Are you ready for another mason jar salad? I hope so because I have been a mason jar making mama lately.
Using broccoli in one of my mason jar salads has been a goal of mine for a couple months now. However, I have been too lazy to chop the broccoli. Yep that is probably a whole new level of laziness but it is what it is. Anyway, I finally mustered up the energy to chop up some broccoli and guess what? No surprise here but it barely took any energy at all and was actually quite easy. Gotta love the power of just doing it.
My inspiration for this mason jar salad came from a Broccoli, Ham, and Pasta Salad recipe by Eating Well. Instead of making the dressing I decided to use Wegmans yogurt coleslaw dressing (you can find it in the produce section). One of these days I just need to make the dressing. I know it is better to do it that way but just like chopping the broccoli I feel like it is too much work. But it’s probably not. Okay the next mason jar salad will be made with homemade dressing. I promise.
After the dressing I layered the mason jar with red peppers, chopped broccoli, ham, swiss cheese, pasta, and an arugula/spinach/radicchio salad blend. I decided to leave the red onion out this time around because I was just not feeling onion this week. But if you want it then add it in.
I want to point out that to keep the salad clean(er) I purchased organic deli ham for this salad. I had them slice it a little on the thick side so I could chop it up.
Last tip I want to give is with the amount of dressing to use. I used 3 tablespoons of dressing in each of the salads. That seems to be enough dressing but because it is thicker it takes a little effort to get it all out of the bottom and into the bowl – vinaigrettes seem to slip right out. Once you get it into the bowl mix it real good with your fork and you will be good to go.
My other mason jar salad recipes:
Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Spinach, and Pasta Salad
For more tips on mason jar salads check out this post.
Ingredients
- 5 wide mouth quart size mason jars
- 15 tablespoons yogurt coleslaw dressing
- 3 large red bell peppers chopped
- 3 broccoli crowns chopped small
- ½ pound thick sliced organic deli ham chopped
- 6 ounces dry spiral whole grain pasta cooked and cooled
- 5 ounces block swiss cheese chopped
- 5 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- 5 cups spinach arugula, radicchio salad blend
Instructions
- Pour 3 tablespoons of salad dressing into each of the mason jars. Then layer ingredients into the jar starting with peppers then following with broccoli, ham, pasta, cheese, pumpkin seeds, and finishing with salad blend.
- To eat pour salad into a bowl and mix all ingredients together until evenly coated with salad dressing.
Mo K says
Hubby loves this!!! I’m making it again tonight for lunch tomorrow. Thanks so much for sharing it, Tammy. 🙂
Monica says
I wonder if you sprayed the jar with a little cooking spray before putting the dressing in if it would slide out easier? It may just break down into the dressing, but worth a try! Love your recipes btw!!
Jessica says
I love this website! You are making a huge impact on people trying to live healthier lives. I visit your website daily for tips! Thank you so much! Recipes are phenomenal.
Carolyn says
I am wondering what other kinds of yogurt coleslaw dressing people have found? I don’t have a Wegman’s near me and when I was at the store I couldn’t find one. Have to check the other store in my area.
Quick question says
Question- doesn’t the dressing get all watery? What am I doing wrong? Everytime I make a salad for work (not these kind of mason jar salads just regular salads), I wash my veggies and put them in a plastic container. When I go to work, I have to drain the container as ALL of the liquid slides to the bottom. The water gets trapped in all the nooks and crannies of the vegetables so it’s impossible to drain it all out when preparing it. Wouldn’t it be the same problem for the mason jar salads? And who wants runny watery dressing?
diane brandes says
I have done this and love it…their is a product I bought on amazon that fits inside the mason jar after you have loaded the salad in, you add your dressing into this and close up the jar as usual…I also wash my greens and let dry on paper towels when I make up several of these…No wet salads for me…hope this helps…diane/north Carolina
dana says
Can you please tell me what product on Amazon? Thank you soooo much!!