Easy Teriyaki Chicken Pasta Salad

Name: Easy Teriyaki Chicken Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked penne or rotini pasta; 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed; 4 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped; 1 can mandarin oranges, drained; 1/2 cup canned water chestnuts, sliced; 1/4 cup sweet onion, finely diced; 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds; 1/2 cup bottled teriyaki sauce; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon sesame oil

This fresh pasta salad is a perfect mix of tender chicken, crunchy veggies, and a sweet citrus dressing.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 American· July 19, 2026

dailyrecipesbook.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

25 minutes

Serves

I love making this salad whenever I need a quick lunch or a refreshing side dish for dinner. It combines savory chicken with crisp spinach and fresh oranges, which makes it feel much lighter than your typical pasta salad.

My favorite thing about this recipe is how easy it is to throw together on a busy weeknight. If you have extra chicken from a previous meal, you can stir it right in to save even more time.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked penne or rotini pasta
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
4 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup canned water chestnuts, sliced
1/4 cup sweet onion, finely diced
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
1/2 cup bottled teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Instructions

1
Whisk the teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil together in a small bowl to make the dressing.
2
Combine the cooked pasta, chicken, spinach, mandarin oranges, water chestnuts, and onion in a large salad bowl.
3
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything gently until well coated.
4
Top the salad with the toasted almonds just before serving so they stay nice and crunchy.

💡 Tips

Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. If you plan to make this ahead of time, keep the almonds separate and add them right before you eat to keep them from getting soggy.

#pasta salad #chicken #lunch #easy dinner #teriyaki

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