Always start with good chicken when you’re making salads like this (or any salad.) It makes such a difference in the overall flavor of the salad. I like to grill my chicken, or grab a rotisserie chicken from Costco, or at the very least, roast some in the oven. Just make sure to season it! I layer chopped chicken, crumbled bacon, and thinly sliced red onion into my jars. I actually love the pre-cooked bacon you just warm up in the microwave; it works great here (and it’s fairly low in calories).
You can choose any greens you like. Spinach is a good choice for this combo, but you could toss in some kale or broccoli slaw or whatever.
On top, I sprinkle in some reduced fat feta, which adds a great tangy bite.
And since this salad has a ton of sweet and savory going, I love dried cranberries and caramelized nuts. I just buy these bags of ready-made nuts and fruit. You can usually find them in the produce section, or by the croutons and salad toppings. It’s not the same as making your own candied nuts, but it’s quick, easy, and they have a fraction of the calories as the homemade type so these are totally doable if you’re watching your diet.
All of that gets piled in the jars. The very last component, which I failed to include in photographs, is an apple. I don’t put them in the jars because I like them nice and fresh. I just dice up a handful of crisp, juicy apple and toss it in there. When I make my kids’ lunches in the morning, I often slice up apples for those, so I just keep a chunk of the apple for my lunch and it all works out. It’s also really great with avocado if you have any on hand.
The thing that pulls this all together is my Maple Bacon Vinaigrette. Don’t you love that whisk?
This is seriously one of my favorite jar salads these days. All of the crunch and the sweet and the tang…it’s crazy good.
Like Salad Jars? Here’s a few more! Kale and Cabbage Salad Jars with Tahini Lime Dressing Black Bean and Mango Salad Jars Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette Salad Jars
