Italian Deli Chopped Chicken Salad (Printer view)

Hearty Italian salad featuring chopped chicken, salami, provolone cheese, crisp lettuce, and tangy herb-packed dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
02 - 3 ounces Italian salami, chopped
03 - 3 ounces 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

# Directions:

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, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and pepperoncini.
03 - Add the chopped chicken, salami, and provolone cheese to the vegetable mixture.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over all ingredients in the bowl.
05 - Toss all components together until evenly coated with dressing.
06 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with extra pepperoncini or fresh herbs if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Every single ingredient pulls its weight from the tangy pepperoncini to that salty punch of salami
  • It keeps beautifully for lunch the next day which is practically a miracle for chopped salads
02 -
  • The dressing needs to be made first so the flavors have time to meld while you prep everything else
  • Chop everything into bite-sized pieces, this is meant to be eaten with a regular fork not a steak knife
03 -
  • Let the chopped salami sit out for about 15 minutes before assembling so the fat softens and releases more flavor
  • If you can find hot giardiniera mix it in with the pepperoncini for extra crunch and heat
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