Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (2024)

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Published on August 19, 2022 · Updated on November 4, 2023 · By Aysegul Sanford

The Jennifer Aniston Salad has been one of the biggest sensations of this year, thanks to the popularity it gained on social media. Made up of bulgur wheat (or quinoa), chickpeas, cucumbers, red onion, fresh herbs, feta cheese, and pistachios, it was thought to be a meal that Aniston ate every day for ten years while filming Friends.

Yields: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

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Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (1)

The buzz about the viral recipe eventually caught the attention of Aniston, who spoke out in a recent interview, saying she actually never ate the famous salad on set! The mix-up arose when Aniston shared the salad recipe during an Instagram takeover for the Living Proof brand.

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (2)

So while she did eat the “Jennifer Aniston Salad,” it wasn’t the same one she had on set. According to a Los Angeles Times article, Aniston’s fellow co-stars (Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox) said the real salad recipe Jennifer Aniston ate on Friends was a “doctored up” Cobb salad, to which she added chickpeas and turkey bacon.

Regardless of the mix-up, the salad that we initially thought to be “The Jennifer Salad” is still delicious, viral-worthy, and incredibly satisfying. We love cooking with bulgur wheat here on the blog, so we just had to share the recipe!

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Why is This Recipe Worth the Hype?

It’s no wonder this legendary salad went viral on social media. It’s fresh, healthy, colorful, and filling- everything you could ever ask for in a salad! Here are some other reasons to give this internet-famous recipe a try:

  • Quick, easy to make, delicious, and filling: In our opinion, a good salad is just as filling as it is nutritious! Thanks to bulgur as a base, this salad will keep you satisfied for hours. It’s also super quick to throw together and, most importantly, incredibly delicious!
  • Easy to customize (make it your own): While we love Jennifer Aniston’s original combo, feel free to customize this salad and swap out ingredients to make it your own! Play with various veggies, nuts, and herbs to see what combo suits your taste buds.
  • Perfect for meal prep: This wholesome Jen salad recipe is the perfect salad for meal prep. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days, so you can make a big batch on the weekends and enjoy it for lunch all week!

Ingredients

This easy salad recipe has three sets of ingredients: hearty bulgur wheat for the base of the salad, a combination of fresh, colorful veggies and herbs, and a simple lemon juice and olive oil dressing. Here’s what you’ll need:

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (3)
  • Bulgur wheat: Any type of bulgur that you have on hand will work, but I personally like to use medium coarse bulgur. You can pick up Bob’s Red Mill (affiliate link) bulgur from the grocery store or get this brand (affiliate link) online. If you want to learn more about bulgur, check out my Types of Bulgur guide. I also have a How to Cook Bulgur guide that outlines the best way of cooking bulgur for foolproof results.
  • Salad dressing: For the salad dressing, gather fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
  • Salad ingredients: For the salad, you’ll need an English cucumber, a can of chickpeas, red onion, fresh mint, fresh parsley, pistachios, and crumbled feta cheese.

Substitutions & Variations

  • Use quinoa instead of bulgur: If you don’t have bulgur on hand or can’t find any at your local grocery store, you can use an equal amount of cooked quinoa (for gluten free option), cooked farro, or another bulgur substitute instead! Either will provide a filling, hearty base for your salad.
  • Fresh herbs: If mint or flat-leaf parsley don’t suit your taste buds, fresh dill or basil could take their place!
  • Cucumber: The cucumber in this celebrity salad adds extra color and a nice crunch. You can either use one large English cucumber, Persian cucumbers, or mini cucumbers.
  • Cheese: Feel free to swap the feta cheese in this recipe for your favorite cheese or whatever you have in the fridge. Mozzarella or shredded cheddar are great options! Keep in mind that feta adds a nice salty flavor to the salad, so you may need to add more salt if using a different type of cheese.
  • Red onion: Are red onions just a bit too sharp for you? Try subbing them for scallions (green onions), or try my Mexican Pickled Onions recipe!
  • Make it vegan: To make Jennifer Aniston’s salad vegan, simply omit the cheese!
  • Add an avocado: To add some extra healthy fats to this viral salad and make it even more filling, try adding an avocado.
  • Extra protein: Turn this Jennifer Aniston bulgur salad into an easy, protein-packed weeknight dinner to add to your list of main courses by topping it with my Bone-In Chicken Breast, Baked Turkey Bacon, or these Air Fry Chicken Legs!

