Italian Deli Chopped Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

A vibrant, hearty salad featuring chopped chicken, salami, provolone, crisp lettuce, and tangy herb-packed dressing inspired by classic Italian deli flavors.

# 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one bowl with minimal cleanup
  • The combination of salty salami and tangy dressing creates restaurant level depth
  • Its hearty enough to be a main course but wont leave you feeling weighed down
02 -
  • Chop everything to similar sizes so each forkful has all the flavors
  • Add the dressing just before serving or the lettuce will get soggy
  • The salad tastes even better after sitting for 15 minutes as flavors meld
03 -
  • Pat the cucumber and tomatoes dry before adding so the dressing is not diluted
  • Use a large bowl so you have room to toss everything without making a mess
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