Let's be real here. Bringing a basic salad in a boring old Tupperware container to work every day for lunch and sadly eating it at your desk is a real bummer. How many times have you done the aforementioned and thought to yourself, "Hey, you know what would make this a lot more exciting? Layering all the ingredients in a big Mason jar!"
Well, dear reader, consider this your lucky day, because you've just won the Mason jar salad lottery! Might as well go out and buy some actual lotto tickets now, because winning some cash is literally the only thing better than these nutritious and delicious (and aesthetically pleasing) Mason jar salads.
Whether you're in the mood for something light and refreshing, like a Mediterranean salad, or something a little heartier like a roasted sweet potato and quinoa salad, there's surely a Mason jar salad for you in this glorious collection of lunch and dinner ideas.
1. Chicken and Sweet Corn Salad
Grilled chicken, sweet baby corn, cucumbers, and mixed greens are the perfect combo for a summery salad! You can really add any dressing to this combo, but a BBQ ranch or creamy chipotle dressing would be delicious on this!
2. Green Goddess
This gorgeous green goddess salad has everything you could ever want in a lunch: green beans, yellow bell peppers, red onion, tomato, olives, and hard-boiled eggs for an extra boost of protein. Yum!
3. Mediterranean Salad
Feta cheese, mixed greens, cucumber, and white onions are the perfect base for a light and delicious Mediterranean salad! Add olives and some chicken or fish to spruce it up even more!
4. Summer Fruit Salad
Cool down from the heat with this refreshing fruit salad! Mangoes, watermelon, apples, and grapes are a delicious and healthy way to get some vitamin C while you also get some vitamin D.
5. Zesty Chicken and Cucumber
If you love a little bit of tang in your salad, this zesty chicken and cucumber salad is perfect for you! Spinach, tomato, cucumber, grilled lemon pepper chicken, and pickled red onions dressed in a lemon vinaigrette will surely wake up your taste buds!
6. Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula
Kick-start your healthy warm weather eating with this light and refreshing watermelon, feta, and arugula salad! Add a simple lemon-and-olive-oil dressing, and you’ve got yourself one tasty spring or summer salad!
7. Greek Salad
Tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, and feta make for a tasty Greek-inspired lunch! Add a premade Greek dressing, or simply dress in olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon for a salad that’ll make you feel like you’re lunching in the Mediterranean.
8. Chicken and Veggie
Chicken and veggies are a classic salad combo! This colorful salad also has tons of protein and fiber to help fight off those mid-afternoon snack cravings. Black beans, orange and red bell peppers, red onion, tomatoes, chicken, cheddar cheese, and cilantro make for a delicious and filling meal!
9. Everything but the Kitchen Sink
Fun fact: Adding fruit to a salad is a good way to mix up the monotony of a lunch full of veggies! This salad has everything: strawberries, blueberries, cashews, sunflower seeds, spinach, olives, cucumbers, chicken, and balsamic vinegar. Mmm!
10. Salmon and Quinoa Salad
This salmon and quinoa salad is both filling and nutritious! Add red peppers and spinach for a satisfying crunch, and dress with the dressing of your choice!
11. Rainbow Salad with Salmon
This might be the most beautiful Mason jar salad I’ve ever seen! If you’re big on presentation, layering your ingredients in a Mason jar is the perfect way to add a little pizzazz to your lunch. This rainbow-inspired salad contains avocado, radish, chickpeas, smoked salmon, red onion, red leaf lettuce, and arugula. Dress in lemon, olive oil, and tahini for a zesty kick.
12. Asian Chicken Salad
This Asian chicken salad is packed with flavor and tons of good-for-you protein and veggies. Add edamame, scallions, lettuce, bean sprouts, carrots, and chicken for a light yet filling lunch.
13. Sweet Potato, Avocado, and Cucumber Salad
Sing it with me now: “These are a few of my favorite things!" This simple salad has roasted sweet potatoes, avocado, cucumber, and white beans and is dressed with a simple tahini dressing.
14. Zucchini, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa
This vegetarian-friendly salad will surely pack a flavorful punch! Layer dressing of your choice, zucchini noodles, sweet potato, Swiss chard, quinoa, and radish in a jar, then add avocado when you’re ready to eat!
15. BBQ Chicken Salad
Fact: BBQ chicken salad is always a good idea when it comes to lunch. Add corn, black beans, pulled chicken, red onion, tomato, and lettuce to a Mason jar, then top with barbecue sauce when you’re ready to eat!
16. Summery Fruit Salad
Not all salads are veggie-heavy salads! Fruit salad is a great way to get a sweet treat in during your day, without the added processed sugars everyone both loves and loathes. Although this fruit salad has blueberries, strawberries, grapes, and pineapples in it, you can really add any kind of fruit you’d like! Toss with a few tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt, and you’ve got yourself a light and refreshing warm-weather treat!
17. Vegan Rainbow Salad
This salad is almost too pretty to eat — almost. This vegan rainbow salad calls for lentils, mixed greens, red and yellow bell pepper, cucumber, and fermented cabbage, all dressed in a savory pumpkin vinaigrette.
18. Asparagus, Green Bean, Chicken, and Arugula Salad
This veggie-packed salad screams “upscale backyard BBQ” in the most delicious way! Add herbed olive oil, roasted asparagus, green beans, chicken, radicchio, fennel, arugula, and a wedge of lemon to dress when ready to eat. Yum!
19. Buddha Bowl Salad
This beautiful Buddha Bowl — err, jar — contains edamame, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, olives, radish, capsicum, sauerkraut, and cherry tomatoes. So delicious!
20. Roasted Mushroom and Quinoa Salad
Not all salads have to be 50% lettuce! Toss quinoa, tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, basil, and chickpeas together for a filling and tasty salad alternative!
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