Picnic Jar Salad Strawberry Goat (Printable)

A fresh blend of strawberries, goat cheese, nuts, and greens layered for easy serving anywhere.

# 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 goat cheese, crumbled
04 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
05 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup cucumber, sliced

→ 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 Cook:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - Layer the salads in four large quart-sized Mason jars, starting with approximately 1 tablespoon of dressing at the bottom of each jar.
03 - Add sliced red onion, cucumber, and strawberries as the next layers in each jar.
04 - Add the crumbled goat cheese and chopped nuts to each jar.
05 - Top each jar with mixed salad greens.
06 - Seal jars and refrigerate until ready to serve. When ready to eat, shake the jar to distribute the dressing and enjoy straight from the jar or pour into a bowl.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Salads that actually stay crisp and delicious for hours—no soggy leaves by the time you're hungry.
  • The contrast of creamy goat cheese, juicy strawberries, and toasted nuts makes every bite feel intentional.
  • You can make these on Sunday and grab one whenever you want breakfast, lunch, or a light dinner without any prep rush.
02 -
  • The order of layers matters because the dressing works its way up, not down—so greens on top stay crisp while sturdy vegetables in the middle absorb flavor without turning to mush.
  • Shaking the jar right before eating distributes the dressing evenly and wakes up all the flavors in a way that would never happen if you just spooned it out.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts in a dry skillet right before assembling—it takes five minutes and makes the difference between tasting good and tasting unforgettable.
  • If the dressing seems too vinegary when you taste it before jarring, add a tiny splash more honey to mellow it; if it's too sweet, add a splash more vinegar until it feels balanced on your tongue.
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