TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Salad With Chicken

My love affair with TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Salad began during my first job after college. After a long day, I collapsed into a booth after a hectic shift and ordered this salad on a whim. The first bite was a revelation: crisp greens, tender chicken, and juicy mandarin segments, all elevated by that distinctive orange-sesame dressing. I became obsessed with recreating it at home, testing variations until my roommates begged to be my taste testers. After dozens of attempts, this recipe captures that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that made me fall in love with the original. Now it’s my go-to for transforming a routine weeknight into something special,

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What Makes the TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Salad Dressing and Salad So Good? 

This Asian-inspired salad is a delicious combination of sweet and savory, but there is no doubt that the Orange Sesame Dressing is the star. Packed with spices, seasonings, and fruit, the dressing takes lettuce and chicken to an entirely new level.

Even if you’re not a “salad as an entree” type of person, one taste of this elevated chicken and mandarin salad will have you wanting to make it again and again.  

Why Should You Try Making Mandarin Orange Salad at Home? 

The magic of this salad lies in its masterful balance of contrasting elements. The slight bitterness of mixed greens creates the perfect backdrop for the sweet-tart mandarin oranges. The chicken provides lean protein that absorbs the complex flavors of the dressing, while its mild taste doesn’t compete with the citrus notes. The dressing achieves its signature flavor through layering techniques—orange marmalade provides sweet citrus notes, soy sauce adds depth of umami, and sesame oil contributes nutty undertones. By pureeing these ingredients and then folding them in fresh mandarin segments afterward, you create a dressing with both smooth consistency and delightful textural bursts of fruit. Finally, the cold preparation method allows the flavors to meld while maintaining the crisp integrity of the greens.

Chicken and Mandarin Salad Ingredients

For the Orange Sesame Dressing:

• Orange marmalade – Provides concentrated citrus flavor and natural sweetness
• Cayenne pepper – Adds subtle heat that balances the sweetness
• Ground ginger – Contributes warming spice with Asian flavor notes
• Garlic powder – Gives savory depth without overpowering other flavors
• White vinegar – Creates essential acidity to balance sweet elements
• Vegetable oil – Forms the emulsion base for a smooth dressing
• Soy sauce – Delivers umami richness and saltiness
• Sesame oil – Contributes distinctive nutty flavor central to Asian cuisine
• Honey – Enhances sweetness and creates silky texture
• Mandarin orange sections – Provides fresh citrus bursts and textural interest

For the Salad:

• Salad greens or romaine lettuce – Creates the fresh, crisp foundation
• Chicken breast – Adds protein and satisfying substance
• Orange sesame dressing – Ties all elements together with complex flavor

Bagged mesclun mix has a slight bitterness that complements the sweetness of the dressing, but you can use whichever lettuce you prefer. 

Grilled or roasted chicken breasts are good choices. Keep the seasoning to a minimum to prevent them from altering the taste of the salad. 

How to Make This Recipe For Mandarin Orange Salad

To prepare the Mandarin Orange Sesame Dressing:

1. Chop the mandarin orange segments in half and reserve them for later. 
2. Add all the ingredients for the salad dressing except for the mandarin oranges to the jar of a blender. 
3. Pulse several times and then puree for 20 to 30 seconds until all the ingredients are well blended. 
4. Transfer the salad dressing from the blender container to a bowl or container with a lid and add the cut mandarin oranges. Stir well and chill for at least 30 minutes before using. 

To assemble the salad with mandarin oranges and Asian-inspired dressing: 

1. Rinse and dry the lettuce. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, if necessary. Place in a large mixing bowl. 
2. Add a few tablespoons of the Orange Sesame Dressing to the mixing bowl with the lettuce and toss well to coat. You may need to add more dressing. 
3. Slice the cooked chicken and serve on top of the greens. Garnish the salad with a few chopped orange sections. 

What to Serve This Salad With? 

Mandarin Orange Salad with chicken is a complete lunch or light supper on its own, but you can always fill out the meal to make it extra filling. Try one of these side dishes:

• Sweet potato fries or oven-roasted wedges. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes highlights the acidity of the salad. 
• Spring rolls. Stick to the Asian-inspired theme with a plate of mini spring rolls with duck sauce for dipping. 
• Chow fun noodles. When dressed in sesame-soy sauce, these noodles echo the flavor profile of the salad and provide a substantial amount of carbs to keep you from getting hungry. 

Storage and Reheating

• Meal prep tip – Prepare all components separately and assemble them just before eating
• Dressed salad – Consume within 1 hour to prevent wilting
• Undressed components – Store separately in the refrigerator:
  • Dressing (without mandarins) – 3-4 days in an airtight container
  • Dressing (with mandarins) – 24 hours maximum
  • Cooked chicken – Up to 3 days when properly refrigerated

• Meal prep tip – Prepare all components separately and assemble them just before eating

More Copycat TGI Friday’s Recipes

• Jack Daniels Sauce
• Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
• Potato Skins
• TGI Friday’s French Onion Soup

Favorite Salad and Dressing Recipes

• Apple Chicken Salad
• Applebees Grilled Chicken Oriental Salad
• BBQ Chicken Salad
• Benihanas Ginger Salad Dressing
• California Chicken Salad
• Chicken Fajita Salad
• Chicken Pasta Salad
• Dorito Salad
• Japanese Salad Dressing

Check out my delicious and easy salad recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!

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