A good jar recipe doesn't need to be complicated. You cook your protein, chop a few vegetables, layer everything in the right order, and you're done. The dressing goes in the VAREALLY dressing cup so nothing gets soggy until you're ready to eat.
Here are five recipes — one for each situation. Pick the one that fits your day.
Chicken Salad Jar
The most straightforward jar salad there is. Cook your chicken simply, slice it, layer it in. It works with leftover chicken too — which makes this one of the easiest lunches you can put together on a busy morning.
- 2 tbsp olive oil & lemon dressing
- ½ cup cooked chicken, sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup sweet corn
- ½ avocado, diced
- 2 cups romaine, chopped
- Dressing in the cup
- Tomatoes and corn at the bottom
- Cucumber and avocado next
- Chicken slices on top
- Romaine goes in last
Tip: Season the chicken with just salt, pepper, and a little olive oil. Simple works best here. Leftover rotisserie chicken is also perfect.
Made for the VAREALLY Salad Jar.Available exclusively on Amazon.
Shop on Amazon →Beef & Cucumber Jar
Sliced beef with fresh cucumber and a light dressing — clean, simple, and genuinely refreshing. The cucumber keeps it light even though the beef makes it filling. Good for lunch or a light dinner.
- 2 tbsp soy & sesame dressing
- ½ cup cooked beef, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup shredded carrots
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 cups mixed greens
- Dressing in the cup
- Cucumber slices at the bottom
- Carrots and tomatoes next
- Beef slices in the middle
- Sesame seeds scattered over
- Greens go in last
Tip: Slice the beef as thin as you can — it makes the jar much easier to eat. A soy and sesame dressing works really well with the cucumber.
Chickpea & Veggie Jar
Zero cooking required. Open a can of chickpeas, chop a few vegetables, and you're done. It's lighter than the meat jars but filling enough for lunch — and the lemon dressing makes everything taste fresh and bright.
- 2 tbsp lemon & olive oil dressing
- ½ cup chickpeas, rinsed
- ½ cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Dressing in the cup
- Chickpeas at the bottom
- Cucumber and pepper next
- Tomatoes and onion on top
- Baby spinach goes in last
Tip: Add a pinch of cumin and paprika to the chickpeas before adding them. Takes 10 seconds and makes a real difference to the flavour.
Egg & Veggie Jar
Boiled eggs are one of the easiest proteins for a jar salad. They take about 8 minutes to cook, they keep well in the fridge, and they go with almost anything. This is a good one when you want something simple and reliable.
- 2 tbsp mustard vinaigrette
- 2 boiled eggs, sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup olives
- 2 cups romaine, chopped
- Dressing in the cup
- Tomatoes at the bottom
- Cucumber and olives next
- Egg slices in the middle
- Feta scattered on top
- Romaine goes in last
Tip: Boil your eggs on Sunday and keep them in the fridge. They last all week and make this jar a 5-minute job in the morning.
Overnight Oat Breakfast Jar
This one is for the morning. Prep it the night before — it takes 5 minutes — and grab it straight from the fridge on your way out. The oats soak overnight and get creamy, the fruit stays fresh on top, and the whole thing is ready when you are.
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup milk (any kind)
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup strawberries, sliced
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 sliced banana
- 2 tbsp granola (add in the morning)
- Mix oats, milk and honey in the jar
- Close the lid and refrigerate overnight
- In the morning: add strawberries
- Blueberries and banana on top
- Granola goes in last — stays crunchy
Tip: Add the granola in the morning, not the night before — it stays crunchy that way. Everything else can be prepped the night before.
Try these in a VAREALLY Salad Jar.
The separate dressing cup keeps everything fresh. Available on Amazon —
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