Italian Grinder Chicken Salad (Printable)

A protein-packed meal with grilled chicken, salami, ham, and fresh crisp vegetables.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Salad Base

06 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini
10 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced

→ Italian Grinder Mix

11 - 4 slices provolone cheese, chopped
12 - 4 slices deli ham, sliced into strips
13 - 4 slices Genoa salami, sliced into strips
14 - 4 slices pepperoni, sliced into strips

→ Dressing

15 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
16 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
17 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
18 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
19 - 1 garlic clove, minced
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Preheat the grill or a skillet over medium-high heat.
02 - Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill or sear the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Let rest, then slice thinly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
05 - In a large bowl, layer the romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, pepperoncini, and roasted red peppers.
06 - Add chopped provolone, ham, salami, and pepperoni on top.
07 - Place sliced grilled chicken over the salad ingredients.
08 - Drizzle with the Italian dressing. Toss gently to combine, or serve with dressing on the side.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • You get all the savory richness of a deli sandwich without the heavy bread crash.
  • The homemade creamy Italian dressing ties the salty meats and crisp veggies together perfectly.
02 -
  • Do not skip the step of letting the chicken rest before slicing, or the juices will run out onto the plate.
  • Slicing the deli meats into strips instead of leaving them whole makes the salad much easier to eat.
03 -
  • Toast a few slices of ciabatta, cut them into croutons, and toss them in for that authentic grinder crunch.
  • A splash of pickle juice from the pepperoncini jar in the dressing adds incredible depth.

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