Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar: Your Ultimate Healthy Meal Prep Solution

Discover the perfect blend of quick preparation, nourishing ingredients, and delightful flavors with this incredible Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar. It’s not just a meal; it’s a smart strategy for busy schedules, offering a healthy, portable, and utterly delicious option that can be prepped ahead for effortless lunches or dinners.

Hello, wonderful friends! Another weekend has zoomed by, hasn’t it? It always feels like they pass in the blink of an eye. Today finds us with the kids enjoying a school holiday, the temperatures outside feeling quite frosty, and me deep in a Pinterest dive, searching for exciting indoor activities. Any brilliant ideas for a spirited 3 and 5-year-old? The quest for creative entertainment is never-ending!

Speaking of family fun, as I shared in my recent Strawberry Puppy Chow post, we recently invested in Netflix – finally! It’s been a joy exploring their vast library of films, especially the classics. Last night, we stumbled upon “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves,” and oh, what a nostalgic trip down memory lane that was! My children were absolutely captivated, and now they’re eagerly anticipating watching the rest of the series. It’s moments like these, simple yet cherished, that make family life so rich.

After the kids were tucked into bed, my thoughts turned to the week ahead. The kitchen cleanup quickly transitioned into meal prep mode. My goal? Something easy, quick, and undeniably healthy. The answer arrived almost instantly: a Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar. It’s the ideal solution – a vibrant, balanced meal I can assemble in minutes, store in the fridge, and have ready to grab and go for tomorrow’s lunch or a speedy dinner. Absolutely perfect for staying on track with healthy eating amidst a busy schedule.

Why a Layered Caprese Salad in a Jar is Your Meal Prep Game Changer

The classic Caprese salad holds a special place in my heart. It’s effortlessly light, wonderfully quick to assemble, and naturally leans towards the healthier side. What makes it truly exceptional, however, is its versatility. You can easily customize it to suit your personal taste and dietary needs. For me, that means adding chicken – a fantastic source of lean protein that instantly transforms a side dish into a fulfilling meal. I always keep a bag of Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips in my freezer. They are a true lifesaver, already fully cooked and incredibly convenient. With just a minute or so of preparation according to package directions, I have perfectly grilled chicken ready to elevate my salads, wraps, and quick dinners.

This past weekend, during a trip to Walmart, I made sure to stock up on these freezer staples (they also offer a refrigerated variety for even quicker access). While browsing the frozen aisle, my attention naturally drifted to the salad dressing section. The array of choices was impressive, but I ultimately reached for my tried-and-true favorite: Wish-Bone® Regular Italian Dressing. There’s a reason this dressing is a constant in our pantry. It’s bursting with robust flavors, packed with aromatic Italian herbs and seasonings that we simply can’t get enough of. We use it for everything – marinating meats, seasoning vegetables, and, of course, as a delicious topping for our nightly salads. Noticing our current bottle was nearing empty, a fresh one was a must-add to the cart.

Smart Savings on Your Salad Essentials

Savvy shoppers will appreciate these in-store coupon offers, making it even easier to enjoy these quality products:

• Tyson® coupons will be placed on Wishbone® Italian Dressing bottles – “Save $.75 on ANY ONE (1) Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken.”
• Wish-Bone® coupons will be placed on Tyson® Frozen & Refrigerated Grilled & Ready products – , “Save $.75 on ANY ONE (1) Wish-Bone Salad Dressing.”

Crafting the Perfect Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar

As I pondered my meal prep options last night, I was reminded of an incredibly delicious and simple Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar that I had sampled at a recent cooking demonstration. It was so straightforward to assemble and absolutely bursting with flavor, I knew it would be ideal for the following day’s lunch. The true genius of making salads in a jar lies in the layering technique. When done correctly, you can prepare these beauties the night before without any worry of the ingredients turning soggy or mushy. This method keeps everything fresh and crisp until you’re ready to eat, making it a dream for busy individuals.

For my Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar, I meticulously selected a vibrant array of fresh ingredients. I started with creamy fresh mozzarella, juicy cherry tomatoes, fiber-rich whole wheat pasta, the aforementioned convenient Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips, crisp spinach, and fragrant fresh basil. While many prefer to place the dressing at the bottom of the jar to keep ingredients from getting soggy, I opted to keep the Wish-Bone® Regular Italian Dressing in a separate, smaller container for a specific reason. I was preparing a second jar for my husband to take to work, and he has a habit of simply tossing his lunch onto the passenger seat of his car. To avoid any potential spills or premature dressing distribution throughout the jar before he was ready to enjoy his lunch, a separate container was the safest bet. However, if your jar is sure to remain upright, adding the dressing to the bottom is a fantastic way to ensure even coating when you finally pour it into a bowl.

