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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Layered Taco Salad in a Jar Plus Packing Tips

    UPDATED Feb 4, 2020 · PUBLISHED Aug 13, 2013 BY Marjory Pilley · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Mason Jar Taco Salads Pin

    Assemble Layered Taco Salad in a Jar and enjoy tasty, no-mess, healthy salads all week. It all starts with an easy 2 ingredient salsa dressing. Follow the "rules" to make ANY SALAD in a mason jar!

    Layered Taco Salad in a mason jar plus with 2 more behind it.

    I'm late to the party. But, now that I'm here, I'm lovin' it! I'm talking about the mason jar craze. What a great make-ahead meal strategy. Just properly layer your favorite ingredients in jars, and you have fresh, no-prep salads throughout the week.

    If you planned for extra 3 Ingredient Salsa Chicken in a Crock-Pot then you can layer that in too! It's the perfect substitution for black beans to keep this recipe in carbs.

    I've been chowing down on this taco salad in a jar for 3 days now. It's so easy to just grab it out of the fridge and dump it out on a plate. It has some of my favorite ingredients and it's low-cal too! And yes, it's still fresh 4 days later!

    It's all in the packing. Yeah, just like a suitcase. If you do it right you are rewarded with a lovely, care-free travel (umm..I mean dining) experience.

    Dressing and grape tomatoes in bottom of mason jar.

    How To Layer a Salad in a Mason Jar

    I've used the specific ingredients for a taco salad to discuss the layering process and tips for assembling just about any salad:

    1. The dressing always goes in the mason jar first. Combine one to two Tablespoons of your favorite salsa (mine is Newman's Own Peach Salsa) with 1 Tablespoon of sour cream or vegan substitute. You can use Greek Yogurt instead as we do in this Healthy Taco Salad Dressing with just 2 ingredients.
    2. Next, add firm vegetables. Firm, as in they won't go mushy by touching the dressing for a day or two. In fact, they might even taste better after marinating a bit. I added grape tomatoes and hearts of palm. A word of caution, diced tomatoes and soft fruits, like strawberries, do not work well. Add these at serving time. Some other vegetables that would be great are carrots, celery, peppers, cauliflower, and even grapes.
    3. The next layer can be a little heavier, like a protein. I was multi-tasking and violated the order in the picture. The black beans really should have been below the shredded cheese. Of course, diced Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken or previously mentioned 3 Ingredient Salsa Chicken would also be nice in this salad too.
    4. Another option is to add a grain, like bulgur wheat or lentils. Add that type of ingredient next.
    5. Lighter items go next, such as black olives. For other salads, this is where you would add nuts, seeds or dried fruit.
    6. Add cheese or vegan shreds next.
    7. Now stuff in your lettuce. I used a combination of baby spinach and butter lettuce.
    8. Mix a little fresh cilantro in with the salad greens.
    9. The taco salad in a jar is capped off with a few tortilla chips, which I lift out first and then crumble on top of the salad once it's on a plate. Wrap the chips in a paper towel to keep them crispy or add them when you are about to enjoy the salad.
    10. That's it!

    3 full Layered Taco Salads in Jars in a row

    If you have everything out, it's really just as easy to make 3 or 4 salads as it is to make one.

    Taco Salad in a Jar Packing Tips

    • For best results, make sure your ingredients are "dry" before you put them in the jar.
    • I used quart-sized mason jars. A smaller size would work for a side salad.
    • Placing a paper towel at the top of the jar will absorb excess moisture.
    • You may want to avoid ingredients with strong odors, such as onions. Add these on serving day, if desired.
    • Use salsa without added sugar and substitute a different protein for the beans to keep this recipe South Beach Diet Phase 1 compliant.
    • The salads should stay fresh for 4-5 days.

    Taco Salad on plate with a fork

    When you are ready, dump it out and arrange it on a plate. I think it's very cool that the lettuce greens come out first and the toppings, well they end up on top. Stir and enjoy!

    If you need more inspiration, check out the beautiful salads over at the Lunch Box Bunch.

    Please rate this recipe and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see what you are cooking up!

