Italian Deli Chopped Chicken Salad (Printable)

Hearty Italian-inspired salad combining chopped chicken, salami, provolone, crisp lettuce, and pepperoncini with a tangy herb dressing.

# 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

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every single bite delivers that perfect Italian deli counter experience without leaving your kitchen
  • The dressing transforms simple ingredients into something that tastes like it came from a specialty shop
  • It holds up beautifully for lunch the next day which is practically a miracle with chopped salads
02 -
  • Never dress the entire salad if youre planning to save some for the next day because it gets soggy within hours
  • The dressing tastes even better after it sits for twenty minutes so make it first before prepping anything else
  • Room temperature ingredients absorb the dressing much better than cold ones straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Chill your serving bowls in the freezer for ten minutes before plating to keep everything extra crisp
  • Toast a pinch of red pepper flakes in the olive oil before making the dressing for subtle warmth
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