Tasty Chicken Salad in a Jar

If you ask me, make-ahead meals in jars are a genius move.

This grab-and-go chicken salad is perfect for busy weekday lunches, packed with crisp vegetables and tender chunks of chicken. The layers stay fresh and crunchy thanks to smart stacking, with the dressing hanging out at the bottom until you’re ready to eat.

It’s made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen – juicy chicken breast, crunchy celery, and fresh greens, all tossed in a creamy dressing that brings everything together.

It’s a practical lunch option that keeps well in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep or packing for work.

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For this jar salad, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to preparing your chicken breast. The easiest route is to grab a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred the breast meat – this works great when you’re short on time and still gives you that nice, tender result. If you’re cooking the chicken yourself, boneless skinless chicken breasts are your best bet, and you can either grill them for some nice charred flavor or bake them in the oven at 375°F until they’re just cooked through. The key is not to overcook the chicken, as you want it to stay juicy and tender in your salad. For the best flavor, season your chicken with at least salt and pepper before cooking, though you can also add garlic powder, paprika, or your favorite seasoning blend.

Options for Substitutions

This jar salad is super adaptable and you can switch things up based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Dressing options: Don’t feel limited to the suggested dressings – try a simple lime vinaigrette, regular ranch, or even a basic olive oil and lemon juice combo. If using Greek yogurt-based dressings, regular yogurt works too, just strain it first to remove excess liquid.
• Chicken breast: Any cooked protein works great here – try canned tuna, leftover turkey, grilled shrimp, or chickpeas for a vegetarian option. Just make sure whatever protein you use is well-drained to keep your salad crisp.
• Romaine lettuce: Feel free to swap with any crisp lettuce like iceberg, mixed greens, or even chopped cabbage. Just avoid delicate leaves like spinach, which might wilt too quickly.
• Roma tomato: Any tomato variety works – cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or regular tomatoes all do the job. Just remember to remove excess seeds to prevent your salad from getting too wet.
• Black beans: You can use pinto beans, kidney beans, or even chickpeas instead. Just make sure to rinse and drain them well before adding to your jar.
• Jalapeño: If you’re not into spicy food, bell peppers make a great mild substitute. Or try banana peppers or pepperoncini for a different kind of kick.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making salads in jars is the layering order – putting wet ingredients next to your lettuce will leave you with a soggy mess by lunchtime, so always start with dressing at the bottom and keep those crisp greens at the top. A common mistake is overfilling the jar, which prevents proper ingredient distribution when you shake it out – leave about an inch of space at the top to allow everything to mix well when you’re ready to eat. To keep your avocado from browning, either add it right before eating or toss the slices in a bit of lemon juice before adding to the jar, and make sure your chicken is completely cooled before layering to prevent unwanted condensation that can make your salad watery. For the freshest possible taste, store your prepared jars upright in the fridge and they’ll stay crisp and fresh for up to 3 days.

What to Serve With Chicken Salad in a Jar?

This portable chicken salad is already a complete meal, but you can round it out with some tasty sides to make it even more filling. A handful of tortilla chips or corn tortilla strips adds a nice crunch and makes the salad feel like a deconstructed taco bowl. For something lighter, try serving it with a cup of Mexican-style soup like tortilla soup or black bean soup. If you’re meal prepping for the week, you might want to pack some whole grain crackers or a small portion of quinoa on the side to add some extra staying power to your lunch.

Storage Instructions

Layer Properly: The key to keeping your mason jar salad fresh is all about the layering order! Start with the dressing at the bottom, then add your sturdy ingredients like tomatoes, cucumber, corn, and black beans. Put the chicken in next, followed by the lettuce at the very top. Keep the avocado separate until you’re ready to eat to prevent browning.

Keep Cool: These salad jars will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days when properly layered. The tight seal of the mason jar helps keep everything crisp, and keeping the lettuce away from the dressing prevents wilting. It’s perfect for making a few days’ worth of lunches at once!

Serve: When you’re ready to eat, just add your avocado slices and give the jar a good shake to distribute the dressing. You can eat straight from the jar, or dump everything into a bowl and toss it together. If you packed the jar pretty full, a bowl might make it easier to mix everything up!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0 minutes
Total Time	10-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 50-60 g
• Fat: 30-35 g
• Carbohydrates: 40-50 g

Ingredients

• For the dressing, use 2 tablespoons of any of the following options:
• – ranch dressing made with greek yogurt
• – chipotle ranch dressing
• – spicy cilantro yogurt dressing
• For the salad:
• 1 roma tomato, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/4 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1/2 jalapeno, sliced (or use pickled jalapenos if preferred)
• 1 cup grilled or baked chicken breast, diced or shredded
• 1/4 avocado, sliced
• 1-2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

Step 1: Layer the Ingredients in the Jar

Begin by preparing a 16-ounce mason jar or an equivalent-sized container.

Carefully add the ingredients in the following order to ensure freshness and easy assembly:

• First, pour in your favorite salad dressing.

  This should cover the bottom of the jar.

• Next, add a layer of chopped tomato.

  The juices from the tomato will blend with the dressing, but the other ingredients will remain crisp.

• Follow with a layer of sliced cucumber.
• Add a layer of corn kernels.
• Spoon in a layer of black beans.
• Add some chopped jalapeño for a spicy kick, if desired.
• Layer in pieces of cooked chicken breast.
• Add chunks or slices of avocado.
• Finally, pack in chopped romaine lettuce at the top.

Step 2: Store the Salad

Seal the mason jar tightly with the lid.

Store it upright in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

The layering technique will keep the ingredients fresh and prevent sogginess, especially the romaine.

Step 3: Serve and Enjoy

When you are ready to enjoy your salad, simply shake the jar to mix the ingredients, or pour them out into a bowl or onto a plate.

The dressing will naturally coat the other ingredients as you pour.

Feel free to double the ingredients to prepare two mason jar salads at once for convenient meal prep.