These Asian chicken mason jar salads make for an easy and healthy work lunch! They can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for 4 days.
The first recipe of 2016 is here!
I'm not going to lie. I started with a really reeeeally easy one. Because I think this week is a tough one for everyone. Was yesterday like the Monday of all Mondays or what?!
So in case you need something super easy to prep for lunch, I have you covered. These Asian chicken mason jar salads only take 25 minutes or so to whip up and make for a nice, fresh, healthy work lunch.
This wasn't supposed to be a mason jar salad originally, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized this recipe would keep better in mason jars.
Place the dressing on the bottom. It is a tangy Asian-flavoured dressing made with rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce and some honey. SO GOOD.
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Then I put the sliced chicken on the dressing. I figured that putting the chicken on the dressing will help keep it from drying out.
Next: cabbage, carrots and bell pepper slices. That's it. SO SIMPLE.
By placing the dressing on the bottom of the jar, the cabbage and other veggies are kept from getting too mushy. That way these jars will keep for an extra few days.
You can also make these in regular plastic lunch containers and place the veggies on the top. I can't guarantee how long they will keep, but these Asian chicken mason jar salads will be good for four days in the refrigerator.
When you are ready to serve, shake everything out into a bowl and give it a good toss to get everything coated with the dressing. You will have a fresh and flavourful lunch salad that is crunchy and tangy. I can't get enough of it!
I did find that it wasn't enough to fill me up for the entire afternoon, though, so you would want to still have something else with it. If you are looking for super filling lunch recipes, check out these Cauliflower Cashew Lunch Bowls or these Peanut-Lime Chicken Lunch Bowls!
Happy Tuesday!
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Asian Chicken Mason Jar Salads
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce I use reduced sodium soy sauce
Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 garlic clove
Salad
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 carrot shredded
- 1 bell pepper thinly sliced
Instructions
- Chicken Pre-heat oven to 425°F.
- Line a baking dish with foil and place the chicken in the dish. Cover the chicken with the olive oil and soy sauce, turning to coat.
- Bake for 10 minutes, flip the chicken.
- Bake for another 10-15 minutes, the time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes or more before slicing.
- Vinaigrette Shake all ingredients together
- Salad assembly Divide the vinaigrette evenly between 4 mason jars (or plastic lunch containers). I had between 1.5 and 2 tablespoons per jar.
- Distribute the chicken slices evenly between the jars.
- Top the chicken with cabbage, then carrots and bell peppers.
- Store the sealed jars in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Tips:
Nutrition Information
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Looking for more healthy lunch ideas?
- Middle Eastern Grilled Vegetable & Lentil Bowls with Falafel-Spiced Roasted Chickpeas & Tahini-Yogurt Sauce from Apples & Sparkle
- Vietnamese BBQ Shrimp Noodle Bowl from MJ and Hungryman
- 7 Spice Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls from FoodieCrush
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
What a brilliant idea, Denise! I would just toast some lovely sourdough bread or something similar to have with it.
Love that this is so easy with so few ingredients.
Happy New Year!
Denise says
I LOVE sourdough, sounds just perfect! Thanks, Helen!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Mason Jar Salads are bomb diggity and this crunchy asian chicken salad looks toe-ts delish, Denise Loving the crunch factor in here and that dressing sounds amazing! I would be a very happy girl eating this for lunch AND dinner! Cheers, girlfriend!
P.S. Yes, Monday totally sucked!
Denise says
He he I have to start saying bomb diggity 😉 Thanks so much, Cheyanne!
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat says
Definitely needed an easy recipe on Monday, what a rough one! This salad is gorgeous though, I could definitely indulge in it =)
Denise says
I hear ya! THanks so much, Shelby 🙂 Hopefully next week is a little easier!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This salad is gorgeous, Denise! I always gravitate towards salads in mason jars because, let's face it, it's more fun that way! Love the crunch in here. Just perfect!
Denise says
Jars are TOTALLY more fun, Gayle! And surprisingly practical 😀 Thanks!
Erika @ Love&Custard says
I'm such a lazy luncher (if that's a word..) Denise, so I love this make ahead healthy recipe! I've started being braver in my cooking recently by experimenting with Asian-style sauces and I've loved using combinations of soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey. You just can't beat it - plus it's so quick to throw together! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Denise says
I am so with you on that, Erika! I want to put as little effort into lunch as possible! Thanks so much!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I've absolutely loved the beginning of 2016. Not working anymore means NO MORE MONDAYS! Oh it is the best! Well, I'm still super crazy busy with a newborn. But it is much more enjoyable than my job. I love it. And I love this salad! Perfect make ahead lunch to grab and eat on the go!
Denise says
Down with Mondays! LOL. That is definitely the benefit of mat leave! Thanks so much, Natalie!
marcie says
I started the year off with an easy one, too -- it's hard getting back in the game! 🙂 As long as it's delicious, who really cares? I love Asian salads, Denise, and I love that this is grab 'n go -- perfect!
Denise says
Yes, it's so good to ease back in 😉 Thanks, Marcie!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Mason jars definitely make salads extra fun! My hubby always goes for the asian-chinese-thai chicken salads so I know he would love this one... will definitely have to try it! Happy New Year!
Denise says
This is one of my favorite dressings ever! I hope you guys like it! Thanks, Jess!
Denise says
YES. It is still getting dark at 3:30 pm here and so depressing. I'm just going to make bright happy food to try and cheer up 😉 Thanks, Jessica!
Annie says
Oh I am all about this! We totally love Asian dishes so I am always looking to add to my repertoire! I love all the crunch in this salad!
Denise says
Thanks, Annie! I'm obsessed with the dressing! And of course crunchy things 😀
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I loooove eating my salad out of mason jars! It makes me feel so super-cool and trendy just for a moment. LOL. I am SO going to have to give your asian chicken salad a try because I'm a total sucker for asian anything! Love the sound of that dressing. 🙂
Denise says
Hehehe sort of like a hipster, right?! 😉 I don't eat it out of the jar, I have to dump it into a bowl to get proper dressing coverage (such a salad connoisseur I am)! Thanks, Sarah!
Danielle says
This salad is such a genius idea, Denise! I've been looking for some easy healthy lunches that I can make ahead and I so need to give this a try. These look so cute in the mason jars too!
Denise says
It is SO easy. I hope you like it if you do give it a try! Thanks, Danielle 😀
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Mason jar salads are the best and I love the fun textures in this one!
Denise says
They are just fun, aren't they Medha? THanks so much and Happy New Year to you!!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
These are a stroke of brilliance! What a perfect and delicious make ahead lunch.
Denise says
Thanks so much, Rachel! Happy New Year!!