This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
A Classic Chef Salad is a salad that can be served as an entree. It is a super popular lunch salad, that is hearty and loaded with veggies, meat and cheese and topped with a Homemade Ranch Dressing.
Salads are great and healthy way to enjoy lunch or dinner. When the New year rolls around and everyone starts making their resolutions, why not add more salads to your meal plan!
This Chef Salad recipe is a great way to have a filling yet healthy option for lunch or dinner.
Table of Contents
How to make a Chef Salad:
Start by making your Homemade Ranch Dressing. I like to make this first so I can put it in the refrigerator to chill before serving.
Prepare your veggies and meats you will be using. Hard-boil your eggs. Slice and dice your cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs and meats.
Chop your lettuce and place it into a large bowl. Next arrange your veggies, meats and cheese into rows. I like to arrange them in rows, because it makes it look really nice.
Once the salad is built drizzle with the Ranch Dressing and toss. If you are not serving the entire salad, serve what you want to eat and then drizzle with the dressing.
Ingredient Notes:
This recipe requires making a Homemade Ranch Dressing along with building the salad. Here are the ingredients for both.
Ranch Dressing:
- Sour Cream
- Mayonnaise
- Buttermilk
- Packet Ranch Dressing Mix
- Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Salad:
- Lettuce, (chopped)
- Boiled Egg, (sliced)
- Cherry Tomatoes, (halved)
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Diced Ham
- Diced Turkey
- Cucumbers, (sliced)
- Bacon Bits
Homemade Ranch Dressing Directions:
We are going to start with the simple homemade dressing so it can chill while we prepare our salad.
Step 1: Add all ingredients for ranch together and mix well.
Step 2: Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Now we can start working on the salad.
Chef Salad Directions:
Step 3: Add lettuce to a large salad bowl
Recipe Tip
I used romaine lettuce for this recipe but any lettuce you like best will work.
Step 4: Arrange the rest of the ingredients on top of the lettuce in rows.
Recipe Tip
For the turkey I used sliced deli sliced smoked turkey. You can get it cut thick at the deli counter and dice multiple slices at one time.
Step 5: When you are ready to serve top with ranch. Toss before serving.
Tips for the Ranch Dressing:
This recipe makes a thick ranch. If you would like a thinner dressing add more buttermilk until it is as thin as you would like.
If you don’t use all your dressing leftover ranch can be kept refrigerated for up to two weeks.
How to store leftover salad:
Store leftover salad in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Use an airtight container for storing.
If not eating all the salad at one meal, I recommend not adding the dressing to the salad before storing. Once the dressing is added the leftovers get soggy when stored.
Serve the amount of salad you want to eat and then top with the dressing and toss.
Here are some good variations to your Chef Salad:
- Use grilled chicken from an alternative to the turkey and ham. That would be an even healthier option.
- Add any additional salad veggies you wish. This recipe is for a traditional Chef Salad, but you can add carrots, peppers, onions or anything else you wish.
- If you are not a fan of Ranch Dressing, use whichever dressing you love the most!
Try some of my other favorite Salad recipes:
Thanksgiving Salad – This Thanksgiving Salad is a hearty green salad that goes perfect with Thanksgiving Dinner or any other night of the week! Loaded with Gala Apples, pomegranate arils, pecans and feta cheese drizzled with a homemade Honey Mustard dressing.
Broccoli Salad – The best Broccoli Salad! Broccoli, carrots, raisins and even bacon tossed in a simple homemade dressing. It will be great for your next summer BBQ!
Italian Pasta Salad – This Italian Pasta Salad is an amazing replacement for a simple lunchtime Italian Sub. You will love this hearty lunch salad, and anyone seeing you eat this will be jealous!
If you tried any of my recipes, I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. You can also connect with me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I would love for you to follow along and discover more amazing recipes.
Show me what you are making, use hashtag #TDOARH
Chef Salad
Ingredients
Ranch Dressing:
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1/2 Cup Buttermilk
- 3 Ounce Packet Ranch Dressing Mix
- 1/2 Teaspoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Salad:
- 3 Cups Lettuce, (chopped)
- 1 Boiled Egg, (sliced)
- 1/3 Cup Cherry Tomatoes, (halved)
- 1/3 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/3 Cup Diced Ham
- 1/3 Cup Diced Turkey
- 1/3 Cup Cucumbers, (sliced)
- 1/3 Cup Bacon Bits
Instructions
Ranch Dressing:
- Add all ingredients together and mix well.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Salad:
- Add lettuce to a large salad bowl.
- Arrange the rest of the ingredients on top of the lettuce in rows.
- Top with ranch. Toss before serving. Tip: If not eating all the salad at one meal, I recommend not adding the dressing to the salad before storing. Once the dressing is added the leftovers get soggy when stored.
