Easy Jennifer Aniston Salad (2024)

Jennifer Anistons salad is made with quinoa, cucumber, parsley, mint, red onion, chickpeas, feta cheese, and pistachios.

Quinoa provides a protein-packed base while cucumber adds a crunchy texture. The combination of parsley and mint adds a burst of freshness to the salad, complementing the tanginess of red onion.

The addition of chickpeas offers fiber and additional protein to keep you feeling satisfied. Feta cheese adds a creamy element while pistachios provide a delightful crunch.

Overall, the Jennifer Aniston Salad is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients that make it an excellent choice for those looking for a healthy and flavorful meal option, and is also great for meal prep!

For more salad recipes, check out my zesty Italian pasta salad, burrata caprese salad, and Greek pasta salad.

What Is Jennifer Aniston Salad?

Jennifer Aniston shared that she ate the same salad for lunch for 10 years while filming the show "Friends". This salad is not the salad that Jenn has been eating for 10 years.

This salad is the one she shared while taking over the Living Proof brand Instagram. In the caption of the post she says its her "perfect salad".

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the salad she ate on set with co-stars Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox was a spruced-up Cobb salad with turkey bacon and chickpeas.

Jen's original salad recipe was made with bulgar wheat, but I swapped it with quinoa. You can use either one.

Ingredients

Before you start to make this Jennifer Aniston salad recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.

Full measurements are in the recipe card below.

Quinoa- the salad that Jen shared on Instagram is made with bulgar wheat, but I love using quinoa for this salad. Quinoa is high in protein, fiber, and essential minerals such as iron and magnesium.

Red onion-cut the red onion into slices, then cut it into 4 pieces. If you don't have red onion, it's okay using white onion.

Cucumber-use fresh cucumber for this recipe. Cut the cucumber into small pieces.

Parsley-wash your parsley until it's clean of any dirt, and chop it finely. You can use cilantro if you don't have parsley available.

Chickpeas-we used canned chickpeas for this recipe but freshly cooked chickpeas will work great as well!

Feta cheese-we love to top our pasta salad with feta cheese. If you are vegan or dairy-free, feel free to skip the feta cheese.

Pistachios- chop peeled pistachios with a sharp knife, you can make them larger or smaller, depending on how much crunch you like in your salad. You can use toasted pistachios for better flavor or use healthier not roasted pistachios.

Fresh mint- wash the mint and pat it dry, then chop it with a sharp knife.

For the salad dressing

Olive oil– to make the salad dressing, we usedextra virgin olive oil. Canola oil orvegetable oilwill work as well.

Lemon juice-use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.

Salt & black pepper- you can use table salt or kosher salt for this. Add this to taste.

Instructions

Start by rinsing the grains thoroughly under cold water to remove any bitter taste. Then, combine the quinoa with water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and allow it to cool while you chop and prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Into a large mixing bowl, add the cooled and cooked quinoa, drained chickpeas, chopped pistachios, chopped parsley, chopped mint, chopped red onion, chopped cucumber, and crumbled feta cheese.

Then, top it with olive oil, lemon, salt, and black pepper.

Expert Tips

• Start with properly cooked quinoa: To make a delicious quinoa salad, it's important to cook the quinoa properly. Rinse the quinoa before cooking to remove any bitterness, and then cook it according to the package instructions. Fluff it with a fork once cooked and let it cool before using in your salad.
• Use fresh ingredients!this salad is the dish for any occasion, it's fresh and summery so make sure that you use fresh vegetables and fresh ingredients. the quality of the ingredients really makes this salad the best.
• Add a your favorite vegetables: Consider using colorful bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, or any other vegetables you enjoy. Chop them into bite-sized pieces for easy eating.
• Swap the chickpeas and use your favorite protein: Quinoa itself is a good source of plant-based protein, but you can further boost the protein content by adding your favorite protein like black beans, grilled chicken, or tofu.
• Experiment with different herbs: Don't be afraid to add your favorite herbs to your quinoa salad for added flavor. We used fresh parsley and mint, but you can use your favorite fresh herbs like cilantro, oregano, or thyme. Adjust the amount according to your taste preferences.
• Use your favorite salad dressing for this: If you don’t want the hassle of making a homemade salad dressing, you can use store-bought dressings that complement the flavors in your salad.

Is the Jennifer Aniston salad healthy?

Yes! This salad is a nutritious and balanced meal packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This healthy combination makes it a great choice for those looking to enjoy a satisfying and nourishing dish.

How many calories is the Jennifer Aniston salad?

A single serving of the Jennifer Aniston salad has 400 calories.

Is this salad better warm or cold?

I like eating this salad cold from the fridge after I let all the flavors from the salad dressing absorb.

Storing

Store this delicious salad in the fridge sealed tightly with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.

Freezing

I do not suggest freezing this salad. The vegetables will be soggy while defrosting and it's just not gonna be as good. This salad is perfect when it's fresh since it's made with fresh ingredients.

Make It Ahead Of Time

To make this salad in advance, pre-make the quinoa a day or two ahead, cut the veggies a day or two ahead, and make the dressing a day or two ahead.

When ready to serve, throw the quinoa, veggies, dressing, and all the ingredients together, mix well and serve!

Substitutions

Pasta- you can swap the quinoa with your favorite pasta shape and pasta kind like chickpea pasta, healthy pasta, etc.

Grain- you can swap the quinoa with bulgar wheat, couscous, brown rice, or your favorite grain to use in salads.

Dairy free- make this salad dairy free by using a dairy free feta cheese or skip the cheese.

Variations

Chicken-This recipe works great with chicken. Roast or cook chicken breast, season it with salt and pepper, then slice it into small slices and mix it with the salad.

Protein- add extra protein to this salad like grilled chicken, tofu, shrimp, bacon, steak, grilled fish, etc.

Dressing-this recipe uses olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. If you have your favorite recipe for salad dressing that you love to use, use it for this recipe!

Cheese-you can swap the feta cheese with your favorite cheese like goat cheese. Feel free to be creative and use your favorite cheeses in this salad.

Avocado- a great source of healthy fat and makes this salad creamy and extra delicious!

Nuts- the original recipe uses pistachios, but you can use your favorite nuts like walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.

Olives- add Kalamata olives to this salad for extra salty flavor and a delicious texture.

Greens- add baby spinach or a delicious mix of greens to this salad if desired.

Serving Tips

This delicious salad can be served as a main course or as a side dish. It pairs well with grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or even as a topping for a bed of mixed greens.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving this nutritious and flavorful salad.

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board

More salad recipes

Chickpea pasta salad-This chickpea pasta salad is made with pasta, cucumber, pepper, tomatoes, chickpeas, and feta cheese. We topped this salad with our favorite greek salad dressing.

Spinach pasta salad-This Spinach Pasta Salad is made with fresh spinach, feta, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and freshly made pasta combined together with a simplehomemade salad dressingmaking the perfect refreshing and filling summery pasta salad.

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Easy Jennifer Aniston Salad

This viral Jennifer Aniston salad is a fresh, crunchy, delicious, and nutritious salad that is packed with plant-based protein.

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 18gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 293mgPotassium: 836mgFiber: 12gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 398IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 180mgIron: 5mg