Easy Chef Salad

Skip the pre-made salad bowls and make yourself a healthy and tasty Chef Salad. You’ll get to prepare it with the freshest ingredients, including cucumbers, lettuce, red onion, and so much more!

When it comes to salad, my family can’t get enough. We are always making a salad for either a side or a main dish. So it is no surprise that a traditional chef salad is one of the favorites around here.

You just can’t go wrong. The ingredients are easily adaptable depending on your preferences and you can make as much or as little as you like. Plus this is great for summer when you want to keep the food light and the kitchen cool.

**Don’t miss our Chicken Caesar Salad too!

While there are many different ways to make a chef salad, this is the way that we do it the most frequently. Add a nice variety of proteins, fresh veggies and, of course, your favorite dressing.

While the family tends to eat this as shown – I like to go heavier on the toppings and lighter on the lettuce. Sort of like garnishing my toppings with just a little bit of greens. That’s just my personal preference, but you can make it however you like it.

chef salad

Here are some commonly asked questions

What Is Chef Salad?

A Chef Salad is a popular salad that typically consists of fresh lettuce, chopped ham, chopped turkey, cheese, tomatoes, onions, and other flavorful ingredients. It’s topped with a tasty dressing and enjoyed just like that. It’s a healthy, refreshing, and wholesome meal worth eating. You can enjoy it as a side dish or eat it as lunch or dinner when you want a healthy meal full of vitamins, protein, and nutrients.

How long does it take to make a Chef Salad?

It takes roughly 15 minutes to prepare a Chef Salad. However, it depends on what you’re adding to the salad. If you’re going to add crumbled bacon pieces, you might need to cook the bacon, which can take several minutes. It’ll also take a bit of time for you to cut your ingredients before combining them in a bowl and enjoying your salad.

Which cheese tastes best in this salad?

Add any cheese that you like or have at home in your fridge. Cheddar cheese is a great option because it tastes great with ham, turkey, bacon, and other ingredients. However, you can use other cubed or shredded cheeses, including Swiss cheese and sharp cheddar cheese.

How to tell if eggs are fresh

We have a habit of stocking up on eggs and then forgetting about them because they are out in the garage fridge.

While eggs will keep (if refrigerated properly) for up to 6 weeks beyond the date on the package – I always like to do this nifty little test if I know they have been in there for a while. The date isn’t always accurate.

When eggs go bad – they create an air bubble inside the shell. So if you place an egg in a few inches of water – watch what it does.

• If it stays at the bottom – it is good.
• If it sort of hovers halfway between the bottom and the top of the water – it’s on the way to going bad and should be used immediately.
• NOW – if the egg floats – that means the air bubble has formed and the egg is no longer safe to eat and should be tossed out.

Primary Chef Salad Ingredients

The main ingredients in the Chef Salad include:

• Lettuce. You can use romaine lettuce or your favorite type of lettuce, such as iceberg or butter lettuce.
• Tomatoes. Chop your tomatoes into pieces or use grape tomatoes in the salad.
• Cucumber. Slice your cucumber into thin pieces before adding it to your bed of lettuce.
• Ham. Dice your ham into pieces or shred it into pieces, whichever you prefer.
• Turkey. Do the same thing with your turkey, shredding it or dicing it.
• Crumbled Bacon. Cook the bacon in advance and then crumble it into pieces before adding it to your salad.

You’ll also need cheese to add to the salad. Other optional ingredients include croutons, black olives, hot peppers, and green peppers. Don’t forget to drizzle your dressing on top.

Do I have to use red onion in this salad?

You don’t have to add red onion to the salad if you don’t like it. However, it does add a great taste to the salad because it pairs well with the cheeses, meat, and bacon.

Which type of bacon should I use in the salad?

Use any bacon that you already have stored in the fridge or freezer. You can use pork or turkey bacon. Make sure to cook it until it’s crispy enough, give it some time to cool down, and then crumble it into small pieces.

best chef salad

Which kind of dressing do I need to use on the salad?

Use your favorite dressing. It doesn’t matter which one you decide to add to the salad. If you’re not sure what to use, consider honey mustard dressing, ranch dressing, or Italian dressing. If you don’t like these options, you can find plenty of other options. It’s also possible to make your own dressing!

How many people will this salad serve?

The Chef Salad serves up to four people. If you’d like a larger salad, you’ll have enough for two generous portions that you can enjoy for lunch or dinner each day.

homemade chef salad

chef salad ingredients

• lettuce -your favorite, we used romaine hearts
• medium tomatoes or grape tomatoes
• English cucumber or small cucumbers – sliced thinly
• red onion
• ham – cubed or sliced
• turkey – cubed or sliced
• bacon – cooked and crumbed
• cheese – your favorite, we used Swiss and Cheddar
• hard boiled eggs – peeled and cut in half or quarters
• Croutons optional
• Black olives optional
• Hot peppers optional
• Green peppers optional
• Salad Dressing your favorite

Which kind of ham do I need to use?

You can use deli ham or a ham steak. If you’re using deli ham, shred it into pieces before adding it to your salad. If you’re using ham steak, dice it into small pieces.

how to make a chef salad

1. Clean and prep all of the ingredients.
2. Begin by adding the clean lettuce to a large platter or bowl.
3. Then add the rest of the ingredients.
4. Serve immediately with your favorite salad dressing and additional toppings if desired.
5. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

How do I store the leftovers?

Put your leftovers in food storage containers. You can keep the ingredients in separate containers and then assemble the salad when you’re ready to eat it.

You can also assemble the salad in advance and put it in the fridge, but don’t drizzle the dressing over the salad because some of your ingredients will start to get soggy. Make sure you’re adding the dressing when you’re ready to eat your salad.

How do I make the salad spicy?

Add sliced hot peppers and jalapenos to the salad to give it a kick. You might also want to use a spicy dressing for an added touch.

If you love this Easy Chef Salad recipe, you’re going to love these other side dishes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Other Delicious Salads

Greek Feta Chicken Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Salad

Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

Oriental Chicken Salad

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