Ohhh yes 🥗👩🍳 Layered Chef Salad—a fresh, colorful, and hearty salad that’s visually stunning and packed with protein, veggies, and flavor. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
🥗 Layered Chef Salad
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
Base Layers
- 4 cups mixed salad greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, sliced or diced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup cooked ham, diced
- 1/2 cup cooked turkey or chicken, diced
- 1/2 cup hard-boiled eggs, sliced or chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese
- Optional: croutons, olives, or avocado
Dressing
- 1/2 cup ranch, blue cheese, or vinaigrette of choice
Instructions
1️⃣ Layer ingredients
- In a large clear glass bowl or trifle dish:
- Start with salad greens at the bottom.
- Layer cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
- Add ham, turkey/chicken, eggs, and cheese.
- Repeat layers if needed for a taller salad.
2️⃣ Chill
- Cover and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes to let flavors meld (optional).
3️⃣ Serve
- Drizzle dressing over the top before serving or serve on the side.
- Slice into portions like a cake to show off the layers.
Pro Tips
- Visual appeal: use a clear bowl so layers show.
- Protein swap: use bacon bits, roast beef, or shrimp.
- Make ahead: can be assembled the night before; keep dressing separate until serving.
- Crunch factor: add toasted nuts, seeds, or croutons last minute to maintain crispness.
🔥 Variations
- 🥓 BLT-style layered salad (bacon, lettuce, tomato)
- 🥑 Cobb-style layered salad (avocado, egg, chicken, bacon, tomato)
- 🌶️ Tex-Mex layered salad (black beans, corn, avocado, tortilla strips, chili-lime dressing)
If you want, I can give a “party-size, fully loaded chef salad” version that’s like a salad buffet in a bowl 😏.
Do you want me to do that?
