Light and refreshing and completely delicious, this scrumptious chicken and mandarin orange salad is simple to make and perfect for summer!
Even though I know many of you live in 100+ temps consistently and happily, I have to tell you, my cold-blooded bones are not cut out for the heat wave we are getting here in southwestern Idaho.
It’s supposed to be ridiculously hot for the next seven days and I kind of feel like if I can’t drive the three miles from the grocery store to home without my chocolate chips melting in the backseat even with the a/c cranking, there’s a serious {albeit very 1st world} problem.
Since I already heart salad for dinner in a big way (do you?), this quick and delicious mandarin orange chicken salad fits right into the category of fabulous meals to make when the heat is sucking the life out of me.
It doesn’t require an oven. It’s super fast to throw together. It’s wonderfully light and refreshing. It has the perfect amount of crunch and sweetness and flavor.
INGREDIENTS
4 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1 cup celery, thinly sliced
1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup green onion, thinly sliced
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
PREPARATION
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt and pepper and mix until smooth and creamy.
Add the chicken, celery, mandarin oranges, almonds, and green onion, and gently stir to coat, taking care to not break up oranges.
Cover and chill for 4-6 hours. Serve and enjoy!