The perfect make ahead, grab-n-go lunch.
Lunch doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should always be delicious! Que these cute mason jar cobb salads – the best meal-prepped lunch a girl (or guy) could ask for. Spend 30 minutes in the kitchen on Sunday and you’ll be eating good the rest of the week with this healthy, protein-packed salad.
Hi guys! Tis summer and salad season. ☀️ But seriously, how much better are salads in the summer?! I’ve been craving all the greens and goods lately and this salad does the trick!
If you follow the blog, you know I’m not a big salad fan. I think for so long that’s all I ate because that was my only option for a gluten free meal, but now there are so many options that a salad is usually my last resort.
Not today though. I’m cobb salad’n all the way!
Mason Jar Cobb Salad Ingredients
- spring mix
- cherry tomatoes
- cucumbers
- avocado
- chicken breast
- eggs
- ranch dressing
- bacon (optional)
Choosing a clean dressing is the single most important factor in making a salad healthy. My favorites are: bolthouse, primal kitchen, and tessemae’s. If you’re going for lower cal, bolthouse is the way to go. If you’re going cleaner ingredients, primal kitchen or tessemae’s is your best bet.
There are a bunch of ways to cook your chicken. 1. Save time by using your instant pot. 2. On the grill in true summer fashion. 3. Conventionally, in the oven.
And last but not least – bacon. To add or not to add? That is the question. Bacon gives any meal the best flavor, so if I had the option, I would say go for it sister (just make sure to use bacon with no sugar added like Applegate ;)). If you’re trying to watch calories and fat, you can definitely leave it out and the salad will be just as good.
How To Layer A Mason Jar Salad
Always start with the dressing. The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons, which is the perfect amount. (I started testing with only 2 and it just wasn’t enough, but you can definitely adjust depending on how big your salad is. You can also pack the dressing on the side in a separate container, if you prefer.)
Next up, the veggies – cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. I add 4 sliced cherry tomatoes and 4 slices of cucumbers to cover the dressing.
Then it’s the salad. Stuff the spring mix into the jar, packing down so there’s a little room at the top.
Lastly, add your sliced hard boiled egg and avocado. Put on the lid and pack the chicken separately, (unless you have a giant jar and the chicken will fit on the top 🤷🏻♀️)
Don’t have mason jars? No problem! Make the salad in a glass container and pack your dressing separately.
How Long Do Mason Jar Salads Last?
I prep my salads on Sunday and usually have them all eaten by Thursday. I would say 4 – 5 days max. If you’re eating them later in the week, make sure to put the cherry tomatoes and cucumber on top of the dressing, so the spring mix/salad isn’t soaking up all the dressing and getting soggy.
These Mason Jar Cobb Salads are easy, scrumptious and packed the nutrients you need. Enjoy!
- • 1 ½ cup organic spring mix
- • 4 cherry tomatoes, sliced
- • 4 cucumbers, diced
- • 3 tablespoons ranch dressing (bolthouse, tessemae's or primal kitchen)
- • ⅛ an avocado, sliced
- • 4 oz (~1 cup) grilled chicken breast, cut into 1" pieces
- • 1 egg
- • Optional: 1-2 strips bacon
- x the number of jars you're making
- Cook chicken using grill, oven or instant pot and bring pot of water to boil and cook egg(s). (optional: cook bacon on stove or in oven, if desired).
- While the chicken and eggs cook, start preparing the salad. Place 3 tablespoons ranch dressing in the mason jar.
- Next, slice the cherry tomatoes and dice the cucumber and add on top of ranch dressing. Then, pack in the spring mix.
- Once the egg(s) is cooked, place in a bowl with ice water to cool before peeling. (If you're not eating the salad until later in the week, don't peel the hard boiled egg until the day of).
- Add ⅛ an avocado to the top of the spring mix and secure the lid.
- Once chicken is cooked, cut into 1 inch pieces and place in baggie/container to add to the salad later.
- When ready to eat, dump contents of mason jar into a bowl, add egg and chicken and enjoy!
Is your salad game strong? Try out these afitcado favorites:
