Bright, crisp, and full of flavor, this mandarin orange salad is topped with crunchy almonds and a homemade orange dressing. It’s an easy way to add fresh color to any table!

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Favorite Mandarin Orange Salad Recipe
This mandarin orange salad is a longtime family favorite! It’s made with crisp greens, juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds, and a sweet homemade orange vinaigrette. We’ll often add grilled chicken to turn it into a full meal.
Originally from my aunt’s cookbook, it’s become a go-to for holidays and potlucks. While her version had mushrooms and avocado, we love it simply with mandarins, cranberries, and nuts. Another family favorite we always serve is this ambrosia salad.
Recipe Ingredients
While some versions of this salad use poppy seed dressing, I like it even better with a homemade orange dressing. It adds the perfect balance of sweet and tangy citrus flavor!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
Orange Salad Dressing
- Frozen orange juice concentrate: Do not add any water to this. Just use it as-is.
- Orange zest: This adds even more citrus and a bit of lovely freshness. Naval oranges work well.
- Olive oil: The good fat that brings it all together and helps coat the salad in dressing.
- Vinegar: I used an apple cider vinegar, but distilled or white wine vinegar would work as well.
- Sugar: Not a lot, but just a little to help balance the sweetness.
- Lemon juice: This add the tartness the dressing needs.
- Salt: Just a little to help enhance all of the other flavors.
Salad
- Spring mix: You can also opt for spinach, if you prefer.
- Mandarin oranges: I love to use the canned because they are so juicy and add a really nice citrus.
- Dried cranberries: This adds a lovely tartness and sweetness to the salad.
- Sliced almonds: Swap out almonds for walnuts or pecans. You can even use candied pecans if preferred.
How to Make Mandarin Orange Salad

- Toss the salad. Add the spring mix, mandarin oranges, cranberries, and almonds to a large bowl and toss.
- Make the Orange Salad Dressing. Add all ingredients in a mason jar and shake until combined.
- Dress the salad. Drizzle the dressing over the spring mix mixture and toss until well coated. Serve.

Variations
- Any type of greens will work. I used spring mix, but arugula, kale or spinach all taste great.
- Add sliced grilled chicken for more protein.
- Occasionally I add pasta, similar to my mandarin spinach pasta salad recipe.
- If limiting sugar, you can easily omit the dried cranberries.
- Feel free to add more toppings like fresh shaved parmesan, pomegranates, green onions or sliced avocado.

More salad recipes to try include beet salad with arugula and balsamic dressing, Caprese salad and Italian salad.
More Fresh Salads with Fruit

Mandarin Orange Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) bag spring mix (or spinach)
- 1 (11-ounce) can can mandarin oranges
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds (can use walnuts or pecans as well)
Orange Dressing
- ¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate (don't add water)
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
- ½ Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon poppyseeds
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss the spring mix, mandarin oranges, cranberries, and almonds until combined.
Orange Dressing
- In a mason jar, add 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 Tablespoon sugar, 1 Tablespoon vinegar, 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Shake until well combined. Add 1 teaspoon poppyseeds and shake just before serving.
- Pour dressing over the salad. Toss until well coated.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced mushrooms
- Sliced avocado
- Diced tomatoes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge, give it a shake to combine again, then drizzle on top of the salad before serving.
Of course! Just whisk it really well to make sure the oil and vinegar emulsify. Give it a really good whisk before serving.
Yes, just make sure they’re peeled, segmented, and any seeds or excess pith are removed.
I love adding them to desserts, like no-bake mandarin orange parfait, adding them to my rainbow honey lime fruit salad, or letting my kids snack on them if they need a fruity treat.
Nancy
Amazing Salad!!
I just made it for a dinner party & everyone wanted the recipe!!
👍🏼❤️👏🏻
Julie
Everyone at part loved it. I thought dressing was too sweet and orangy so I doubled everything else in the dressing except for juice, sugar and zest. Also added some lemon pepper
Darlene Park
Have you ever added blue cheese crumbles? Don’t want to ruin the flavor but it may work?
I Heart Naptime
I’ve never added blue cheese, but I don’t see why you couldn’t! Let me know how it tastes if you give it a shot.
Barb
Best orange dressing I have ever tasted! Made in summer with grilled chicken breast to put on top. Very refreshing. Will certainly be a regular here at our house.
Jamielyn Nye
So glad you loved it!
Virginia & Rafael
My boyfriend and I made this recipe and added pomegranates and avocado, it was absolutely DELICIOUS!
Thank you for sharing it.
I Heart Naptime
Mmm those sound like delicious additions! So happy to hear you both loved it, Virginia :)
Deepti
This is one of my goto dressing recipes. So easy and soooo delicious. Love it, can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.
I Heart Naptime
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Deepti! Thanks for leaving your comment and review :)
Robin
Do mix up the orange juice concentrate in to juice?
Deanne D Swihart
Is there a store bought dressing I can use?
I Heart Naptime
Hi Deanne, I’m not sure if there is a store bought dressing similar to this one, but you could always use a premade poppy seed dressing and add the orange juice/orange rind in for more flavor.
Marc
You can’t get orange juice concentrate here so I used freshly squeezed orange juice. It was fine, really.
And I had to convert the measures.
But anyway, the salad was a *big* hit!
I Heart Naptime
So happy to hear it was a big hit :)
Christi
Made salad per recipe then topped salad with jerk chicken. It was beyond delicious.
I Heart Naptime
That sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Christi :)
Leslie
I don’t really care for mandarin oranges so I usually use navel oranges. I’m wondering if I did use mandarin oranges would you use the juice in the dressing? Also, is there a particular brand of mandarin oranges you recommend ? The brands that I have purchased in the past are too mushy and lack flavor. Thanks!
Jamielyn Nye
For this salad I use the canned dole mandarin oranges. For the dressing, I find the frozen juice concentrate works best, but you can try with the mandarin juice.
Joy Snyder
Made this in Christmas Eve Eve. SO good. Next time I’ll add 1/2 the sugar. But it was a big hit.
K
Made this last night for thanksgiving. One of the stars of the meal for sure and will put into a regular rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad to hear it was a hit! :)
Allison Cherry
I am going to make this this weekend for a dinner party! I’m so excited. But I am wondering if I can use fresh orange juice instead of concentrate? Will it make much of a difference? :)
Jamielyn Nye
Orange juice concentrate is much more potent than orange juice so I think it will change the flavor!
Marianne
I’m going to make it for a potluck for church.
Jamielyn Nye
I hope you enjoy! :)
Nikki
Absolutely delicious! Took it to a cookout for a summer salad & everyone raved! Don’t skip this homemade dressing!
Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks for leaving a comment Nikki. :)
Julie
This was a beautiful, delicious, easy salad to make. I will definitely make it again. The only adjustment I made was one tablespoon of sugar instead of two as I don’t like things too sweet.
Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your comment Julie! :)
Nancy
It was wonderful! I served it for guests and everyone loved it and the ladies asked for the recipe!
Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad everyone loved it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Nancy.