Quick and delicious Chicken Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing. This Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad is ridiculously good, and the teriyaki vinaigrette is addictive!
1poundchicken breastsor use already cooked chicken, like Rotisserie chicken
½poundbowtie pasta noodles
4cupsfresh spinach
½cupCraisins
⅓cupCashews or Pine Nuts
1canMandarin Oranges14 ounce
¼cupCilantrosnipped
¾cupTeriyaki Saucedivided
⅓cupRice Wine Vinegaror apple cider vinegar
1teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoonMinced Onion
¼teaspoonkosher Salt
¼teaspoonBlack Pepper
2Tablespoonsgranulated Sugar
½cupOlive Oil
Instructions
Prepare pasta according to package directions.
While pasta is cooking, dice raw chicken into bite size pieces. Place in a bowl or ziploc bag with 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce. You can marinate for up to 24 hours, or immediately cook in a skillet or grill pan for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink. Set aside.
In a mason jar, shake together the remaining 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce, vinegar, garlic, onion, salt and pepper, sugar, and oil. Refrigerate until ready to assemble salad.
To assemble salad, toss together the spinach, chicken, pasta, craisins, nuts, mandarin oranges, and cilantro. Just before serving drizzle dressing over salad, or serve dressing on the side. ENJOY.
Notes
Short on time? Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Just slice the meat into pieces and you can add it right to the recipe.
Any kind of small pasta shape works in this salad. It doesn’t have to be bowtie!
Once assembled, this salad tastes best served right away. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within one day.