Chef Salad with Ham Turkey (Printable)

Hearty salad with ham, turkey, cheeses, eggs, fresh veggies, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

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

→ Cheese

04 - 3.5 oz Swiss cheese, sliced into strips
05 - 3.5 oz 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 tbsp olive oil
13 - 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar
14 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - ½ tsp salt
16 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

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

# How to Cook:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
02 - Spread the chopped romaine and iceberg lettuce evenly on a large serving platter or individual plates.
03 - Neatly place ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, hard-boiled eggs, tomato wedges, cucumber slices, julienned carrot, and red onion over the lettuce.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the assembled ingredients just before serving or serve it on the side.
05 - Sprinkle chopped chives and parsley on top if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes but tastes like you spent hours thinking about it.
  • Protein-packed enough to satisfy a real appetite, yet light enough you don't need a nap after.
  • The vinaigrette is simple enough to remember, but complex enough people ask for the secret.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad hours ahead; the vegetables will weep and the lettuce will wilt, no matter how good your vinaigrette is.
  • Buy your deli meats and cheeses from an actual deli counter, not the packaged section—the flavor difference is the difference between a salad that tastes flat and one that tastes alive.
03 -
  • Pat your lettuce dry before using it; moisture is the enemy of crispness, and a salad spinner is worth the cabinet space.
  • Make your vinaigrette in the bottom of a large bowl, then add your lettuce and other ingredients on top—the first toss coats everything evenly without over-mixing.
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