Epic Mason Jar Cobb Salad with Ranch

Why This Mason Jar Cobb Salad Is a Favorite Lunch Idea

• Meal prep magic. Meal prepping salads can be tricky, since it’s easy to end up with soggy lettuce and mushy veggies. That’s why I love recipes like my Southwestern mason jar salad, spicy Thai mason jar salad, and Greek mason jar salad. Layering the ingredients in the right order keeps everything fresh and tasty in the fridge.
• Only 6 ingredients. This is the type of simple recipe that packs loads of flavor into a bowl, with so few ingredients. It’s easy to customize the salad ingredients, too, depending on what you have in the fridge. I’ve made versions with leftover ribeye steak instead of chicken that taste great.
• Protein-packed. Between the chicken, bacon, and hard-boiled egg, this salad is loaded with protein and super satisfying. It’s a light lunch that keeps me full until dinner!

What Goes In a Cobb Salad?

Your typical Cobb salad consists of chopped greens, chopped tomato, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chives, and then topped with cooked chicken or sliced ham. Some recipes add cheese to it as well. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients I use in this jar salad recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for the exact measurements.

• Chicken – This can be any cooked chicken you have on hand. I’ll usually cook a batch of quick air fryer chicken breasts as they’re easy to chop or shred. You can also use a rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken.
• Bacon – Cooked to your desired crispness in the oven or a skillet. Cooked diced ham also works.
• Egg – Hard-boil the eggs in boiling water for 10 minutes, or 8 minutes for soft-boiled. Afterward, give them a rough chop.
• Cucumber – Chopped. Both long English cucumbers and short Mediterranean cucumbers work nicely as they’re thin-skinned and more or less seedless.
• Cherry Tomatoes – Or grape tomatoes, halved. I like to use smaller tomatoes as they’re less watery. If you’re using a larger tomato, like a Roma, cut it into quarters or smaller.
• Avocado – Ripe avocados can range in color, so I usually go by feel. A ripe and ready avocado will be firm to the touch, with a slight give when gently pressed. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and use a spoon to easily scoop out the flesh before chopping it into smaller pieces.
• Greens – I use romaine, but iceberg lettuce, watercress, or even endive are great choices for a Cobb salad.

Homemade Light Ranch Dressing

A red wine vinaigrette is traditionally used for Cobb Salad, but in this recipe, I use a light ranch dressing with a Greek yogurt base that I think you’re going to love!

• Plain Greek Yogurt – Or any plain yogurt.
• Almond Milk – You can use any milk, dairy or non-dairy, just make sure it’s unsweetened.
• Fresh Dill – Try to find fresh dill if you can, for the best flavor. If not, dried dill will work. You’ll need 1/3 the amount if you’re using dried herbs.
• Seasoning – Onion and garlic powder (use all of one or the other if needed) and salt.
• Honey – I use raw honey, but feel free to swap honey for another sweetener of your choice.

How to Assemble a Cobb Salad in a Jar

This recipe makes four jars, but you can scale the dressing and ingredients as needed for more. Having all your ingredients ready and chopped ahead of time makes this Cobb salad quick to assemble in minutes. 

1. Dressing first. Whisk the ranch dressing ingredients together. Divide the dressing between your mason jars.
2. Sturdier veggies. Next, add ingredients that hold up if they sit in the dressing. Here, that’s the diced cucumber, then the tomatoes.
3. Protein. Top the veggies with the chopped egg, then the chicken, and then the bacon.
4. Softer ingredients. Add the avocado.
5. Fresh greens last. Lastly, finish each jar with chopped romaine lettuce. Close the lids, and keep your mason jar Cobb salads in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.

How to Serve a Mason Salad

When it’s time to serve, open the jar and turn the salad out onto a plate. The dressing ends up on top and the leaves on the bottom, so give it a light toss, and you’re ready to go!

I’ll often pair my salad with a green detox smoothie or a travel tumbler of lemon cucumber water. For a sweet treat, I love these chocolate peanut butter energy bites or banana bread energy balls.

How Long Will a Mason Jar Salad Last?

Stored in jars, these mason jar Cobb salads last for 4-5 days in the fridge. I prep them on the weekend and enjoy easy lunches all week!

More Easy Meal Prep Lunches

• Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowl
• Taco Salad Bowl
• Avocado Chicken Salad
• Greek Chicken Bowls
• High Protein Burger Bowls