How to Make This Recipe

The Jennifer salad recipe just requires a little bit of chopping, which you can do while the bulgur cooks. All it needs is a gentle toss and a drizzle of dressing, and you’re done! Here are the details:

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (4)
  1. Cook the bulgur: Add the bulgur and 2 cups of water (or chicken/veggie broth) to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer over low heat until all the liquid is absorbed. Let it rest while you prepare the rest of the salad. If you are new to cooking bulgur, be sure to check out our guide on How To Cook Bulgur Wheat.
  2. Make the dressing: Add the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to a small bowl or measuring cup. Whisk until combined.
Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (5)
  1. Assemble the salad: Place the cooked bulgur (make sure to fluff with a fork before adding), cucumber, chickpeas, red onion, fresh herbs, pistachios, and feta cheese in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with the dressing, gently toss and taste for seasoning. Add more salt or pepper if desired.

How to Store

This salad stays fresh in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days, making it perfect for meal prep. The grains and veggies soak up the dressing and herby flavors while it sits, so it gets better and better each day!

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (6)

FAQs

What’s in the Jennifer Aniston salad?

This viral Jen Aniston salad, also known as the Rachel Salad, is made up of bulgur wheat, cucumber, chickpeas, red onion, fresh mint and parsley, pistachios, and feta cheese. The simple salad dressing recipe combines lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Is Jennifer Aniston salad healthy?

Yes, Jennifer Aniston’s favorite salad is very healthy! Bulgur wheat, which makes up the base of the salad, has many health benefits, as it’s a great source of plant-based protein, fiber, magnesium, and iron. No wonder everyone wants to partake in the Friends diet!

How many calories is the Jennifer Aniston salad?

One serving of the Jen salad recipe contains about 402 calories. You can learn more about the nutrition facts of this salad in the recipe card below.

What did Jennifer Aniston eat every day on the set of Friends?

While many believe that Aniston ate the viral “Jennifer Aniston Friends Salad” every single day while working on the set of the show Friends, she actually ate a spruced-up Cobb salad. This Jennifer Aniston Cobb salad recipe included many of the usual Cobb salad ingredients plus her special additions of garbanzo beans and turkey bacon.

Other Grain-Based Salad Recipes You Might Like

If you’re looking for more fresh, colorful, flavorful, and filling salads like this viral Bulgur Salad recipe, you’re in for a treat! Browse my other delicious salad recipes using the links below:

  • Turkish Tabbouleh
  • Quinoa Tabbouleh – One of our most popular Quinoa Salad Recipes on the blog.
  • Forbidden Rice Salad
  • Ottolenghi’s Bulgur Salad

If you try this popular salad recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.

Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe

By Aysegul Sanford

Yields: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

The Jennifer Aniston Salad is definitely worth the hype! This recipe is so filling, fresh, and delicious, thanks to hearty bulgur (or quinoa), fresh veggies, fragrant herbs, creamy feta cheese, and salty pistachios. Whip up this wholesome salad for a quick weeknight dinner, or meal prep it for flavorful lunches all week!

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (7)

5 from 15 votes

Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the Bulgur Wheat:

  • 1 cup bulgur wheat* or quinoa
  • 2 cups water or vegetable or chicken stock*

For the Salad Dressing:

  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt* more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Salad:

  • 1 English cucumber chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • cup red onion chopped
  • ½ cup fresh mint chopped
  • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • ½ cup pistachios shelled and roughly chopped
  • ½ cup crumbled feta

Instructions

  • To cook bulgur wheat, place bulgur and 2 cups of water (or chicken or veggie broth) in a small saucepan (with a lid) over medium heat. Bring to a boil, put the lid on, turn down the heat to low and cook until all the cooking liquid is absorbed. Let it rest while you are working on the rest of the ingredients. Right before adding it to the salad, fluff it with a fork.

