For a dish that feels like sunshine on a plate, Grilled Chicken and Mandarin Orange Salad delivers freshness, flavor, and a perfect balance of textures. This salad is ideal for those who want a light yet filling meal that’s both wholesome and vibrant. Combining tender, smoky grilled chicken with the sweet juiciness of mandarin oranges creates a pairing that’s refreshing and satisfying in every bite.
The grilled chicken serves as the hearty base, offering lean protein that keeps you full without weighing you down. Light seasoning with salt, pepper, and perhaps a hint of paprika or garlic powder allows the natural grilled flavor to shine. Slicing the chicken thinly after grilling makes it easy to enjoy in each forkful alongside the other salad components.
Mandarin oranges add a burst of sweetness and a touch of tartness that contrasts beautifully with the savory chicken. Their juicy segments also add a refreshing note, making this salad perfect for warm-weather dining or as a pick-me-up meal any time of year.
The greens are just as important as the toppings. A mix of crisp romaine, peppery arugula, or tender spinach creates a flavorful foundation. For texture and extra flavor, toppings like sliced almonds, toasted sesame seeds, or crunchy wonton strips work beautifully.
To bring it all together, a light vinaigrett, perhaps citrus-based to echo the oranges, adds brightness and ties the flavors into a cohesive dish. A dressing made with olive oil, rice vinegar, and a splash of mandarin juice enhances both the sweetness of the fruit and the smokiness of the chicken.
This Grilled Chicken and Mandarin Orange Salad works well as a main course for lunch or dinner, and it’s equally suitable for meal prepping. Its mix of protein, greens, and fruit makes it a balanced, nutrient-rich option that doesn’t compromise on taste.
Whether served at a casual lunch or as part of a summer gathering, this salad is a fresh, colorful dish that’s as appealing to the eye as it is to the palate.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped fresh
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through and no longer pink in the center. Let it rest for a few minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced almonds, mandarin orange segments, feta cheese, and cilantro.
- Add the grilled chicken slices to the salad.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Used canned mandarin oranges instead of fresh, still tasted alright but not as good. 🤷♂️
I dunno… I thought it would be better. The chicken was dry and the dressing didn’t do much for me.
I dunno, I thought it was kinda bland. Maybe more seasoning next time? Not sure if I’ll make it again.
Wow, can’t believe how many steps! It seems easy but…. I dunno if I can do it.
I felt the same way! But once you break it down, it’s not that bad. Just take one step at a time. You got this!
Total yum! But why do you need so much olive oil? Seems like too much to me.
I think the olive oil is for the dressing! It adds flavor and richness. Plus, it’s good for you! 😄
Honestly, I don’t see the need for so much oil either. Can’t you just use less? It seems oily!
My cousin made this for a BBQ, and it was bomb! 10/10 would recommend to my friends!! 🥗👍
Not bad but my kids refused to eat it. They say salad is boring! 🤷♂️
Kids can be picky! Maybe let them help make it next time? They might like it more if they get to add their own toppings! 😊
Salad is good for health tho, but maybe try less greens and more fruits? Kids love sweetness like apples! 🍏
The grilled chicken was perfect. Just the right amount of char! But can someone explain why it has oranges?
Why oranges? I dunno, sounds weird. Chicken is better with BBQ sauce. Just saying.
Oranges add a nice sweetness and balance to the savory chicken! It’s a perfect combo. Trust me, you gotta try it!
This salad is sooo fresh and tasty! The oranges really make it shine. Definitely a keeper!
I totally agree! The oranges really give it a nice zing! 🍊
It was okay but I felt like it was missing something. Maybe some croutons? Not sure I’ll make it again.
I don’t know about this. Mandarin oranges in a salad? Sounds weird! But I guess I’ll try it.
I dunno, man. Sounds kinda gross to me. Maybe just stick to regular salad stuff?
I thought the same thing at first, but the sweetness of the mandarins really works with the savory chicken! Trust me, it’s delish!
Is 8 cups of greens too much? I feel like that’s a lot. My salad bowl was overflowing! 😂
Didn’t have feta, used cheddar instead. Still tasted great! Just needs some cheese!
Cheddar is great! I might try that next time. Thanks for the tip!
I put too much dressing and it was swimming! Next time I use less. But good flavor overall.
Delicious! I added some walnuts because I didn’t have almonds. Still turned out great!
