Italian Grinder Chicken Salad Recipe
This Italian Grinder Chicken Salad is a flavorful and satisfying dish combining shredded rotisserie chicken, a variety of diced deli meats, fresh vegetables, and a tangy, homemade Italian dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, this salad can be served with crackers, tortilla chips, or on a sandwich, offering a deliciously zestful meal with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1/4 lb. salami or soppressata, diced
- 1/4 lb. pepperoni, diced
- 1/4 cup provolone, thick-sliced, diced
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2/3 cup diced grape tomatoes
- 1/3 cup mild banana peppers
- 1/2 red onion, sliced thin or diced
Dressing Ingredients
- 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
- About 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Combine all the dressing ingredients — mayonnaise, grated parmesan, red wine vinegar, banana pepper juice, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and freshly cracked pepper — in a bowl or liquid measuring cup. Stir well until smooth and taste, adjusting salt, pepper, or vinegar for desired tanginess.
- Mix the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the shredded rotisserie chicken, diced salami or soppressata, diced pepperoni, provolone, crumbled feta, grape tomatoes, banana peppers, and sliced or diced red onion.
- Dress the salad: Pour most of the dressing over the salad ingredients in the bowl. Toss thoroughly to ensure everything is well coated. Add the remaining dressing as needed to achieve your preferred consistency and flavor coverage.
- Store and serve: Transfer the Italian grinder chicken salad into an airtight container and refrigerate. It can be stored for up to 4 days. Serve chilled with veggies, crackers, tortilla chips, or use as a filling for sandwiches.
- Use leftover dressing: If any dressing remains after tossing the salad, keep it sealed in the fridge. Add extra dressing when serving the salad on subsequent days as the dressing tends to be absorbed over time, helping to rehydrate the dish.
Notes
- For a stronger tang, add more red wine vinegar in the dressing as needed.
- Feel free to swap or combine deli meats such as ham, prosciutto, or different types of pepperoni to your preference.
- You can use either just provolone, just feta, or both cheeses. If using only one type of cheese, consider doubling the quantity to maintain flavor balance.
- This salad can be enjoyed on its own, with crackers or tortilla chips, or used as a delicious sandwich filling.
Keywords: Italian Grinder Chicken Salad, Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Italian Chicken Salad, Deli Meat Salad, Easy Lunch Salad, No-Cook Salad
