Hearty Classic Chef Salad (Printer Version)

Protein-packed classic 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

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 - Distribute the chopped romaine and iceberg lettuce evenly across a large serving platter or individual plates as the foundation.
03 - Organize the ham strips, turkey strips, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, and hard-boiled egg quarters in decorative sections over the lettuce bed.
04 - Place tomato wedges, cucumber slices, julienned carrots, and thinly sliced red onion in alternating sections around the proteins and cheese.
05 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the entire salad immediately before serving, or serve dressing on the side. Sprinkle with fresh chives and parsley as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal in one bowl, packing protein, vegetables, and tangy dressing into every forkful
  • The homemade vinaigrette transforms simple ingredients into something restaurant worthy
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in minutes for busy weeknight dinners
02 -
  • Crisp your lettuce in ice water for 10 minutes before serving for restaurant quality crunch
  • Room temperature ingredients taste better than cold straight from the fridge
  • The dressing can be made up to three days ahead and stored in the refrigerator
03 -
  • Pat your vegetables dry with paper towels after washing to prevent soggy salad
  • Invest in a good vegetable peeler for those paper thin cucumber and carrot slices
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