A Dietitian’s Version Of The Viral Jennifer Aniston Salad

A few years ago we posted a quinoa kale salad with blueberries – something that Stacie created in the summer of 2022 based on her favorite flavor combinations. A reader commented that it was reminiscent of the “Jennifer Aniston salad”. I had never heard of that salad before, but that comment stuck in my head and led me down a path to learn more about the famous salad that Jennifer supposedly ate so often. 

The internet wasn’t super clear on what the Jennifer Aniston salad was or if she really ate it or still eats it, but my research did reveal that her dream salad at one point likely contained quinoa, chickpeas, cucumbers, and pistachios. So, there were a few similarities to that blueberry kale salad Stacie posted (mostly just the quinoa and pistachios), but it was still quite different. 

I started to play around with fresh ingredients to develop something delicious and loosely based on the Jennifer Aniston salad that has gone viral on TikTok. But I also wanted to put my own dietitian spin on it by boosting the lemon flavor in the vinaigrette and adding more protein, something other versions were lacking. Here’s what I came up with, and our team absolutely loves it! Whether it’s really a salad that Jennifer Aniston eats or not doesn’t really matter, because we think it’s super delicious AND nutritious at the same time.

Is This The Salad Jennifer Aniston Ate On The Set Of Friends?

The origin of Jennifer Aniston’s perfect salad seems to stem from a post she made on Instagram when she did a takeover for the @livingproofinc account. It shows a close-up of a bowl with fresh ingredients tossed together. 

The caption reads, “My perfect salad – Bulgar, cucumbers, parsley, mint, red onion, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, & pistachios.”

But this isn’t the same salad that Jennifer ate on the set of Friends. Her co-star Courtney Cox has been quoted saying that she, Jennifer, and Lisa ate something reminiscent of a Cobb salad. 

“Jennifer and Lisa [Kudrow] and I ate lunch together every single day for 10 years. And we always had the same thing — a Cobb salad. But it wasn’t really a Cobb salad. It was a Cobb salad that Jennifer doctored up with turkey bacon and garbanzo beans and I don’t know what. She just has a way with food, which really helps. Because if you’re going to eat the same salad every day for 10 years, it’d better be a good salad, right?”

~ Courtney Cox in an interview with the LA Times

What both of these salads reveal is that Jennifer clearly has an affection for garbanzo beans (chickpeas), and we’re here for it! Not only do they add much-needed fiber to meals, but they also contribute a delicious creamy texture, which is why we also love adding chickpeas to salad recipes.

What You Need To Make It

• Quinoa – you’ll need 2 cups; use this simple method to quinoa ahead of time; may sub cooked bulgur or brown rice 
• Cooked, shredded chicken – use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken from another meal, or use this Instant Pot method to make cooked shredded chicken quickly; may sub canned tuna or cooked shrimp
• Chickpeas – you can cook chickpeas from scratch, but I recommend using canned to save time
• Cucumber
• Red onion
• Feta cheese – may sub shredded Parmesan, or omit for dairy free
• Fresh mint
• Fresh Italian parsley 
• Pistachios – may omit for nut free, or sub sunflower seeds
• Lemon – you’ll use it for both the zest and the juice
• Extra-virgin olive oil 
• Honey – may sub maple syrup
• Dijon mustard – can use brown mustard, if that’s what you have
• Fine salt and black pepper

Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.

How To Make Jennifer Aniston’s “Perfect Salad”

I like to break down the assembly of this salad into three basic steps. 

1. Make the vinaigrette – you can do this step up to 3 days in advance
2. Prepare the quinoa – for super flavorful quinoa, cook it in chicken broth instead of water
3. Toss together the salad – when you’re ready to serve this salad, just toss everything together in a large bowl. Add the feta and pistachios last. 

Make It Dairy Free

Simply omit the feta cheese – this salad still tastes great without it! You could also use a plant-based feta cheese.

Make It Vegan

For a 100% plant-based version of this salad, omit the feta cheese and the chicken. And use maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing. 

Make It Nut Free

You can leave the pistachios out or use sunflower seeds or roasted pumpkin seeds instead.

How To Store

I love that this salad stores well, which makes it a great option for meal prep lunches. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

Video: How to Make the Jennifer Aniston Salad

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The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.

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