix mixture and toss until well coated. Serve.
Variations
- Any type of greens will work. I used spring mix, but arugula, kale or spinach all taste great.
- Add sliced grilled chicken for more protein.
- Occasionally I add pasta, similar to my mandarin spinach pasta salad recipe.
- If limiting sugar, you can easily omit the dried cranberries.
- Feel free to add more toppings like fresh shaved parmesan, pomegranates, green onions or sliced avocado.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge, then drizzle on top of the salad before serving.
Of course! Just whisk it really well to make sure the oil and vinegar emulsify. Give it a really good whisk before serving.
Aside from this amazing salad, mandarin oranges are a staple in my pantry. I love adding them to desserts (like in this no-bake mandarin orange parfait), adding them to my rainbow honey lime fruit salad, or letting my kids snack on them if they need a fruity treat.
Want more citrus-centric recipes? Try PF Chang’s orange chicken recipe or for lemon loves try crispy lemon baked fish, baked lemon chicken, or lemon chicken fettuccine.
More Fresh Salads with Fruit
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Mandarin Orange Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) bag spring mix (or spinach)
- 1 (11-ounce) can can mandarin oranges
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds (can use walnuts or pecans as well)
Orange Dressing
- ¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate (don't add water)
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
- ½ Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon poppyseeds
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss the spring mix, mandarin oranges, cranberries, and almonds until combined.
Orange Dressing
- In a mason jar, add the orange juice, orange zest, olive oil, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt. Shake until well combined. Add the poppyseeds and shake just before serving.
- Pour dressing over the salad. Toss until well coated.
Notes
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced mushrooms
- Sliced avocado
- Diced tomatoes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Dairy-Free, Fruit Salad, Gluten-Free, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Amazing Salad!!
I just made it for a dinner party & everyone wanted the recipe!!
👍🏼❤️👏🏻
Everyone at part loved it. I thought dressing was too sweet and orangy so I doubled everything else in the dressing except for juice, sugar and zest. Also added some lemon pepper
Have you ever added blue cheese crumbles? Don’t want to ruin the flavor but it may work?
I’ve never added blue cheese, but I don’t see why you couldn’t! Let me know how it tastes if you give it a shot.
Best orange dressing I have ever tasted! Made in summer with grilled chicken breast to put on top. Very refreshing. Will certainly be a regular here at our house.
So glad you loved it!
My boyfriend and I made this recipe and added pomegranates and avocado, it was absolutely DELICIOUS!
Thank you for sharing it.
Mmm those sound like delicious additions! So happy to hear you both loved it, Virginia :)
This is one of my goto dressing recipes. So easy and soooo delicious. Love it, can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Deepti! Thanks for leaving your comment and review :)
Do mix up the orange juice concentrate in to juice?
Is there a store bought dressing I can use?
Hi Deanne, I’m not sure if there is a store bought dressing similar to this one, but you could always use a premade poppy seed dressing and add the orange juice/orange rind in for more flavor.
You can’t get orange juice concentrate here so I used freshly squeezed orange juice. It was fine, really.
And I had to convert the measures.
But anyway, the salad was a *big* hit!
So happy to hear it was a big hit :)
Made salad per recipe then topped salad with jerk chicken. It was beyond delicious.
That sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Christi :)
I don’t really care for mandarin oranges so I usually use navel oranges. I’m wondering if I did use mandarin oranges would you use the juice in the dressing? Also, is there a particular brand of mandarin oranges you recommend ? The brands that I have purchased in the past are too mushy and lack flavor. Thanks!
For this salad I use the canned dole mandarin oranges. For the dressing, I find the frozen juice concentrate works best, but you can try with the mandarin juice.
Made this in Christmas Eve Eve. SO good. Next time I’ll add 1/2 the sugar. But it was a big hit.
Made this last night for thanksgiving. One of the stars of the meal for sure and will put into a regular rotation. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad to hear it was a hit! :)
I am going to make this this weekend for a dinner party! I’m so excited. But I am wondering if I can use fresh orange juice instead of concentrate? Will it make much of a difference? :)
Orange juice concentrate is much more potent than orange juice so I think it will change the flavor!
I’m going to make it for a potluck for church.
I hope you enjoy! :)
Absolutely delicious! Took it to a cookout for a summer salad & everyone raved! Don’t skip this homemade dressing!
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks for leaving a comment Nikki. :)
This was a beautiful, delicious, easy salad to make. I will definitely make it again. The only adjustment I made was one tablespoon of sugar instead of two as I don’t like things too sweet.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your comment Julie! :)
It was wonderful! I served it for guests and everyone loved it and the ladies asked for the recipe!
I’m so glad everyone loved it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Nancy.