Greek Pasta Chicken Salad Jars (Printable)

Mediterranean layered salad with orzo, chicken, fresh vegetables, Kalamata olives, and creamy feta in convenient mason jars.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Protein

01 - 1 cup dry orzo pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Add-Ins

08 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
09 - 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 garlic clove, minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
03 - Prepare four 16-ounce mason jars or similar airtight containers with lids.
04 - Divide the dressing evenly between jars as the base layer. Add red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber directly over the dressing. Layer cherry tomatoes, then spread cooked orzo pasta evenly. Top with chicken, olives, feta cheese, and finish with fresh parsley.
05 - Seal jars tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
06 - When ready to serve, shake the jar vigorously to distribute the dressing or pour contents into a bowl and toss to combine.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dressing marries all the flavors while sitting in the jar, so by lunchtime every bite tastes even better than it did fresh
  • You can make four jars in under an hour and they genuinely stay crisp and delicious for four full days
  • Everything travels neatly without getting soggy or sad, which feels like a small miracle with meal prep
02 -
  • The layering order is actually crucial here, because ingredients touching the dressing too long will get soggy and sad
  • These genuinely last four days in the fridge without compromising texture or flavor, which feels like magic
  • Shake vigorously before eating, or pour everything into a bowl and toss if you prefer it already combined
03 -
  • Chop all your vegetables similarly sized so every forkful has the perfect balance of ingredients
  • Double the dressing recipe and keep extra in a separate container for refreshing day three or four jars
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