Best 8 Italian Chefs Salad Recipes

Are you looking for a light and refreshing salad that's bursting with Italian flavors? Look no further than Italian Chef's Salad. With its colorful array of fresh vegetables, succulent meats, and a tangy dressing, this salad is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. Whether you're serving it as a side dish or as a main course, Italian Chef's Salad is sure to be a hit with family and friends alike. Let's dive into the best recipe to prepare this delicious salad at home.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

BIG ITALIAN SALAD

Big Italian Salad image

This Italian salad pairs nicely with Italian comfort food. You'll love the homemade dressing!

Provided by Jennifer Segal

Categories Salads

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 cup loosely packed fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup red wine vinegar, best quality such as Pompeian Gourmet
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, best quality such as Lucini or Colavita
Heaping ¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1½ teaspoons honey
1 large head romaine lettuce (or 3 hearts), washed, dried and cut into large, bite-sized pieces
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup seeded and chopped hothouse cucumbers
1 to 2 carrots, peeled into ribbons
Handful grape tomatoes, halved
Handful pitted olives
Ricotta Salata (see note) or Feta, crumbled to taste

Steps:

Make the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a food processor and blitz to blend.
Place all of the salad ingredients except for the cheese in a large bowl. Right before serving, add about half of the dressing and toss well. Add more dressing little by little as necessary; be sure to dress greens very generously, otherwise salad will be bland. Toss in the cheese, then taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary.
Note: Ricotta salata is an Italian sheep's milk cheese that has a salty, slightly tangy flavor, almost like a dry Italian feta. It is not the same as the wet ricotta in the tub. You can find it at Whole Foods, gourmet grocers or specialty cheese shops.
Note: Nutritional information was calculated assuming ½ cup of ricotta salata and all of the dressing was used.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 338, Fat 31 g, Carbohydrate 12 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sugar 6 g, Fiber 5 g, Sodium 393 mg, Cholesterol 11 mg

QUICK ITALIAN SALAD

Quick Italian Salad image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories side-dish

Time 20m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan (pre-grated in a pack from the store)
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, pressed
Juice of 1 lemon
1 head romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chunked
6 whole pepperoncini
1/2 cup whole black olives
1/2 cup whole red cherry tomatoes
1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced into circles
1/3 cup grated Parmesan

Steps:

For the dressing: In a blender, add the olive oil, mayonnaise, Parmesan, parsley, sugar, vinegar, black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, garlic and lemon juice and blend until pureed.
For the salad: Put the romaine and iceberg greens in a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Top the salad with the pepperoncini, olives, tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle with Parmesan at the end.

CHEF'S SALAD

Chef's Salad image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds Boston, Bibb, green or red leaf lettuce, or a mixture, washed, trimmed, and dried
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup dressing of your choice, such as shallot or herb vinaigrette, ranch, or blue cheese
4 ounces imported Swiss cheese, cut into 2-inch long matchstick pieces
4 ounces baked ham, cut into 2-inch long matchstick pieces
4 ounces smoked turkey, chicken or duck breast, cut into 2-inch long matchstick pieces
4 ounces rare roast beef, cut into 1/4-inch by 2 inch matchstick pieces
2 hard-cooked eggs, shelled, cut into wedges
1 ripe Hass avocado, diced
16 vine-ripened cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 kirby (pickling) cucumbers, sliced
1 cup toasted croutons

Steps:

Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and put into a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing. Divide the lettuce among 4 large individual serving bowls. Arrange the cheese, meats, eggs, and avocado, like the spokes of a wheel, on top of each salad. Scatter the tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and pass the remaining dressing at the table.

ITALIAN CHEF'S SALAD

Italian Chef's Salad image

A classic salad with an Italian twist. Note: Olives, artichoke hearts, and salami all add salt, so you may find you don't need further salt in the salad. Serves 2-3 as a main course salad, 4 as side salad.

Provided by dianegrapegrower

Categories Greens

Time 20m

Yield 2-4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

4 cups romaine lettuce, sliced thinly
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/2 cucumber, cubed
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup mushroom, sliced
3/4 cup canned white beans, drained and rinsed
1 -2 ounce dry salami, cut in thin strips
1 ounce provolone cheese, cut in thin strips
1 avocado, diced (optional)
1/2 cup artichoke heart, diced (optional)
1/2 cup broccoli floret, blanched (optional)
2 tablespoons roasted red peppers, chopped (optional)
2 tablespoons olives, chopped (optional)
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (optional)
2 teaspoons seasoned pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 -3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Steps:

Place all salad ingredients in large salad bowl, lettuce on the bottom and meat/veges on top.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Coat with oil, then vinegar. Toss. Serve immediately.

ITALIAN CHEF SALAD

Italian Chef Salad image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories appetizer

Time 15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped
1/4 pound hot ham, sliced
1/4 pound Genoa salami, sliced
1/4 pound deli provolone cheese, chopped
Hot pepper rings, a couple of fork fulls
Cracked green olives, 1/2 cup
1 tomato, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
A few leaves basil, torn
Red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons, eyeball it
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and pepper

Steps:

Combine all ingredients and dress with red wine vinegar, then extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, all to your taste.

