Mason Jar Salad Recipe

Introduction

Mason jar salads are a convenient and colorful way to prepare a fresh meal ahead of time. Layered with crisp vegetables, protein, cheese, and flavorful dressings, these salads stay fresh and ready to enjoy anytime. Perfect for busy days or packed lunches, they make healthy eating effortless.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp Greek salad dressing
• 1/2 cup Cucumbers (chopped into half moons)
• 1/4 cup Red onions (sliced into quarter moons)
• 3 oz Cooked chicken (cubed or shredded; about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup Grape tomatoes (halved)
• 1/4 cup Feta cheese (crumbled)
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)
• 1 1/2 tbsp Salsa
• 1 1/2 tbsp Sour cream
• 1/2 cup Bell peppers (cut into short strips)
• 1/4 cup Red onions (sliced into quarter moons)
• 1/2 cup Taco meat
• 1/2 cup Grape tomatoes (halved)
• 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)
• 3 tbsp Thousand island dressing
• 2/3 cup Cucumbers (cut into half moons)
• 3 oz Deli ham (diced; about 1/2 cup)
• 2/3 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1/2 oz Cheddar cheese (cubed; about 2 tbsp)
• 1/2 oz Swiss cheese (cubed; about 2 tbsp)
• 1 large Hard boiled egg (sliced)
• 1/4 cup Walnuts
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper
• 3 oz Cooked chicken (cubed or shredded; about 1/2 cup)
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1/2 cup Fresh mozzarella balls
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to almost fill the jar)
• 1/4 cup Fresh basil (cut into ribbons)
• 3 tbsp Poppy seed dressing
• 1/2 cup Cooked salmon (flaked; about 3-4 ounces)
• 2/3 cup Strawberries (sliced)
• 1/4 cup Goat cheese (crumbled)
• 1 tbsp Almonds (sliced, optional)
• 1 3/4 cups Fresh spinach (packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)
• 3 tbsp Caesar salad dressing
• 3 oz Cooked chicken (cubed or shredded; about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
• 1/4 cup Croutons (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pour the dressing into the bottom of a large Mason jar. For all varieties except the Caprese version, use the prepared dressing as listed. For the Caprese salad, whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper together directly in the jar before adding other ingredients.
2. Step 2: Layer your salad ingredients in the order provided. Generally, start with hearty vegetables that won’t get soggy (like cucumbers and bell peppers), followed by proteins (such as chicken, ham, or salmon), then watery vegetables (like tomatoes), eggs and cheeses, nuts or seeds, and finally add your greens on top.
3. Step 3: Seal the jar with its lid and store it in the refrigerator until ready to eat. These salads keep well chilled and maintain freshness.
4. Step 4: When ready to serve, shake the jar vigorously to mix the dressing evenly with the salad ingredients. Then, pour the contents into a bowl and enjoy your fresh, flavorful meal.

Tips & Variations

• Use sturdy greens like Romaine or spinach to prevent wilting during storage.
• Layer ingredients carefully to avoid sogginess; keep dressing at the bottom and greens on top.
• Swap proteins like chicken for tofu or chickpeas for a vegetarian option.
• Add nuts or seeds for extra crunch and nutrition.
• Prepare multiple jars in advance for quick grab-and-go lunches.
• If using ingredients like croutons or almonds, add them right before eating to keep them crisp.

Storage

Store your Mason jar salads in the refrigerator with the lid tightly sealed for up to 3 days. Avoid adding ingredients that spoil quickly or lose texture fast. When ready to eat, shake well and consume immediately. Leftovers after mixing are best eaten within a day, as the salad will soften over time.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare Mason jar salads the night before?

Yes, Mason jar salads are perfect for preparing ahead of time. Just be sure to layer the ingredients properly with dressing at the bottom and greens on top to keep everything fresh until you’re ready to eat.

How do I keep the salad from getting soggy?

