Best 5 Traditional Chef Salad Recipes

Welcome to the ultimate guide to preparing the classic chef salad, a dish that combines flavors, textures, and colors to create a satisfying and nutritious meal. Whether you're a culinary expert or a beginner in the kitchen, this article will provide you with essential tips, tricks, and variations to elevate your chef salad experience. From selecting the freshest ingredients to assembling a visually appealing plate, we'll take you on a culinary journey to create a chef salad that will impress your taste buds and leave you craving more. Get ready to discover the secrets behind this timeless dish and learn how to make it a staple in your kitchen repertoire.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

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.

CHEF'S SALAD

Chef's Salad image

At the restaurant, we always made three dressings to go with this chef salad...blue cheese, French and Thousand Island. At home, I had to serve all three dressings, too, because everyone had their favorite. Sometimes the kids would use a tablespoon of each. -Eleanore Hill, Fresno, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 15m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1/2 head iceberg lettuce, torn
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained, optional
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup sliced radishes
1 small cucumber, chopped
1 small tomato, chopped
1 cup julienned fully cooked ham
1 cup julienned Swiss or cheddar cheese
DRESSING:
1 cup Miracle Whip
1/2 cup each ketchup, sweet pickle relish and chopped onion
Dash garlic salt

Steps:

In a large salad bowl, combine lettuce, beans if desired, onion, radishes, cucumber and tomato. Arrange ham and cheese on top. Cover and refrigerate until serving. In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients; stir until well blended. Chill for 1 hour. Serve with the salad.

Nutrition Facts :

CHEF'S SALAD

Chef's Salad image

Main-course salads can be decidedly unvirtuous. So use light mayonnaise and reduced-fat sour cream in this lightened-up dressing. Other essential ingredients include sliced bacon, cooked turkey breast, Swiss cheese, and cooked ham.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories Pork Recipes

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

6 slices bacon
1 1/2 pounds romaine lettuce hearts (2 to 3 hearts)
8 ounces cooked turkey breast, not sliced
4 ounces cooked ham, not sliced
4 ounces Swiss cheese, not sliced
1 lemon
1 scallion
1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Steps:

Cook bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium. Add bacon, and cook until browned and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to cool. Place in a resealable plastic bag; store at room temperature.
Prep lettuce, meats, and cheese: Cut romaine into 1-inch ribbons; wash well, and dry. Place in a resealable plastic bag; refrigerate. Cut turkey, ham, and cheese into bite-size strips. Place in an airtight container; cover, and refrigerate.
Make dressing: Squeeze lemon into a small bowl. Mince scallion; add to bowl, along with sour cream, mayonnaise, and 2 tablespoons water. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Cover and refrigerate.
Toss salad: In a large bowl, combine lettuce, meats, and cheese. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Serve salad topped with crumbled bacon.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 353 g, Fat 18 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 36 g

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

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:

To ensure the freshest flavors, use high-quality ingredients whenever possible, especially for the vegetables and dressing.
For a more varied texture, try using a mix of crisp and soft lettuces, such as romaine, iceberg, and butterhead.
Feel free to customize the ingredients based on your preferences and what you have on hand. For example, you could add sliced hard-boiled eggs, croutons, or a sprinkle of freshly chopped herbs.
Make sure to wash all vegetables thoroughly before slicing and assembling the salad.
For a lighter dressing, use a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice or vinegar. For a richer dressing, you can add mayonnaise, sour cream, or yogurt.
Don't overdress the salad, as this can make it soggy. Start with a small amount of dressing and add more to taste.
Serve the salad immediately, or store it in the refrigerator for up to a day. However, the dressing should be added just before serving to prevent the salad from wilting.

Conclusion:

The classic chef salad is a versatile and satisfying dish that can be enjoyed as a light lunch or dinner option. With its mix of crisp lettuce, fresh vegetables, protein-packed meats, and a flavorful dressing, it's a well-balanced meal that offers a variety of textures and flavors. Whether you follow the traditional recipe or customize it to your liking, the chef salad is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.