Picnic Jar Salad Strawberries Goat (Printable View)

A vibrant layered salad with strawberries, goat cheese, nuts, and crisp greens ready in 15 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, baby kale)
02 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
04 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
05 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup sliced cucumber

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon honey
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified.
02 - Distribute dressing evenly among four quart-sized Mason jars, adding approximately 1 tablespoon to the bottom of each jar.
03 - Layer sliced red onion, cucumber slices, and sliced strawberries in each jar above the dressing.
04 - Add crumbled goat cheese and chopped nuts to each jar, distributing evenly.
05 - Crown each jar with mixed salad greens, filling to the top.
06 - Seal jars tightly and refrigerate until serving. When ready to eat, shake the jar vigorously to distribute dressing, then consume directly from the jar or transfer to a bowl.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • These stay fresh and crisp for days because the dressing sits safely at the bottom, not touching the greens until you shake it.
  • Pack one in your bag and eat straight from the jar—no dishes, no fuss, just real food when you need it.
02 -
  • Never add wet greens to the jar or they'll wilt before you even get to eat them—pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel first.
  • The order matters more than you'd think; sturdier items belong at the bottom and tender greens at the top, or your whole layering system falls apart.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts the night before—they'll stay crunchier and taste exponentially better than pre-toasted versions.
  • Make your dressing in a mason jar too, so you can shake it right before you shake the salad jar, keeping everything fresh and emulsified.
Go Back