This Teriyaki Chicken Salad is loaded with flavor and texture -- tender pasta, fresh baby spinach, dry-roasted nuts, juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy water chestnuts, sweet onion, and seasoned chicken. We toss this salad with an addictive teriyakidressing that uses only 3 ingredients and pulls everything together perfectly!
DRESSING: Combine the dressing ingredients in a resealable glass jar. Shake to combine. Store in the fridge, shaking again before using.
PASTA: In generously salted water, cook pasta according to package directions to "al dente" (the minimum time indicated on package). Drain pasta and add to a *very* large bowl; toss with half the prepared dressing and then place in the fridge, covered, until fully cooled.
ASSEMBLE: Once pasta is fully cooled, toss with the coarsely chopped spinach. Add diced cooked chicken, peanuts or cashews, cranberries, diced water chestnuts, drained mandarin oranges, and finely diced sweet onion. Drizzle on as much dressing as you'd like (you may not want it all) and gently toss to combine. Taste and add salt/pepper if needed or more dressing. Enjoy immediately!
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Notes
Note 1: Teriyaki sauce: This sauce is the major player in the dressing -- it can make or break it! We recommend Mr. Yoshida's teriyaki sauce, but any good quality, thicker-style teriyaki (that you know you love) will work great here.