Drizzled with an easy, sweet orange dressing this mandarin orange salad has a pop of flavor in every bite. With juicy bits of orange paired with sweet, crunchy almonds you’ll be hard-pressed not to make it again and again.

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Bright, fresh, and topped with a sweet orange dressing this Mandarin orange salad is a versatile
recipe to have on hand. With juicy oranges and the added crunch of candied almonds, this
salad recipe is hard to resist!

A fresh mixed greens salad with sliced apricots, nuts, and garnished with green onions on a white plate.

A stunning side dish or a light meal, this mandarin orange salad can be anything you want it to
be. With a base of leafy greens topped with sweet oranges, chewy raisins, and crisp almonds,
this salad is the perfect combination of fresh flavors.
Regardless of the season, when drizzled with an orange, poppyseed dressing, this recipe brings
a burst of color and taste to the table.

A fresh mixed greens salad with sliced apricots, nuts, and a silver fork on a white plate.

What You Need to Make Mandarin Orange Salad

This mandarin salad is made with easy ingredients right out of your pantry and fridge.

Sliced almond
Sugar
Spring mix
Green onions
Mandarin oranges
Dried fruit
Oranges
Olive oil
Honey or sugar
Apple cider vinegar
Poppyseeds
Salt
Dijon mustard

A variety of healthy food ingredients displayed on a white surface, including a large bowl of mixed greens, small bowls of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and dressings.

Tips To Make This salad the best

To prevent the candied almonds from getting soggy, only mix together as much salad as you plan on eating in one sitting. Due to the mandarin oranges, the salad won’t be as crisp once it’s stored.

Don’t drizzle the dressing over the salad until you’re ready to plate it. Or allow everyone to pour
on their own dressing when they’re ready. No wilted greens for you!

Mixed greens salad with sliced almonds and mandarin oranges on a white plate, with a fork and additional servings in the background.

Variations

If you want to switch it up, below are a few tasty ways to do that.

Nuts: In place of sugared almonds, you can use maple candied pecans or any other chopped
nut you wish to sugar-coat.
Dried fruit: Try experimenting with different flavors by substituting the dried fruit in the salad.
Dried blueberries, cherries, and cranberries are all delicious options.
Greens: This salad is best with mixed greens as they tend to have a neutral flavor. However, it
could be made with any mix of kale, spinach, Swiss chard, or romaine lettuce.

How To Serve It

Enjoy the mandarin orange salad as a side dish paired with stuffed chicken breast or BBQ chicken in the oven. It works beautifully as the side for any holiday meal. Or use it as a full meal in itself and top it with leftover easy roast chicken or air fryer steak.

How To Store It

This salad doesn’t store well in the fridge once it’s made. This is why it’s best to make only as
much as you need. However, you can make the orange dressing up to 5 days in advance of
when you need it.

If you do, store the dressing in a mason jar in the fridge. The oil will solidify a bit so leave it at
room temperature for half an hour before you need it and give it a shake before drizzling it over
the salad.