Fresh, crunchy, and light, it’s no wonder that Jennifer Aniston’s name was associated with this viral salad recipe! 

A few years ago, there was a viral recipe going around on Instagram and TikTok. The said recipe was the “Jennifer Aniston salad,” a grain-based salad with herbs and lots of veggies.

While the beloved actress has since debunked the myth that this is what she ate on the set of Friends for over 10 years, it still is a very delicious salad. 

My twist on the Jennifer Aniston Herby Salad bumps up the protein, swaps the bulgur wheat for gluten-free quinoa, and ditches the feta cheese. 

The result? A crunchy, fresh, protein-packed salad that is ideal for meal prep. The combo of chicken and quinoa makes it a filling mid-day meal while the addition of pistachios and pumpkin seeds adds a nice crunch. 

Parsley and mint add a surprisingly refreshing taste that pairs so well with the lemon-based dressing. 

So even if this wasn’t Jennifer Aniston’s go-to salad for years, it’s become one of mine! It’s light, flavorful, and will make you excited to actually eat lunch. 

Go ahead and give it a try and let me (and perhaps Jen know), what you think. Cheers!

Ingredients for Herby Jennifer Aniston Salad

This salad comes together relatively quickly once the chicken and quinoa are fully cooked. Throw everything in a bowl and you’re ready to serve. Here’s what you will need! 

• Chicken: I’ve been focusing on giving my body more protein in order to thrive. While the base of the salad is great for vegetarians, I love to add chicken breast as a lean, healthy protein source, using my “Lazy Girl” method. If you already have pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken, you can skip the first few steps! 
• Quinoa: This gluten-free grain is actually a seed — and boasts 8 grams per cup!
• Bone Broth: Adding a touch of this gut-healthy, collagen-rich broth helps create the most tender chicken. Also, cooking the quinoa in broth gives it just so much more flavor than water. 

• Chickpeas: Another great source of protein! 
• Cucumbers: Fresh and crunchy.  
• Herbs: Parsley and mint add a springtime freshness. Don’t skip these ingredients as they really take this salad over the top. 
• Nuts and Seeds: A mix of salted pistachios and roasted pumpkin seeds give the salad a perfect amount of crunch. 
• Red Onion: Kinda sweet but pungent too, raw red onion gives the salad some bite to it. 
• Lemons: No need to make a separate dressing. Lemons and olive oil are mixed right into the serving bowl for a clean, healthy finisher. 

How to Make The Jennifer Aniston Salad 

Make the Chicken

If you’re making chicken from scratch, start by drizzling avocado oil on the chicken breasts. Season generously on both sides with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. If you’re using rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken, you can skip to this step!

Take out a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add another drizzle of avocado oil. Once the oil is shimmering in the pan, add the chicken and cook, undisturbed, for 4 minutes on each side. 

Reduce the heat to medium-low and add ¼ cup of chicken bone broth. Allow the broth to deglaze the pan while you scrape any bits that have gotten stuck with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Remove the chicken and let sit for another 5 minutes before slicing it into bite-sized pieces.

Make the Quinoa

Make the quinoa by adding it to a saucepan on high heat along with 1 cup of chicken bone broth and a pinch of salt. 

Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes until the moisture has absorbed.

Remove from heat but keep covered for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

Assemble the Salad

Once the chicken and quinoa are cooked, you’re ready to assemble the salad!

Add the diced cucumber, drained and rinsed chickpeas, chopped herbs, red onion, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, cooked chicken, and quinoa to a large serving bowl.

Toss with olive oil and lemon and season with salt and pepper. Dig in and enjoy!

Other Hearty Salads You’ll Love: 

• Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas and Creamy Roasted Shallot Dressing
• Broccoli Crunch Salad with Creamy Almond Butter Dressing
• Southwestern Micro-Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Shaved Brussels Sprout Harvest Salad
• Grapefruit Avocado Salad