The Art of Layering: Ensuring Freshness and Flavor

Behold! My perfectly constructed Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar. Now, the only thing standing between you and a healthy, delicious lunch or dinner is the simple act of unscrewing the lid and gently tipping the contents into a bowl. The brilliance of the layering technique truly shines here: by placing the dressing at the very bottom (or carrying it separately), it remains far removed from the delicate spinach and basil, completely preventing any sogginess. When you eventually invert the jar into your bowl, the dressing gracefully cascades over all the beautifully layered ingredients, coating them evenly and perfectly. It’s a genius method that guarantees every bite is fresh, flavorful, and perfectly dressed!

As I mentioned, my love for adding chicken to my salads is unwavering, and Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips are truly a game-changer. They’re ready at a moment’s notice, making healthy eating incredibly accessible even on the busiest days. What’s more, they are crafted with 100% All Natural Ingredients and feature premium white meat chicken, allowing you to feel completely confident and good about the protein you’re enjoying. Similarly, Wish-Bone® Regular Italian Dressing stands out because it’s not made with high fructose corn syrup, a common ingredient in many other brands. This commitment to quality ingredients means you can feel great about the salad you’re preparing and serving to your family. Both products exemplify convenience without compromising on health or taste. Wish-Bone® also offers its Regular Italian Dressing in smaller, travel-friendly bottles, perfect for tossing into your purse or lunch bag if you didn’t have time to prep a full Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar the night before. This thoughtful design ensures that a healthy, flavorful meal is always within reach, no matter how hectic your schedule becomes.

Effortless and Delicious: The “No-Bake” Meal for Any Time

Did I forget to mention this is essentially a “no-bake” meal? Well, apart from the minute or so it takes to prepare the pre-cooked chicken breasts, of course. Does the term “no-bake” even apply to lunch and dinner, or is it strictly a baking term? I’m not entirely sure, but either way, this meal is incredibly quick, unbelievably easy, wonderfully healthy, and requires minimal cleanup – just one bowl, plate, or the jar itself. That, in my book, is a triumphant win-win-win!

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[ad] Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar

Cook 1 min

Total 1 min

Author Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Yield 2

Quick and easy, healthy, portable and delicious, this Layered Chicken Caprese Salad is a meal in a jar. It can be made the night before to save time in the morning or is a perfect prep ahead dinner meal.

Ingredients

• 6 oz Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips, prepare according to package instructions
• 4 Tablespoons Wish-Bone® Regular Italian Dressing (divided, 2 tablespoons per jar)
• 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed and divided
• 1 cup red cherry tomatoes, halved and divided
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pasta, prepared (I used rotini) and divided
• 1 cup spinach leaves, divided
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, cut into strips and divided

Instructions

1. Start with 2 large mason jars.
2. To each jar add in 2 ounces of mozzarella, 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup pasta, 3 ounces of Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips, 1/2 cup spinach leaves and 1/8 cup basil.*
3. *You can add the dressing to the bottom of the jar if you intend to keep the jar upright. If you think the jar may tip over, place 2 tablespoons of dressing, for each jar, into a smaller container and carry separately.

Notes

Slightly Adapted from: Layered Caprese Pint-Jar Salad

Courses Salad

This Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar is so incredibly satisfying, you’ll be amazed that it only took you mere minutes to prepare. Consider whipping up a few jars at once and storing them in your refrigerator for a series of quick, healthy dinners throughout the week. It’s truly remarkable how convenient and delicious healthy eating can be when you master the art of mason jar meals. Each jar is packed with quality protein, an explosion of fresh flavors, and provides a perfectly balanced meal that fuels you without weighing you down. What are your favorite ways to prepare and enjoy meals in a mason jar? Share your ideas!

Explore More Healthy and Convenient Recipes

For more inspiration, be sure to check out this engaging video. It showcases a variety of other fantastic “One Bowl Recipes” that you can create using the versatile Tyson® Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips and the flavorful Wish-Bone® Regular Italian Dressing. With so many tempting options, which recipe will you be eager to try first?

If you’re on the hunt for even more exciting recipes, helpful videos, and smart ways to save money during your shopping trips at Walmart, I highly recommend visiting their Dailybreak page. It’s a treasure trove of ideas and deals designed to make your meal planning and grocery shopping more efficient and enjoyable.

I hope you truly enjoy preparing and savoring this incredible Layered Chicken Caprese Salad in a Jar! If you decide to make this recipe, I’d absolutely love to see your culinary creations. Please share a photo on social media and tag it with #strawberryblondiekitchen. There’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing what delicious dishes you cook up in your own kitchens!