Mandarin Spinach Pasta Salad
Mandarin Spinach Pasta Salad is a refreshing and colorful dish combining tender pasta, fresh spinach, juicy mandarin oranges, nuts, and a tangy dressing. It’s a perfect make-ahead salad for potlucks, picnics, or a light and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 8 oz cooked pasta (rotini, bowtie, or penne), cooled
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, drained
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup poppy seed dressing or citrus vinaigrette
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, baby spinach, drained mandarin oranges, red onion, and nuts.
- If using, add crumbled feta or goat cheese.
- Drizzle with poppy seed dressing or vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
- Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
- Toss again before serving, adding more dressing if needed.
Notes
Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas for extra protein.Swap mandarin oranges with strawberries or apple slices for variety.Use walnuts, sunflower seeds, or candied pecans as nut alternatives.Choose gluten-free pasta or whole wheat pasta as needed.Store dressing separately if making ahead to avoid soggy greens.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Find it online: https://cookibly.com/mandarin-spinach-pasta-salad/