  • To make the salad dressing: In a measuring cup (or a small bowl), whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper.

  • To assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, place the now-cooked bulgur, cucumber, chickpeas, red onion, fresh herbs, pistachios, and feta cheese. Drizzle with the salad dressing. Give it a gentle toss, taste for seasoning, and add more if necessary before serving.

Video

Notes

  • Bulgur or Quinoa: I used medium coarse bulgur, but Bob’s Red Mill’s Red Bulgur or quinoa can also be used in this recipe. If you need a refresher, be sure to check out my guide on How To Cook Quinoa.
  • Salt & Feta cheese: As it is with any salad that uses feta cheese, I recommend tasting the feta cheese before adding a lot of salt to this salad.
  • Swap water with chicken stock or vegetable broth: One of the easiest ways to make this easy salad even more flavorful is to cook the grain of your choice (whether it is bulgur, quinoa or farro) in vegetable or chicken stock.
  • Storage: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Serving size: This recipe is approximately 1 1/2 (one and a half) cups per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1098IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 3mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

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About Aysegul Sanford

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (11)

Hello Friend! I’m Aysegul but you can call me “Ice.” I’m the cook/recipe-tester/photographer behind this site.

If you’re looking for approachable yet creative recipes made with everyday ingredients, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’re all about recipes that have been meticulously tested to provide you with a truly foolproof cooking experience regardless of your level of cooking.

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Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (12)

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (13)

Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply

  1. Ida

    Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (14)
    I absolutely love this salad and I’m so glad I found out about it.
    I’m still trying to figure out how many calories it has.
    I’m having a bit of trouble with this as I’m from Denmark and as you know we use other units of measurement. Can you help me calculate how many calories are in 100 grams?

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Hello Ida,
      I am happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. It is a favorite in our house too. 🙂
      It is hard for me to give you an exact calorie count for 100 grams as I have never weigh this salad. However, the calorie information that you see under the recipe card is for one serving which is about a cup and a half (or 1/4 of the recipe.)
      I hope this helps.

      Reply

  2. Ilse Dorrah

    This is absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I subbed pickled red onion for the raw onions. The roasted pistachios make the salad extra yummy!

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Hi Ilse,
      I love the idea of roasting pistachios and pickled onions are a great addition too.
      Thanks for coming by and taking the time to leave a review. Cheers!

      Reply

  3. Kim

    Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (15)
    Hi. What is serving size please? The site only mentions 4 but no unit of measure.

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Good question Kim. It is about 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups per serving.

      Reply

  4. Holly

    Allure with Jennifer Aniston shows her telling everyone what was in her real salad and sadly, she admits it was iceberg lettuce and a few other changes. Yours sounds great and I’m going to give it a try though!

    Reply

  5. Lynsie

    Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (16)
    I love this recipe. I do it a little different tho instead of adding chickpeas to salad I make a home made hummus with garlic and tahini it is delicious to put over top

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Oh I love the addition of garlic and tahini hummus. I will definitely try it next time I make it. Thanks for coming by and leaving a review, Lynsie.

      Reply

  6. Ramya

    I can’t wait to make this soon. I can use vegan feta and use spring onions as I am not a big fan of red onions. I never had Jennifer Aniston salad recipe before. It is perfect for my after-office meals. I love your recipes as they always brighten up my day, especially after a long day of work.

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Hey Ramya,
      I am happy to hear that you liked this recipe. We love it too. It is easy, quick and delicious. Thanks for your sweet words about my recipes as well. Cheers!