Keep dressing at the bottom of the jar and layer heartier vegetables and proteins above it. Place delicate greens and toppings higher up and add crunchy ingredients like nuts or croutons just before serving.

Mason Jar Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 135 reviews

A versatile and convenient Mason Jar Salad recipe featuring multiple flavor-packed variations with fresh vegetables, proteins, cheeses, and dressings layered in a jar for easy meal prep and on-the-go lunches.

• Author: Elena
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 1 large Mason jar salad (serving size varies by jar size, approximately 1–2 servings) 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: No-Cook
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Greek Chicken Salad

• 3 tbsp Greek salad dressing
• 1/2 cup Cucumbers (chopped into half moons)
• 1/4 cup Red onions (sliced into quarter moons)
• 3 oz Cooked chicken (cubed or shredded; ~1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup Grape tomatoes (halved)
• 1/4 cup Feta cheese (crumbled)
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)

Taco Salad

• 1 1/2 tbsp Salsa
• 1 1/2 tbsp Sour cream
• 1/2 cup Bell peppers (cut into short strips)
• 1/4 cup Red onions (sliced into quarter moons)
• 1/2 cup Taco meat
• 1/2 cup Grape tomatoes (halved)
• 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)

Ham & Cheese Salad

• 3 tbsp Thousand island dressing
• 2/3 cup Cucumbers (cut into half moons)
• 3 oz Deli ham (diced; ~1/2 cup)
• 2/3 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1/2 oz Cheddar cheese (cubed; ~2 tbsp)
• 1/2 oz Swiss cheese (cubed; ~2 tbsp)
• 1 large Hard boiled egg (sliced)
• 1/4 cup Walnuts
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)

Caprese Salad

• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper
• 3 oz Cooked chicken (cubed or shredded; ~1/2 cup)
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1/2 cup Fresh mozzarella balls
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to almost fill the jar)
• 1/4 cup Fresh basil (cut into ribbons)

Berry Salmon Salad

• 3 tbsp Poppy seed dressing
• 1/2 cup Cooked salmon (flaked; ~3–4 ounces)
• 2/3 cup Strawberries (sliced)
• 1/4 cup Goat cheese (crumbled)
• 1 tbsp Almonds (sliced, optional)
• 1 3/4 cups Fresh spinach (packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)

Caesar Chicken Salad

• 3 tbsp Caesar salad dressing
• 3 oz Cooked chicken (cubed or shredded; ~1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
• 1/4 cup Croutons (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups Romaine lettuce (chopped, packed to measure; or enough to fill the jar)

Instructions

1. Prepare Dressing Layer: Pour the desired dressing into the bottom of a large Mason jar. For all salad versions except Caprese, use the pre-mixed dressings provided. For the Caprese salad, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper directly at the jar’s bottom before adding other ingredients.
2. Layer Ingredients: Add salad ingredients into the jar in a specific order: start with hearty vegetables that won’t get soggy or watery, followed by proteins such as chicken or ham, then watery vegetables like tomatoes, then eggs and cheese, nuts or seeds next, and finally top off with leafy greens such as romaine or spinach. This layering keeps ingredients fresh and prevents sogginess.
3. Seal and Store: Secure the lid tightly on the Mason jar and store it in the refrigerator. This makes the salad easy to grab and go while keeping all flavors fresh and crisp.
4. Serve: When ready to eat, shake the jar vigorously to coat all ingredients evenly with dressing. Then pour the salad contents into a bowl and enjoy immediately for the best texture and flavor.

Notes

• Use fresh, crisp vegetables and properly cooked proteins to maintain texture and taste.
• Customize the salad layers and ingredients to your preference or dietary needs.
• These salads are ideal for meal prep and can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Shake well before serving to distribute the dressing evenly over all ingredients.
• Croutons and nuts should be added just before eating if you want them to remain crunchy.

Keywords: Mason Jar Salad, Meal Prep Salad, Portable Salad, Healthy Lunch, Layered Salad, No-Cook Salad