    📋 Recipe

    Taco Salad in a Jar

    Assemble Layered Taco Salad Jars to enjoy tasty, no-mess, healthy, low-cal salads all week long. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 388kcal
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    • 2 Tablespoons salsa
    • 1 Tablespoon sour cream Greek yogurt or vegan version
    • ½ cup cherry tomatoes Other suggestions include peppers and carrots
    • ½ cup hearts of palm chopped
    • ½ cup black beans Other options include chicken, tofu and shrimp and/or grains
    • ¼ cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded, or vegan version
    • 2 cups lettuce we used butter lettuce and spinach
    • Tortilla Chips Optional; best to keep separate and add before serving

    Instructions

    • Mix Salsa and Sour Cream together and layer in the bottom of the mason jar.
    • Layer the remaining ingredients in the order presented.
    • Cap and store until ready to serve. Pour contents onto a plate and toss to coat with dressing. Top with crushed tortilla chips, if using.

    Notes

    Expert Tips
    1. For keto-friendly South Beach and low-carb diets, substitute chicken or other protein for black beans and use salsa that is sugar-free.
    2. For best results, make sure your ingredients are "dry" before you put them in the jar.
    3. I used quart-sized mason jars. A smaller size would work for a side salad.
    4. Placing a paper towel at the top of the jar will absorb excess moisture.
    5. You may want to avoid ingredients with strong odors, such as onions. Add these on serving day, if desired.
    6. Salads should stay fresh for 4-5 days.
    Grab 5 Low-Carb Saucesand get more easy, healthy recipes! JOIN HERE

    Nutrition

    Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 491mg | Potassium: 2898mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 1485IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 408mg | Iron: 5mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

     

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily

      August 14, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      This would be perfect for our little trips to the lake!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        August 14, 2013 at 12:45 pm

        Absolutely! No fuss or mess, more time playing.

        Reply
    2. [email protected]

      August 15, 2013 at 9:47 pm

      What a cool idea! I've never thought about putting a taco salad in a jar, but that makes sense since it can be deconstructed or as a burrito!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        August 16, 2013 at 8:56 am

        It works amazingly well!

        Reply
    3. Tara

      August 07, 2014 at 9:25 am

      Looks great, I have got to try making these mason jar salads, I have wanted to forever!! Thanks for the inspiration!!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        August 07, 2014 at 5:11 pm

        Thanks Tara! I'm ready to have lunch set for a few days!

        Reply
    4. Joanie @ ZagLeft

      March 10, 2015 at 9:58 am

      What a really smart idea. I don't know why, but I've never made a salad in a jar. This would be such a great idea for my husband to bring to work.

      Reply
    5. [email protected]

      March 10, 2015 at 8:39 pm

      What a great idea! I love using my mason jars!

      Reply
    6. Martha @ A Family Feast

      March 10, 2015 at 9:00 pm

      I've got a cabinet full of mason jars - what a great idea for a portable salad!

      Reply
    7. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes

      March 10, 2015 at 9:47 pm

      I need to join in on this mason jar craze!! These look so good - love that you can see all the layers through the jars!

      Reply
    8. Heather | girlichef

      March 11, 2015 at 11:48 am

      I really do love the idea of a salad in a jar...I can't believe it's (yet another) thing that I haven't tried yet. Your taco salad sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing the order of packing, I hadn't really thought about it yet, and this will help when I actually get around to making some!

      Reply
    9. Colleen (Souffle Bombay)

      March 11, 2015 at 2:45 pm

      Nothing beats the versatility of mason jars! I could go for your salad...right now!

      Reply
    10. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious

      March 12, 2015 at 1:43 pm

      I haven't tried the whole salad in a jar thing yet, but I love the concept. And I LOVE that peach salsa dressing!

      Reply
    11. Amanda @ The Kitcheneer

      March 15, 2015 at 4:24 pm

      I have been wanting to use my mason jars for salads for awhile now, I NEED to cause Taco anything is my kind of jam! Love it!

      Reply
    12. Liz

      February 11, 2018 at 7:50 am

      5 stars
      I finally got some jars to try this. The yogurt/salsa mixture is perfect. Wait to top with the chips until you are about to eat them. Will do this again.

      Reply

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