Summer is right around the corner, and nobody wants to eat heavy, hot meals in the middle of the workday. Fresh, vibrant salads are the ultimate summer lunch ideas, but taking a salad to work usually results in a sad, soggy, wilted mess by 12 PM.
Enter the brilliant solution: Mason Jar Salads.
This is the holy grail of summer meal prep. By using a simple glass mason jar and following the “Law of Layers,” you can prep 5 days’ worth of Greek Chicken Salads on Sunday afternoon, and the lettuce will still be perfectly crisp on Friday! It’s healthy, high in protein, and insanely delicious.
🛒 The Ingredients (The Mediterranean Mix)
- The Protein: 2 large Chicken Breasts, cooked and cubed (or use a Rotisserie chicken to save time!).
- The Veggies: 1 English Cucumber (diced), 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes (halved), 1/2 Red Onion (diced), 1/2 cup Kalamata Olives.
- The Cheese: 1/2 cup Feta Cheese, crumbled.
- The Greens: 1 large bag of fresh Romaine or Spring Mix.
- The Vinaigrette: 1/2 cup Olive Oil, 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon Mustard, 1 tsp dried Oregano, Salt & Pepper. (Whisked together).
- Equipment: 4 Wide-Mouth Quart-Sized Glass Mason Jars.
👩🍳 The “Law of Layers” (How to Build the Perfect Jar)
The entire secret to a mason jar salad is keeping the wet dressing as far away from the delicate lettuce as possible. You MUST layer them in this exact order!
Layer 1: The Dressing (The Bottom) 🛑
Divide your Greek vinaigrette evenly among the 4 jars. The liquid must stay at the very bottom!
Layer 2: The “Marinating” Veggies (The Shield)
Add your cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions. These are sturdy vegetables. Not only do they act as a shield to keep the dressing down, but sitting in the vinaigrette actually marinates them and makes them taste better!
Layer 3: The Heavy Ingredients
Add your Kalamata olives and cubed cooked chicken. The chicken adds weight to pack down the veggies below.
Layer 4: The Cheese
Add your crumbled feta cheese.
Layer 5: The Delicate Greens (The Top)
Stuff the top half of the jar entirely with your fresh romaine or spring mix. Because the greens are at the very top, miles away from the dressing at the bottom, they will stay bone-dry and perfectly crisp for days!
🍽️ How to Serve & Store
Screw the lids tightly onto your mason jars and store them upright in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days!
When you are ready to eat: Simply grab a large bowl, unscrew the lid, and dump the jar out. The greens will fall out first to form the bed of the salad, and the dressing from the bottom will pour out last, perfectly dressing your salad from the top down. Grab a fork and enjoy the ultimate easy summer meal!
