This recipe is for the iconic Jennifer Aniston Salad that you’ve probably seen all over TikTok! Greens are all dressed up with protein-packed ingredients like chickpeas, chicken, salami and turkey bacon. It’s an easy to make salad that seriously satisfies!

A round plate is topped with salad.


Jennifer Aniston Salad

Yes, this one is the real deal. There are so many variations of the Jennifer Aniston salad all over the internet at this point. It’s pretty much become a part of the Friends lore! How do I know this salad is the real deal? I listened to Jennifer describe it herself in this video, where she talks about the salad with Allure. It sounded delicious, so I tried it myself… and now I’m hooked!

The way this salad was created (according to Jennifer Aniston herself) is pretty cool. On the set of Friends, she tossed together some ingredients from the commissary and made what’s now considered her iconic salad! The one thing left out of this salad that she includes in hers is tomatoes, but you can absolutely toss those in if you want to.

In fact, there are plenty of variations you can try with this salad. Scroll down to check out some suggestions. I love a recipe with lots of room for creativity! What I also really love about this salad is that it’s packed with protein. This is the perfect lunch for someone – like a working actress on a hit sitcom – who needs to stay full and energized until dinner time.

The ingredients for a salad are placed on a surface.

How to Make the Jennifer Aniston Salad

This salad could not be easier to toss together! For more info about the process, just scroll on down to the recipe card.

  1. Toss. Add the greens and chickpeas to a large bowl. Season with a little salt and pepper and toss together.
  2. Top it off. Pile on the chicken, salami, turkey bacon and grated pecorino cheese. Drizzle Italian dressing all over the top. You can serve it just like that or toss it all together, whatever you prefer.
Dressing is being poured on top of a tossed salad.

Ingredient Notes

Take a quick look at these notes before you head to the grocery store! As always, you can find exact measurements at the bottom of this page in the recipe card.

  • Salad Greens – Jennifer says in her Allure interview that she used iceberg lettuce in her salad, since it’s what they had at commissary. You can use whatever greens you like best! Butter lettuce, spring mix, or whatever else floats your boat.
  • Garbanzo Beans – These pack a nice punch of plant-based protein. Make sure they’re well rinsed and drained prior to tossing into your salad.
  • Chicken Breast – It can be diced or shredded, whichever you prefer. Recipes like this are exactly why I always keep things like Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Instant Pot Shredded Chicken in my fridge at all times. You never know when you’ll need it!
  • Salami – Genoa salami is always fun to toss into salads! It adds a nice salty kick.
  • Turkey Bacon – Just like Jennifer told Allure, turkey bacon is best when it’s crispy. No one likes soggy bacon! You can substitute with regular pork bacon, like I do, sometimes.
  • Pecorino – You can swap this with parmesan if desired.
  • Italian Dressing – If you’re feeling fancy, make my favorite Homemade Italian Dressing! It has the most incredible flavor.

How to Make it in Advance

Sure thing! Just do NOT add the dressing until you’re ready to serve. Italian dressing is acidic and will cause the other ingredients to soften/wilt the longer it sits. You can toss together all of the other ingredients and keep the salad stored (without the dressing) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

A salad is fully tossed and presented on a plate.

Toss together more of the best satisfying salad recipes!

For more easy salad recipes, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

A round plate is topped with salad.

Get the Recipe: The Real Jennifer Anniston Salad Recipe

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Forget the bulgur and chickpeas! Jennifer Aniston's actual go-to lunch salad is a more classic Cobb-inspired mix. This is a great base salad to customize! Swap the protein or add your favorite salad toppings.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups salad greens, rinsed and dried
  • ¼ cup canned garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 ounces cooked chicken breast, diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped Genoa salami
  • 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon grated pecorino, or parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons Italian salad dressing

Equipment

  • 1 salad bowl

Instructions 

  • Arrange the greens to a salad bowl and top with the beans.
  • Add the cooked chicken, salami, bacon, and Pecorini.
  • Pour dressing over top and toss to combine.
  • Season with salt and pepper if desired, and serve.
Calories: 264kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 52mg, Sodium: 722mg, Potassium: 282mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 487IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Appetizer, lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American