Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

Sure, you could serve this Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad in a lettuce cup but it’s absolutely out of this world when served on a fresh, flaky croissant!  Mandarin oranges, fresh basil and sliced almonds make this chicken salad one you won’t soon forget.  

Want to know something?  This Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad was the last recipe I photographed before welcoming baby number four.  As in, I was standing on top of a dining room chair snapping photos and less than 12 hours later I was holding my sweet baby girl.  I remember after taking these photos – and enjoying the end result for lunch – thinking that I was glad this was the last recipe I needed to complete as I couldn’t be climbing on furniture any longer at this stage of the game.  Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought that!

I’m in love with this chicken salad.  Baked chicken breasts are shredded and combined with plain yogurt and a touch of mayonnaise before being introduced to the bright flavor of mandarin oranges.  Fresh basil and sliced almonds are then stirred in to round out the amazing wealth of flavors.  Sure, you could serve this Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad in a lettuce cup but it’s absolutely out of this world when served on a fresh, flaky croissant!

Even better?  Shredding chicken is no longer a hassle thanks to my kitchen shortcut.  There’s no need for forks to shred the chicken in this Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad. My stand mixer and a flat paddle attachment is making easy work of this brunch dish. Chicken breasts still warm from the oven are placed in the stand mixer bowl just 30 seconds later, after mixing on low speed, perfectly shredded chicken is yours!  This same shortcut can also be used in my Apricot Basil Chicken Salad and Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad recipes as well.  Both are perfect for light lunches and I love that you can make both ahead of time!

My friend Erin has a great video and instructions about How to Cook Shredded Chicken in case you’d like to poach it for this recipe instead of baking it.  Both will insure you end up with delicious chicken!  You could also substitute Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken when you’re not wanting to heat up your kitchen during warmer months.  Now that you have three methods for making shredded chicken you can might find these 20 Healthy Recipes Using Shredded  Chicken helpful as well.

Lucky for me – and now you! – this salad also stores well in the fridge.  I was able to enjoy it after coming home from the hospital when I was feeling famished but had absolutely no desire to make anything in the kitchen and had just a few minutes to grab something to eat before being beckoned back to the side of my sweet newborn.

Melanie Bauer | Melanie Makes

Yields 8 sandwiches

Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

15 minPrep Time

40 minCook Time

55 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken breasts
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup non-fat plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup basil, torn into small pieces
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 15 ounce can mandarin oranges + 2 tablespoons juice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place chicken breasts in baking dish and cook for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
3. Allow chicken to cool for 15 minutes.
4. In an electric mixer fitted with flat beater attachment, add chicken breasts. Mix on low speed until chicken is shredded.
5. Add mayonnaise, yogurt, basil, almonds, and mandarin oranges and juice to bowl and stir gently to combine.
6. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

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https://melaniemakes.com/mandarin-orange-chicken-salad/

Melanie Bauer | Melanie Makes