Italian Deli Chopped Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

A hearty Italian deli-style salad featuring chopped chicken, salami, provolone, crisp lettuce, and tangy herb dressing.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
02 - 3 oz Italian salami, chopped
03 - 3 oz provolone cheese, diced

→ Vegetables

04 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini
08 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
15 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, sliced pepperoncini, and diced cucumber.
03 - Add the chopped chicken, salami, and diced provolone cheese to the vegetable mixture in the bowl.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over all salad ingredients.
05 - Using salad tongs, toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
06 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
07 - Transfer to serving plates immediately and garnish with extra pepperoncini or fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every forkful delivers that perfect salty, tangy, creamy bite that makes Italian subs impossible to resist
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a specialty deli counter
  • The dressing doubles as a fantastic marinade for grilled chicken later in the week
02 -
  • The dressing can be made up to three days ahead and stored in the fridge
  • Wait until the last possible moment to dress the salad or youll end up with soggy lettuce
  • Chilling the salad bowl for 10 minutes before serving keeps everything crisp longer
03 -
  • Invest in a good salad spinner, wet lettuce is the enemy of great chopped salad
  • Cut everything into similar-sized pieces for the perfect forkful every time
  • Let the dressed salad sit for five minutes before serving to let flavors meld
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