• Main Dishes | Salads
  • Chef Salad

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    This simple chopped chef salad is perfect for a light lunch and so quick and easy to make. Dressed with a tangy Thousand Island dressing, it’s fresh, healthy, and super delicious.

    chef salad recipe - in a bowl

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    Salad season is definitely here, and one of my go to’s is a simple chef salad. It’s so quick and easy to make and it really comes alive with a drizzle of my homemade Thousand Island dressing.

    Sometimes the best recipes are simple, and this salad is a real pleasure.

    If the hot weather is making you crave a salad, be sure to also try my quinoa salad with salmon and tuna white bean salad.

    best chef salad

    What is a Chef Salad

    Chef’s salad is an American classic! The salad consists of chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers as the base, and hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and one or more varieties of meat, such as ham, turkey, or chicken as a topping. Don’t forget a delicious homemade creamy dressing like Thousand Island dressing, Blue Cheese or Ranch Dressing. It will impress anyone you serve it to it, and it’s a delicious and filling lunch or dinner.

    Chef Salad Ingredients

    • Romaine Lettuce
    • Cherry Tomatoes
    • Cucumber
    • Ham
    • Cheddar Cheese
    • Hard Boiled Egg
    • Thousand Island Dressing
    chef salad ingredients

    How To Make A Chef Salad

    It takes only 10 minutes to make this fresh chef salad.

    • Add the romaine lettuce to a large bowl.
    • Top the lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, ham, cheese, and a sliced hard-boiled egg.
    • Drizzle with a Thousand Island dressing and dig in.
    how to make chef salad

    Healthy Meal Prep Lunch

    This is a great salad to make for packed lunches or for meals throughout the week. Make up the salad and then keep it covered and it will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It’s best not to add the dressing until you are ready to serve it as it can make the lettuce wilt.

    close up of chef salad in a bowl

    Recipe Variations

    It’s really easy to make this chef salad recipe your own, by adding in different veggies, extra protein and you can easily mix up the dressing. Try adding in:

    • Red bell peppers
    • Broccoli
    • Bacon crumbles
    • Shredded Chicken
    • Blue cheese or Ranch dressing instead of Thousand Island dressing

    This salad is a great base to add all of your favorite things!

    chef salad with thousand island dressing

    What do you serve with chef salad?

    This salad is great to serve by itself as a low carb lunch or light evening meal. If you like you can serve it alongside some grilled chicken or with a healthy portion of garlic bread.

    Chef Salad vs. Cobb Salad

    Both salads are American main-dish salads and are very similar because they are served with a hard-boiled egg and meats. But the classic Cobb salad doesn’t have cucumbers, and is usually made with bacon, chicken, and avocado, and is served with Roquefort cheese, and a vinaigrette.

    chef salad recipe

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • Cut the veggies into evenly sized pieces so that it’s easier to eat.
    • Wash the salad ingredients under cold running water. Pat them dry with kitchen paper or use a salad spinner to remove the excess water.
    • Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

    More Easy Lunch Salads

    chef salad recipe - in a bowl
    5 from 5 votes
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    Chef Salad

    This simple chopped chef salad is perfect for a light lunch and so quick and easy to make. Dressed with a tangy Thousand Island dressing, it's fresh, healthy and super delicious.
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 345kcal

    Email Me This Recipe

    Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

    Save Post

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    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
    • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
    • ½ cup cucumbers slices, halved
    • ½ cup chopped ham
    • ½ cup cheddar cheese, cubed
    • 1 hard boiled egg, sliced
    • 3 Tablespoon thousand island dressing

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Add romaine lettuce to a large bowl.
    • Top the lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, ham, cheese, and a sliced hard-boiled egg.
    • Drizzle with thousand island dressing.

    TIPS & NOTES

    • Cut the veggies into evenly sized pieces so that it easier to eat.
    • Wash the salad ingredients under cold running water. Pat them dry with kitchen paper or use a salad spinner to remove the excess water.
    • Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 838mg | Potassium: 427mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4740IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Keyword chef salad, ham and egg salad, salad with dressing
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    Comments

    veenaazmanov

    5 stars
    This looks like all the healthy and yummy ingredients in one Bowl. The dressing makes it perfect for a light and crunchy and delicious mini meal too.

    Andrea Metlika

    5 stars
    A quick and delicious meal for any time.

    Emmeline

    5 stars
    I had forgotten how delicious it is to add ham to salad! Loved this!

    Shelley Fulton

    5 stars
    Oh, Neli! What a deliciously simple and nourishing lunch – this is exactly the type of salad recipe I love to throw together at mid-day. So nourishing, but won’t weigh me down or make me feel lethargic and sleepy as I head into a busy afternoon. Yum – you’ve inspired me!

    Shadi Hasanzadenemati

    5 stars
    Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!

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