Italian Deli Chopped Chicken Salad (Printable)

Vibrant, hearty salad with chopped chicken, salami, provolone, crisp lettuce, and tangy herb-packed dressing inspired by Italian deli classics.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and pepperoncini.
03 - Add the chopped chicken, salami, and provolone cheese to the bowl with vegetables.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over all salad ingredients.
05 - Toss everything together until evenly coated with dressing.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra pepperoncini or fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every forkful delivers that perfect Italian deli counter experience in salad form
  • The dressing alone has become my go-to for everything else I make
  • It actually keeps well for lunch the next day, unlike most salads
02 -
  • Dress this salad right before serving, otherwise the lettuce will wilt and lose its satisfying crunch
  • Let the dressing sit for five minutes before using to let the dried herbs hydrate and bloom
  • Chop everything into similar sized pieces so you get all flavors in every single forkful
03 -
  • Double the dressing recipe and keep it in your refrigerator for quick salads all week
  • Use a mezzaluna if you have one for that restaurant-perfect chopped texture
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