Meal Prep Sunday: Easy Salads in a Jar for Busy Weeks

Meal prep is a simple way to stay ahead during busy weeks, and salads in a jar make it both convenient and fun. 

Today, I’ll walk you through two of my favorite make-ahead salads that are perfect for work, school, or days when you just don’t have time to cook.

1. Getting started with meal prep

Meal prepping is essential when juggling multiple jobs or busy schedules. By preparing meals in advance, you save time, reduce stress, and make healthier choices throughout the week. 

Salads in a jar are a great option because they’re portable, customizable, and stay fresh for days in the fridge.

2. The salad jar setup

I recently found a set of 32-ounce wide-mouth glass jars that come with a dressing cup and a topping cup. They were affordable, adorable, and even cheaper than traditional mason jars. 

These jars make it easy to layer ingredients properly so nothing gets soggy, while keeping dressings and crunchy toppings separate until you’re ready to eat.

3. Salad bar memories

Growing up in the 80s, I loved visiting salad bars at restaurants. They felt exciting, with endless options spinning around like a merry-go-round. 

Since many places no longer have salad bars, I decided to recreate that experience at home by building my own “salad bar in a jar.”

4. Prepping the ingredients

Before assembling, I prepped a variety of ingredients:

• Romaine lettuce
• Carrots
• Scallions (greens and whites separated)
• Chopped ham
• Chopped hard-boiled egg
• Ranch dressing
• Croutons
• Macaroni salad
• Peas

Prepping everything in advance makes the layering process quick and easy.

5. Salad bar in a jar

To build the first jar, I followed these steps:

1. Layer macaroni salad at the bottom to keep moisture away from the lettuce.

2. Add peas, ham, hard-boiled egg, scallions, and carrots.

3. Top with chopped romaine lettuce, pressing it down to fit as much as possible.

4. Place dressing in the bottom cup and croutons in the top cup.

5. Seal the jar tightly.

This creates a colorful and hearty “salad bar in a jar” packed with flavor and texture.

6. Taco salad in a jar

The second salad option is a taco-inspired jar. For this, I used:

• Ground beef seasoned with taco spices and scallions
• Black beans
• Corn
• Cheddar cheese
• More scallions
• Romaine lettuce
• Ranch dressing
• Tortilla strips for crunch

The layering order is key: cooled taco meat first, followed by black beans, corn, scallions, cheese, and lettuce.

Dressing goes in the cup, and tortilla strips stay dry in the top section until serving.

7. Ready-to-go meals

With both salads assembled, I now have four jars prepped and ready for the week. These jars will stay fresh in the fridge for about three days, making them perfect grab-and-go meals for busy mornings.