This Mandarin Orange Cranberry Salad is a quick salad recipe that’s perfect for the holidays. It has a little bit of sweet, spicy, and a satisfying crunch from the candied pecans!
Learn How to make Candied Pecans with this simple tutorial! Also, you’ve gotta try this creamy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad!
Mandarin Orange Cranberry Salad
This Mandarin Orange Cranberry Salad is a favorite in our family. We would always have this salad around the holidays. One, because it was so pretty and looked festive with the oranges, greens, and reds. But also, with all the heaviness of the holidays you gotta have a little “roughage” to help you get that stuff out. {if you know what I mean}
I’m pretty sure that I was addicted to this salad growing up and may have had my fair share of fork wars with family members to get that last bite. You will understand what I’m talking about when you try it. The mandarin oranges are definitely the star of this dish, in fact, we usually add a little more so that everyone can be sure to have 4-5 on their plate. Add in the sweetness from the dried cranberry, crunch from the candied pecans, and the sweet spicy dressing and you got yourself a winning salad. What’s your favorite holiday salad?
How to Make The Best Cranberry Salad Ever
To get started, in a small bowl mix 2 Tablespoons of sugar, 1/4 cup of vinegar, 3 dashes of Tabasco hot sauce {a couple more if you like it spicy like us}, salt, pepper, and 1 Tablespoon of dried Parsley.
Mix that together and then add 1/3 cup of canola oil. Whisk until completely combined. Set aside.
Place 6 oz. of fresh spring mix salad in a large bowl. Next add one drained 11 oz. can of mandarin oranges on top of the spring mix.
Slice 3 green onions into small pieces. {include the green part} Put on top of spring mix.
Top with 1/2 cup of candied pecans and 1/2 cup of craisins. {recipe for Candied Pecans}
Serve with dressing on the side.
Mandarin Orange Cranberry Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Mandarin Orange Cranberry Salad is a quick salad recipe that’s perfect for the holidays. It has a little bit of sweet, spicy, and a satisfying crunch from the candied pecans!
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 2 Tablespoons of white sugar
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
- 3 dashes of Tabasco Hot Sauce {you can add more if you’d like}
- 1 Tablespoon of dry parsley
- salt & pepper
- 1/3 cup of canola oil
Salad:
- 6 oz. of spring mix
- 11oz. can of mandarin orange in orange juice, drained
- 1/2 cup of candied pecans {[Candied Pecan Recipe | https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/how-to-make-candied-nuts/]}
- 1/2 cup of craisins
- 3 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix sugar, vinegar, Tabasco hot sauce, salt, pepper, dried Parsley, and canola oil. Whisk until completely combined.
- Place fresh spring mix salad in a large bowl.
- Add drained mandarin oranges, craisins, green onions, and candied pecans on top of the spring mix. {[Candied Pecan Recipe | https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/how-to-make-candied-nuts/]}
- Serve with dressing on the side.
Keywords: cranberry salad recipe, orange salad, mandarin orange salad, easy salad recipe, best salad recipe, easy salad, best salad, how to make salad
Filed Under:
More Recipes You Might Enjoy
How to make Candied Pecans
Pecan Crusted Chicken
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
28 comments on “Mandarin Orange Cranberry Salad”
I love the citrus pops from the orange and tart from the cranberries. Thanks so much for sharing your links at our “Best Of The Weekend party”! I have pinned this to our party board and to another big board too. We hope to see you again at the next party! Have a great week!!
★★★★★
awesome! Thank you so much!
This salad sounds fabulous! I love the citrus pops from the orange and tart from the cranberries. Thanks so much for sharing your links at our “Best Of The Weekend party”! I have pinned this to our party board and to another big board too. We hope to see you again at the next party! Have a great week!!
Thanks for sharing Lisa! Always love coming to your party, first off lots of great inspiration and you girls make it worth the while. 🙂
I love fruity salads! Love the addition of pecans too!
They are the best part of this salad Theresa… adds a nice crunchy to the dish. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I love this idea! It looks SOOO good!! I would love for you to stop by and share it on this weeks Heavenly Achievements!
Thanks so much Krista {love the name by the way…hehe} Thanks for stopping by and for the invite!
This salad is gorgeous and looks delicious, Krista! I love green salads featuring fruit and nuts. I actually threw together a salad the other day with cutie oranges and almonds, but I made up my own dressing without measuring anything and it was only so-so. So I’m really excited your dressing, and the candied pecans look amazing! Thanks for sharing this!
Oh that sounds good, sounds like we are on the same wave length. 🙂 The dressing to this is awesome, the dash of hot sauce gives it a nice mild kick. 🙂 Hope you like it girl! Hope you have an awesome day!
I love mandarin oranges in salads! I wish more salads came with them. This is totally a meal I’d eat for lunch and dinner!
I know.. it is the perfect fruit to add into a salad and definitely one of my favorites. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Meghan!
What a pretty salad! Loving all those pecans!
Thanks Jamie! It was as good as it looks and the pecans gave it a great crunch. 🙂
Good heavens, this looks amazing! I have such a soft spot for mandarin oranges and I bet they make this salad just sing with goodness 🙂
hahaa.. Me too! But I bet you guessed that after looking at the salad. 🙂 They definitely make any salad that much better.
I will be trying this! I’ve been trying to eat a lot more salads lately. This looks delicious!
I have been trying to do that too, good for your body and colon. 🙂 I hope you like it Kathy, thanks so much for stopping by!
Oooh, this looks fabulous!
Thanks Danelle, it was definitely delicious! Had it for lunch again today. 🙂
Bring on the cranberries and candied pecans! Love this seasonal salad, and your pecan recipe too. Super simple and sounds so delish!
Right?! Maybe I should have skipped the lettuce part and just gone with the cranberries and pecans. 🙂 hehe…
This looks delicious, Krista! I love salads that are sweet and savory like this. Pinning!
Thanks Marcie, love seeing your comments. Sounds like we like the same stuff chica! Thanks for the pin love. 🙂
Looks fantastic – the salad and our photo!! Pinned!
Thanks Paula, had it for lunch again today. Told you I was addicted. 🙂
That is a beautiful salad Krista. Definitely want to give this a try 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks Eric, I hope you like it. 🙂 Let me know what you think!