Even though I work from home, I need something quick and easy for lunch or else it’s 3pm and I’ve realized I haven’t eaten since breakfast. So when I saw a few salad in a jar ideas I knew I had to create a few of my own.
So when Fresh Express sent out a few coupons for me to test out their salads and partake in their 30-day Salad Swap challenge. Basically the challenge is to take mealtime favorites that are higher in calories and swap them for a delicious, lighter salad creation.
I just took the challenge one step further and put my salad creation into a jar for easy access and easy storage. Now I just have to grab a salad from the fridge and chomp away as I work without actually having to prepare anything! Win-win.
Lunches in a mason jar make perfect sense. And being able to prep my lunches ahead of time made the challenge that much easier. I can prep 5 salads on a Sunday to enjoy during the week and, because of the layering, each one tasted just as good as the last.
Plus with the Fresh Express salad kits, creating great flavor combos to mirror my favorite lunchtime meals was simple and easy. By starting with a salad kit as my base I didn’t have to worry about having a ton of different toppings on hand.
How to Make a Salad In A Jar
- Grab a Fresh Express salad kit
- Add in some of your favorite additions (proteins like chicken or cheese, extra veggies, etc)
- Layer the salad kit and additions starting with the dressing first. Then add veggies, protein, toppings, and end with your lettuce
- Screw on the jar lid and label/date each jar
- Place in the fridge to hang out until you are hungry
Salad In A Jar Ideas
Shrimp Pad Thai Salad using Fresh Express Asian Chopped Kit (divide in 4 jars)
- Fresh Express Asian Chopped Kit dressing
- cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- lemon, juiced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 freshly cracked black pepper
- cranberries
- wonton strips
- lettuce
Santa Fe Style Chili Salad using Fresh Express Caesar Salad Kit (divide in 4 jars)
- Fresh Express Caesar Supreme Kit dressing
- cooked flank steak, seasoned with taco seasoning
- 1 cup yellow corn kernels
- 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 basket cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- croutons
- cheese
- lettuce
Chimichanga Chicken Salad with Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine (divide in 4 jars)
- 1 cup tomatillo salsa
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 cup (4 oz) rotisserie chicken breast, skin removed, hand shredded
- 1 avocado, diced
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups pinto beans, canned, drained, rinsed
- 1 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
- Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine, chopped
I need to add more salads to my diet since I’ve noticed my waistline and thighs are spreading like crazy.
So…with the jar, the salad doesn’t get wilted after a few days?
That’s my only concern.
Since the jars I have seal air tight I’ve never had a problem with 5 days in the fridge. Any time after that and they’ll start to wilt.
I love this! I love using our mason jars year round and love making salads in them. Thanks for the new recipe ideas!
I think that everything is just more fun in a jar! Love your ideas!
I have a friend that does this and air tights the jars and has all her salads made for the week!
I love Fresh Express. You can be so versatile and creative with salads and who doesn’t love mason jars? lol.
YUM!! I love salads, but don’t always take the time to make myself one. This is such a great idea, and the recipes you provided look and sound delicious. Thanks Danielle!
What!? Salad in a jar? so pretty and so delicious. I am the same way about eating. Matter of fact, it happened to me today! I had to go to the drive thru and order a burger. I bet if I had a salad in a jar, I wouldn’t have had to 😉 The Santa Fe sounds amazing!
Such a great idea to make salads in jars for the week! I agree, the day slips away from you and suddenly it’s 3PM and you’re starving so I usually go for the quickest (and most unhealthy) options – this is such a better alternative! 🙂