      Reply

Jennifer Aniston Salad (Made with Bulgur or Quinoa) (2024)

FAQs

How much quinoa for Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

Salad
  1. 1 cup quinoa.
  2. 1 cup lite feta, crumbled.
  3. 2 baby cucumbers, chopped.
  4. 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained.
  5. 1/3 cup mint, chopped.
  6. 1/3 cup parsley, chopped.
  7. 1/2 red onion, diced.
  8. 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped.

Is the Jennifer Aniston salad healthy? ›

Jennifer Aniston Quinoa Salad (Famous Viral Recipe!)

Packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats … this lettuce-less salad is just as nutritious as it is delicious. Perfect for a healthy dinner, lunch, or meal prep!

What is in a Jennifer Aniston Cobb salad? ›

It's loaded with romaine lettuce, chicken, turkey bacon, chickpeas, salami, tomatoes and cheese all tossed in a simple Italian dressing. Did you know that the Jennifer Aniston salad that went viral a few years ago wasn't actually the salad she ate on the set of Friends every day?! Yup, that's right!

What did Jennifer Aniston eat every day on The Set of Friends? ›

The salad Jen ate on the set of Friends was a Cobb Salad, while this salad is a riff on a tabbouleh. She shared it years ago on Instagram with the caption “My perfect salad”, and was nice enough to also list the ingredients that were inside her bowl. Celebrities — they're just like us!

Is bulgur or quinoa healthier? ›

Bulgur: It has less Protein which is 6g per cup, and less Calories than quinoa per cup, which is around 150. For the vitamins, it has good amount of Vitamin E and almost the same B Vitamins composition, but with less amount. And the same thing goes with minerals. But it's higher in Fibers which are 8g.

Can I eat quinoa salad everyday? ›

Studies have reported that consumption of one serving of quinoa (about 40 g) meets an important part of daily recommendations (RDA) for essential nutrients and health-improving compounds.

What was the salad Jennifer Aniston ate every day? ›

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the salad she ate daily on the set of Friends was a spruced up Cobb salad with turkey bacon and chickpeas, which I recreated with my protein Cobb salad.

What salads does Kim Kardashian eat? ›

If you haven't heard of Health Nut, you probably known them more famously as the “Kardashian salads” that they are always eating/shaking around on their show (in case you aren't a fan of the show, the Kardashians' go-to order is the Chinese chicken salad and the mango iced greentini).

What is Jennifer Aniston's favorite snack? ›

Even celebrities enjoy a good snack. Aniston's pick is a healthy one, such asan apple and almond butter or just an apple and some nuts. She also likes raw vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, which she keeps in her fridge as staples in case the munchies strike.

Does Jennifer Aniston skip breakfast? ›

I do intermittent fasting, so there's no food in the morning,” Aniston said during her interview. “I noticed a big difference in going without solid food for 16 hours.” So how does she get by in the mornings? With coffee, of course — as well as celery juice, which has really taken off in the wellness world this year.

Is the Jennifer Aniston salad low carb? ›

Jennifer Aniston's go-to lettuce-less salad boasts a nutritious blend of assorted vegetables, crunchy nuts, and hearty plant-based proteins to deliver a high-protein, low-carb meal that you can make in minutes.

How much quinoa to use? ›

How to cook quinoa perfectly every time. You'll need about 50g of quinoa per person (make sure to rinse it first) and chicken or vegetable stock. We can't emphasise using stock enough. It really makes a difference to the flavour, yet is subtle enough not to distract from your final dish.

What is a good serving size of quinoa? ›

A plant-based source of protein

One cup of cooked quinoa weighing 185 grams (g) provides 8.14 g of protein. The proteins in quinoa offer a wide range of amino acids . Amino acids are vital for supporting muscle development and immune activity, among other essential functions.

Is 1 cup of quinoa enough for 2 people? ›

Like rice, quinoa grows in size as it cooks; culinary and health experts alike tend to agree that 1/4 cup of uncooked quinoa is enough for one person. Because it's so rich in protein and fiber, even a small amount will fill you up for hours while keeping you energized.

Is 2 cups of quinoa too much? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

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