Salad in a Jar Recipes

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Salad in a Jar is an easy way to bring your salad on the go – dressing, greens, and toppings all in one place! Bring it with you on a picnic, to work, or anywhere else! Two salad recipes included.

Salad greens, dressings, and other fixings on a wooden cutting board.

Salad In a Jar Recipes

What is the appeal of having a salad in a jar you might ask? Well, let me tell you, friends! Not only does it last forever, but the prep work is done and you have healthy eating right at your fingertips. Prepping a bunch of these one day and eating on them all week long is the help you might need to eat well. Life gets busy and taking time to eat something beyond quick and easy can get pushed aside. BUT, if all you have to do is unscrew a lid, find a fork, and give a little stir, then there’s no reason to not be eating more salad. Plus, in the jar, it’s perfectly portable. Throw it in a lunch box along with a boiled egg and an apple and you have a delicious healthy lunch to go. Done.

My fellow Hoosier and blogging buddy Cassie over at Wholefully is who you have to thanks for the inspiration. I’m eating 100% clean for the next eight weeks as part of a little challenge I’m doing and Cassie has given me all kinds of great ideas on how to enjoy the challenge and not just live through it. I really feel like I’m making lifestyle changes and these salads in a jar are here for the long run.

Salads in glass jars

What are the basic components of a Salad in a Jar?

The four groups for building a salad in a jar is dressing, proteins/complex carbs, fixings, and greens. Proteins are foods like quinoa, cooked brown rice, black beans, kidney beans, grilled chicken, tuna, tofu, etc. Fixings are things like shredded carrots, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, sprouts, sunflower seeds, nuts, olives, fruit, dried fruit, and strong cheeses (blue/feta). There are endless ways to pair different combinations so mix and match until you find your favorites!

Which salad dressings are healthier?

If you want this to be a healthy salad, you are better off avoiding any bottled dressing and making your own. This post has 2 dressings to try! If making dressing is keeping you from trying these then by all means, use what you like, but I really recommend making a dressing from scratch. It’s SO easy! Most storebought dressings can have a lot more sugar than you think, so shop wisely.

How long does Salad in a Jar last?

If you create your salad as outlined with the greens on top, away from the dressing, the lettuce stays nice and crisp for well over a week!

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South of the Border Salad in a Jar

Salad in a Jar is an easy way to bring your salad on the go – dressing, greens, and toppings all in one place! Bring it with you on a picnic, to work, or anywhere else!
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 3 jars

Ingredients 

For the Salad

  • Dressing, recipe follows
  • Black beans
  • Chopped sweet bell pepper
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Sliced black olives
  • Chopped Romaine lettuce

For the South of the Border Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon EACH garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper
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Instructions 

For the dressing:

  • Add everything to a small mason jar, put on the lid, and shake until well combined. Makes enough dressing for about 3 salads in a jar.

To assemble the salad:

  • In a pint mason jar add the dressing, black beans, chopped “extras” and then lettuce (in that order). Pack the jars pretty tight. Add a lid and store in the fridge. When you are ready to eat dump the jar into a bowl and stir to combine or shake the jar very well and eat from the jar.
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A closeup shot of a salad in a jar showing its colorful layers of beans, peppers, and lettuce
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Asian Infusion Salad

Salad in a Jar is an easy way to bring your salad on the go – dressing, greens, and toppings all in one place! Bring it with you on a picnic, to work, or anywhere else!
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 3 jars

Ingredients 

For the Salad

  • Asian Infusion Dressing, recipe in the notes
  • Cooked quinoa
  • Chopped cucumber, red cabbage, broccoli, and shredded carrot
  • Chopped Romaine and spinach

Asain Infusion Dressing:

  • 1 tablespoon Tahini
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon EACH – salt, pepper, ground ginger, garlic powder
Save This Recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Instructions 

For the dressing:

  • Add everything to a small mason jar, put on the lid, and shake until well combined. Makes enough dressing for about 3 salads in a jar.

To assemble the salad:

  • In a pint mason jar add the dressing, quinoa, chopped “extras” and then greens (in that order). Pack the jars pretty tight. Add a lid and store in the fridge. When you are ready to eat dump the jar into a bowl and stir to combine or shake the jar very well and eat from the jar.
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!
a closeup shot of a salad showing its layers of red cabbage, orange carrots, and green spinach

Other Salad Recipes

Other Healthy Lunch Ideas

This post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated in July 2019.

Make yourself a Salad in a Jar or five and make your lunch for the week! It’s a great way to feed yourself more vegetables and proteins without much effort.

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18 Comments

  1. Wendy Hansen says:

    Great ideas all. . . And I am not offended, for crying out loud. Thanks for posting.

  2. Jessie says:

    I am trying to change my diet but avoid salad because it was too much work to make everyday. I’d never seen a way to make it ahead of time like this! I can’t wait to try it.

  3. Anna says:

    What a terrific idea.

  4. Michelle Dickerson says:

    OK – I have what may be a dumb question. Is it possible to use another container besides a mason jar? Just wondering because I don’t currently have any of them – and not a lot of storage space. Thanks!

    1. Melissa says:

      I think there is some kind of magic in the glass… I think you could try another glass container that has a lid! If you do, I’d love to know how it goes! I have lots of luck finding mason jars at the thrift store for like a $.50 each just FYI and then you don’t have to buy a whole dozen. https://amzn.to/1Vmp02P these are my favorite lids too (be mindful when purchasing if you have wide or regular mouth lids!) Good luck!