I’m not a fan of cilantro, so I left it out. The salad still was colorful and yummy!
Delicious! Next time I will add avocado for extra creaminess. Super easy to make!
This salad is amazing! The mandarin oranges add such a fresh touch. My family loved it! 😍
Wow! I never thought about mixing oranges with chicken before. It was surprisingly good! And easy!
I mistook feta for goat cheese 😳 but still turned out alright. Haha!
Haha, feta and goat cheese are close, but I think feta gives the salad a nice tangy flavor! Glad it turned out well! 😊
This salad is a game changer! The flavors are vibrant and refreshing. Definitely a summer go-to! ☀️
I dunno. The flavors didn’t really go together for me. Kinda bland. I’ll stick to my stuff.
I totally get it! Not every recipe is for everyone. I found it pretty tasty, but maybe try adding some spices next time?
I’m not into salads, but this one looks kinda yummy. Might give it a try if I feel ambitious. 😅
This salad is way overpriced for a meal at home. Who needs all those ingredients? Just grill the chicken and slap it on some greens.
I get your point, but the flavors in this salad really come together! The mandarin oranges and feta add a nice twist that grilled chicken on its own just can’t match.
Overpriced? Really? It’s not even that many ingredients! I mean, it’s just chicken and some greens. Sounds too fancy if you ask me.
This salad is amazing! The sweetness from the mandarin oranges contrasts so well with the feta. I’m definitely making this again!
I don’t like chicken in my salad! I just did greens and oranges, it was fine. But not for everyone!
I totally get it! Salads can be just as tasty without chicken. Your combo sounds refreshing! 🌱
But chicken adds protein! How can a salad be filling with just greens and oranges? I need my meat.
So easy to make. I threw everything in a bowl and it tasted like heaven. 10 outta 10!
So easy to make! I added some avocado and it was divine! Definitely my new go-to salad! 👍
What’s red wine vinegar? Can I use apple cider? I need an answer!!!
Red wine vinegar is a tangy vinegar that’s made from red wine. You can use apple cider vinegar, but it’ll change the flavor a bit. Just make sure to adjust other ingredients if you do!
This salad is amazing! The sweetness of the oranges goes really well with the salty feta. Definitely making this again!
Meh, not impressed. I thought this would be tastier. Liked the peanuts better than almonds.
I get what you mean! But the dressing makes a big difference. Did you try that part? Maybe it’ll change your mind. 😅
I don’t like feta so I skipped that part, and it was still really good! But can you use regular cheese instead?
Why not just try it without cheese? Sounds healthier, might taste good too. 😂
Yeah, regular cheese would probably work! But I think feta gives it a nice tang. Try it with mozzarella or something like that if you can’t stand feta.
This is a fancy salad, but me and my kids just want somethin’ simpler. 🙄
I totally get that! Sometimes simple is the best. Maybe just grilled chicken on a plate with some greens and a drizzle of olive oil would do it! 🥗
Fancy? This ain’t fancy! Just leave out the oranges and feta, it ain’t rocket science! 🌍
Yum! Fresh & healthy! 🥗
Why do you put fruit in salad? I prefer my salads green only. This one looks too weird for me.
This salad is the best! So refreshing and easy to make. The chicken is really tasty!
Too many ingredients! I just needed simple grilled chicken, what’s with the salad? 🙄
But the salad makes it fancy! Are you sure you don’t want to give it a try? 😜
I totally get what you mean! Sometimes simple is better. But the salad looks yummy too! Maybe try the chicken on its own next time? 🍗
I made this for a family gathering, and everyone loved it! Even my picky sister had seconds!
That’s awesome! Family gatherings are the best. Glad your sister liked it too! 👍
Awesome recipe! My kids loved it and they usually picky eaters. Will make again for sure!
So glad to hear it! Kids can be so fussy, but this salad sounds yummy! Will try it myself.
Where do I even get mandarin oranges? My grocery store never has them.😒
Yummy! I added some avocado and it was even better. Will make again for sure!
Avocado sounds like a great addition! I never thought of that. Can’t wait to try it.
Too many ingredients for a salad. Just give me greens and chicken. Simplify!
I followed the recipe exactly, but my chicken ended up dry. Maybe I grilled too long? Not sure if I’d recommend.
I thought grilled chicken would be dry but it wasn’t! Very juicy. Will keep this recipe in my rotation.