CHEF SALAD

Chef Salad image

This salad eats like a full meal and is similar to the one you'd get at a salad bar. Place your toppings in small containers and the leafy greens in a bowl to allow it to be modified to a person's preference.

Provided by thedailygourmet

Categories Romaine Lettuce Salad

Time 15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

6 ounces romaine lettuce
1 medium head butter lettuce
6 ounces deli turkey, cubed
3 ounces turkey ham, cubed
3 ounces Swiss cheese, julienned
3 ounces Cheddar cheese, julienned
½ cup sliced cherry tomatoes
1 baby cucumber, sliced
½ cup croutons
4 large hard-boiled eggs, quartered
¼ cup ranch dressing, or to taste

Steps:

Combine romaine and butter lettuce in a large bowl and tear into bite-sized pieces. Toss to mix.
Add turkey, turkey ham, Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, croutons, and eggs; mix to combine. Drizzle with ranch dressing and toss to combine. Another option is to place all the ingredients into individual dishes to allow guests to customize their chef salads to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 346.6 calories, Carbohydrate 11.7 g, Cholesterol 78.3 mg, Fat 23.1 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 10.3 g, Sodium 1084.9 mg

ITALIAN-STYLE CHEF SALAD WITH CREAMY PESTO DRESSING

Italian-Style Chef Salad with Creamy Pesto Dressing image

Make and share this Italian-Style Chef Salad with Creamy Pesto Dressing recipe from Food.com.

Provided by yooper

Categories Lunch/Snacks

Time 10m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1/3 cup mayonnaise or 1/3 cup salad dressing
1/4 cup sour cream or 1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons purchased refrigerated pesto sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 -3 tablespoons milk
6 cups torn mixed greens
1 cup mozzarella cheese or 1 cup provolone cheese, cut into thin strips (4 ounces)
4 ounces thinly sliced fully cooked ham or 4 ounces turkey, cut into thin strips
2 ounces thinly sliced salami or 2 ounces prosciutto, cut into thin strips
2 small tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
1 small yellow peppers or 1 small green pepper, sliced into rings
1 small onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1 (6 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and halved

Steps:

To prepare the Creamy Pesto Dressing, stir together the mayonnaise or salad dressing, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, pesto, and garlic in a small bowl.
Stir in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make of desired consistency; set aside.
Divide the greens among four individual salad bowls or serving plates.
Arrange the mozzarella or provolone cheese, ham or turkey, salami or prosciutto, tomato, yellow or green pepper, onion and artichoke hearts over the greens.
Drizzle with the Creamy Pesto Dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 258.9, Fat 15.2, SaturatedFat 8, Cholesterol 57.7, Sodium 851.3, Carbohydrate 13.7, Fiber 5, Sugar 3.4, Protein 18.2

CHEF SALAD FOR ONE

Chef Salad for One image

I love to have a big chef salad for dinner, sometimes, and there are enough ingredients to make a full plate! This recipe serves one, but you can easily multiply it for more servings. These ingredients and quantities are perfect for me, but if you don't like an ingredient, leave it out. If you love bacon, have more! Customize to your or your family's delight. I call this salad a "composed" salad, where the ingredients are placed around the plate, and all the colors are showcased. You can toss it, if you prefer. It's delicious with ranch dressing, but it would also be very tasty with blue cheese dressing.

Provided by Bibi

Categories Romaine Lettuce Salad

Time 15m

Yield 1

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

3 ½ cups romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
½ cup sliced cucumber
⅓ cup sliced green bell pepper
¼ cup shredded carrots
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 tablespoon sliced black olives
1 ounce cooked turkey, cut crosswise into thin strips
1 ounce cooked ham, cut into thin strips
½ ounce Cheddar cheese, cut into strips
½ ounce Swiss cheese, cut into strips
1 large hard-boiled egg, sliced
1 slice cooked bacon, crumbled
1 tablespoon ranch dressing

Steps:

Place torn lettuce leaves on a dinner plate.
Evenly distribute sliced cucumber and bell pepper strips around the plate, and sprinkle carrots on top.
Add cherry tomatoes, all around the plate, and sprinkle on sliced black olives.
Place alternating pieces of turkey and ham around the plate, then likewise, with the cheeses.
Arrange the hard-boiled egg slices on top, and sprinkle with bacon crumbles.
Drizzle dressing of choice over all and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.1 calories, Carbohydrate 23.3 g, Cholesterol 74.8 mg, Fat 26.2 g, Fiber 8 g, Protein 27.4 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 864.2 mg

Tips:

Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make all the difference in the flavor of your salad.
Don't be afraid to experiment. There are many different variations of Italian Chefs Salad, so feel free to add or remove ingredients to suit your taste.
Make sure to chill your salad before serving. This will help the flavors to meld together and make the salad more refreshing.
Serve Italian Chefs Salad with a light vinaigrette dressing. This will help to brighten the flavors of the salad without overpowering them.

Conclusion:

Italian Chefs Salad is a classic Italian dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make, delicious, and healthy. So next time you are looking for a light and refreshing meal, give Italian Chefs Salad a try. You won't be disappointed!