Description
A flavorful Italian-inspired chicken salad that combines shredded rotisserie chicken with classic deli meats, cheeses, and vibrant vegetables, all tossed in a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for sandwiches, crackers, or as a refreshing salad on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats and Cheeses
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1/4 lb. salami or soppressata, diced
- 1/4 lb. pepperoni, diced
- 1/4 cup provolone, thick-sliced and diced
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Vegetables
- 2/3 cup diced grape tomatoes
- 1/3 cup banana peppers (mild), sliced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced or diced
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1–2 tablespoons banana pepper juice from the jar (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Salt, about 1/4 teaspoon or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine mayonnaise, grated parmesan, red wine vinegar, banana pepper juice, oregano, garlic powder, freshly cracked pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly and taste, adjusting seasoning as needed for a balanced, tangy dressing.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add shredded rotisserie chicken, diced salami or soppressata, diced pepperoni, diced provolone, crumbled feta, diced grape tomatoes, sliced banana peppers, and thinly sliced or diced red onion. Gently stir to combine all toppings evenly.
- Toss with dressing: Pour most of the prepared dressing over the bowl of combined ingredients and toss well to coat everything evenly. Add any remaining dressing as needed to achieve your desired level of moisture and flavor coverage.
- Storage: Transfer the salad to an airtight container and refrigerate. It can be stored for up to 4 days, allowing flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Serving and leftover tips: Serve the Italian grinder chicken salad alongside fresh veggies, crackers, tortilla chips, or pile it onto a sandwich for a delicious meal. If there is dressing leftover, keep it refrigerated in a sealed container to add back in when reheating or refreshing the salad, as some dressing is absorbed by the ingredients over time.
Notes
- Adjust banana pepper juice to taste to control the acidity and heat level of the dressing.
- Use thick-sliced provolone for better texture and flavor contrast.
- This salad works well as a sandwich filling or served over leafy greens for a lighter option.
- Store leftovers properly to maintain freshness; salad flavors intensify after resting in the fridge.
- Substitute or omit any deli meats to make it more suitable for dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No cook, Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 160g)
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Italian chicken salad, deli meat salad, rotisserie chicken recipe, provolone salad, Italian grinder salad, easy chicken salad
