Jennifer Aniston Bulgur Salad
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Sep 25, 2025 
This hearty utterly delicious and infamous Jennifer Aniston Bulgur Salad recipe will be there for you when you need a satisfying lunch or dinner!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Jennifer Aniston, to know her is to love her. Over the years, she has inspired cultural trends, starting with the hit TV series Friends “Rachel Haircut” to mainstream fashion, interior design, lifestyle, and even popularity in the spectrum of food.
Her hit salad aka the “Jennifer Aniston Salad” contains bulgur wheat (or quinoa if you’re gluten free), plus cucumbers, parsley, mint leaves, red onion, chickpeas, pistachios, feta cheese, and is kissed with a light lemon vinaigrette.
Why You’ll Love The Jennifer Aniston Bulgur Salad
- Customizable – Whether you want to make this gluten-free or add to it your favorite protein, this salad is so easy to customize.
- Filling – Packed with hearty, fresh ingredients like bulgur wheat, chickpeas and veggies, this bulgur wheat recipe is nutritious and delicious!
- Meal-prep hero – This viral salad holds up in the fridge for several days so it’s great for meal prep.
Keep reading for the wonderfully simple bulgar wheat recipe steps PLUS all kinds of terrific salad variations!
Ingredients and Tips
- Bulgur wheat – Use medium or course.
- English cucumber – Make sure this is diced ahead of time.
- Herbs – Use chopped fresh flatleaf parsley and mint leaves.
- Red onion – diced
- Canned chickpeas – These are just garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed.
- Pistachios – Make sure that these are shelled.
- Feta cheese – Crumble it up ahead of time.
- Lemon juice – Fresh is best!
- Honey – This is our special touch of sweetness.
Recipe Variations and Dietary Swaps
- Grains – Swap bulgar wheat with quinoa for a gluten-free Jennifer Aniston salad; or do a 50/50 combo of wheat and quinoa for fewer carbs and more protein. You can also switch out the grains for cooked farro, brown rice, or barley.
- Veggies – Swap ingredients for (or add) red bell pepper, chopped roasted red pepper, marinated mushrooms, sprouts, zucchini, or summer squash.
- Herbs – Swap fresh mint and fresh parsley with chopped dill, cilantro, or other fresh herbs.
- Protein – As-is this is a vegetarian recipe, but feel free to add chopped cooked chicken breast, steak, turkey bacon or salmon.
- Honey – Omit for less sweetness and a more tart dressing taste.
- Crunch – If you want more of that nice crunch in the salad, add in chopped almonds, sunflower seeds, or pistachios.
How to Make the Jennifer Aniston Bulgur Salad
Tips for Success – Make sure to cool the bulgur wheat before mixing with the rest of the ingredients, otherwise the herbs and vegetables will get soggy.
Find the full Jennifer Aniston Bulgur Salad recipe with detailed instructions and storage tips in the printable form at the bottom of the post!
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Serving Suggestions
Truly, this loaded salad is a meal all by itself!
But it also makes a terrific hearty side salad. Serve with lighter proteins like lean Grilled or Baked Chicken, Zesty Greek Chicken, or scrumptious Mediterranean Burgers.
Jennifer Aniston Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried bulgur wheat medium or coarse (or quinoa for GF)
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup diced English cucumber
- ½ cup chopped flatleaf parsley
- ½ cup chopped mint leaves
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 15.5 ounce can chickpeas drained
- ½ cup shelled pistachios
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled or cubed
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2-3 teaspoons honey
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Set a medium saucepot on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the dried bulgur wheat and 2 cups of water. Stir and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and lower the heat, until the grains have absorbed all the moisture, usually 12 to 15 minutes. *Check package instructions for cooking times if needed.
- Fluff the bulgur wheat with a fork, then remove from heat and cover until ready to use.
- Meanwhile, chop the cucumbers, parsley, mint, red onions, and feta cheese. Drain the chickpeas.
- Set out a small bowl (or measuring pitcher) for the dressing. Combine the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of cracked black pepper. Whisk well.
- Once the bulgur wheat (or quinoa) has cooled to room temperature, move it to a large salad bowl. Add all the fresh produce, chickpeas, pistachios, and crumbled feta to the bowl. Drizzle the lemon dressing over the top and toss well to coat. Taste the salad and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
- Cover and refrigerate the salad until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Piled high with healthy fats, fiber, fresh veggies, protein-rich cheese and beans, and an olive oil-based vinaigrette, it is safe to say that this salad is quite good for you!
The vast majority of nutritionists will say it isn’t a good idea to eat the same of anything every day, this salad included. Your body needs a vast array of nutrients, and one dish just simply isn’t going to cut it. That being said, this bulgar wheat salad recipe certainly can be frequently worked into your regular meal rotation!
One of the many reasons this dish has gone viral is for its wonderful meal prep-ability. You can toss everything together several days in advance and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.
This has been my go to lunch since the first day I tried it. I like it without the dressing, and have experimented with whatever vegetables I have had on hand. Thank you for the recipe.
This was incredibly easy to make and tastes amazing! Lots of flavors going on but they all meld together beautifully!