Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I know you are going to absolutely love these Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad Sandwiches! They are a cinch to prepare and can be made a day in advance as an easy option for your next gathering or get-together. Serve these on mini croissants with a slice of juicy tomato and some crisp lettuce and your guests will be begging you for the recipe.

Before I get into this delicious recipe I think it’s important that I give you a little background on me. For lack of a better term, I am what one would refer to as a mutt. Now I am not calling myself a dog (that wouldn’t be nice!), but I am comparing myself to a mutt in the sense that I am a person made up of multiple ethnicities and religions. My mom’s side of the family is European Jewish and my dad’s side is Puerto Rican. Interesting mix, right? Well let me tell you…It’s fabulous! I get to celebrate all different holidays, eat all different kinds of foods, and I’m exposed to so much culture. I’m proud to be made up of all these “things” because these “things” have molded me into the person I am today 🙂

But why in the world would I be writing about this in a chicken salad recipe post? It’s because chicken salad is one of those things that just brings me back to my childhood and my Jewish roots. Growing up in a Jewish household, it was very common for my mom and grandma to make chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, and even chopped liver on a regular basis. They would prepare all these salads ahead of time, buy all different types of bread, cut up veggies, and then place everything on the table so we could make our own sandwiches. It was all about the variety. Maybe I would eat egg salad on a piece of Challah bread but then do a chicken salad sandwich on rye. The combinations were endless and it was always something easy to whip up for dinner or as a meal when guests came over. It was perfect to entertain with because people were bound to find something they liked with all the options.

A couple of weeks ago I had a group of ladies over that I used to work with. Every time I think of having an all ladies’ night, I think of finger sandwiches and salads and wine! Salad and sandwiches triggered my mind to go back to my childhood and from there I decided to use two recipes my mom shared with me. They are both recipes that have been big hits at previous gatherings: my mom’s Israeli salad and these Mandarin orange chicken salad sandwiches! Scrumptious.

One of the best parts about these sandwiches is that you can make them a day ahead of time. The longer they sit, the better they taste! You need to give yourself at least four hours before serving because you want the flavors to meld together so plan accordingly.

I used a 12 oz bag of Tyson fully cooked chicken breast in this recipe which made this beyond simple to throw together. You can use rotisserie chicken or even make your own but I took the easy route this time.  You can too. I won’t tell.😉

This made enough for 6 mini croissants, 2 for each of us ladies, with some extra for lunch the next day. The leftovers taste even better in case you were wondering.

So what will you need to make these Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad Sandwiches?

12 oz package cooked chicken breast, ¼ cup celery (diced), ¾ cup mayo, 2 tbsp onion (diced), ¼ tsp Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp pepper, 11 oz can Mandarin oranges (drained), mini croissants, 1 tomato (sliced), lettuce

Empty your bag of chicken into a large bowl. Dice your onion and celery and add it to the bowl with the chicken. Stir in mayo, Italian seasoning and pepper. Drain the can of Mandarin oranges and carefully fold all the ingredients together. Cover and chill in the refrigerator overnight or a minimum of four hours. Place a scoop of chicken salad on a mini croissant along with a piece of lettuce and slice of tomato. Enjoy!

I placed these Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad Sandwiches on a platter and served them along with my mom’s Israeli salad. It was the perfect combination.

Although this meal wasn’t as extravagant as the spread we used to put on when I was younger, it was just enough to make me think back and smile at all the great memories and traditions I’ve made throughout my life. I love being a mutt! 💜