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chefs salad with creamy dressing
5 from 19 votes

Chef Salad

Chef Salad is packed with fresh veggies, meat, cheese, bacon, and eggs. The best creamy chef salad dressing ties everything together.
Author Diana
Servings 4 Servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4-5 cups romaine lettuce chopped
  • ½ English cucumber diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • ½ red onion diced
  • 3-4 hard-boiled eggs peeled and sliced into halves or fourths
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese cubed, or any other cheese
  • 8 oz (225 g) meat cubed or sliced roast beef, turkey, ham, etc
  • 4 slices bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
  • 1 cup homemade croutons

For the dressing:

  • ½ cup (125 g) mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) mustard
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a large salad bowl, combine (or arrange in neat rows) the lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, hard-boiled eggs, cubed cheddar cheese,cubed salami, and crispy bacon. Toss lightly to mix, or leave them in rows for presentation.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, and smoked paprika. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
  • Add the homemade croutons just before serving to maintain their crunchiness.
  • Serve the salad immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Yield: This recipe serves 4 as a main dish, or 6 as a side dish. 
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: The key to making the best chef salad is to use good quality and fresh ingredients. Buy the best that you can find!
  • Prep Ahead of Time: You can chop the meat and cheese and cook the bacon and eggs up to a day ahead of time. Then when you're ready to make the salad, prepare the veggies and dressing and put it all together
  • Make Your Own Substitutions: You can make a chef salad with any type of meat, cheese, and veggies that you like!
  • In place of this homemade salad dressing, try it with French or Thousand Islands. 
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to a day, but it is best to enjoy the salad right away after adding the dressing. 

Nutrition

Calories: 598kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 231mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4965IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 2mg