Hearty Classic Chef Salad (Printer-friendly)

Hearty salad with ham, turkey, cheese, eggs, and fresh vegetables in tangy vinaigrette.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 3.5 ounces cooked ham, sliced into strips
02 - 3.5 ounces cooked turkey breast, sliced into strips
03 - 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and quartered

→ Cheese

04 - 3.5 ounces Swiss cheese, sliced into strips
05 - 3.5 ounces cheddar cheese, sliced into strips

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
08 - 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
09 - 1 cucumber, sliced
10 - 1 carrot, julienned
11 - ½ red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

12 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1½ tablespoons red wine vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - ½ teaspoon salt
16 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside at room temperature.
02 - Spread chopped romaine and iceberg lettuce evenly across a large serving platter or individual plates, creating a bed for toppings.
03 - Arrange ham strips, turkey strips, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, egg quarters, tomato wedges, cucumber slices, julienned carrot, and red onion in neat rows over the lettuce.
04 - Drizzle vinaigrette over salad immediately before serving or present dressing on the side. Sprinkle with fresh chives and parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • A complete meal in a bowl that somehow feels lighter than eating everything separately
  • The endless customization lets everyone build exactly what they are craving
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients absorb dressing better than cold ones, so let your meats and cheeses sit out for 15 minutes before assembling
  • The key to a chef salad that looks restaurant worthy is taking time to arrange each ingredient in its own section rather than tossing everything together
03 -
  • Pat your lettuce completely dry with paper towels before assembling to prevent the dreaded soggy bottom
  • The vinaigrette tastes better after resting for 30 minutes, so make it first while you prep your ingredients
Go Back