Fresh veggies, ham, turkey, eggs, and cheese are served over lettuce and served with a ranch or Thousand Island dressing.
Chef Salad Ingredients
Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce is the base of this recipe. Romaine or bibb lettuce also are great in this recipe. Protein: Use both turkey and ham slices for this recipe. You can also use leftover grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or a handful of bacon crumbles for extra flavor. Cheese: Sliced or shredded cheddar cheese is my favorite in Chefs salad. You can also use Swiss, provolone, or feta cheese. Veggies: Classic Chef’s salad ingredients like cherry tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers add crunch and flavor to this recipe. Dressing: I prefer a creamy dressing with chef’s salad such as Thousand Island or Ranch, but you can also use Italian dressing.
Variations
Top with homemade croutons, or toasted nuts like sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Add chopped kale, spinach, or a bag of shredded cabbage. Mix in other veggies like shredded carrots, avocado, black or kalamata olives, or pepperoncini peppers. Pickled red onions, green beans, or asparagus will add a tangy flavor.
How to Make a Chef Salad
Make this classic chef salad as a hearty lunch or light dinner.
Holly’s Favorite Tips & Tricks
Homemade dressing is really easy to make, and the taste is much better. The best, bistro-worthy chef salads are served extra cold! Chill the serving bowl, the ingredients, and the dressing. You can toss this salad, but I prefer the presentation when it’s not tossed. This salad is best enjoyed the same day as making it, but leftovers (without the dressing) can be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, add new greens and veggies for crunch. Drizzle with fresh dressing before serving.
Did you enjoy this Chef Salad Recipe? If so, leave a comment and a rating below. Try a pre-shredded bag of mixed greens in place of the lettuce. Make a batch of hard-boiled eggs in advance so they are chilled and ready. Peel and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. REPIN this Chef Salad Recipe © SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
