Hearty Ham Turkey Cheese Salad (Printable)

Classic salad with ham, turkey, cheeses, eggs, and fresh vegetables in a tangy vinaigrette dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 3.5 oz cooked ham, sliced into strips
02 - 3.5 oz cooked turkey breast, sliced into strips
03 - 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and quartered

→ Cheese

04 - 3.5 oz Swiss cheese, sliced into strips
05 - 3.5 oz cheddar cheese, sliced into strips

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
08 - 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
09 - 1 cucumber, sliced
10 - 1 carrot, julienned
11 - ½ red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

12 - 3 tbsp olive oil
13 - 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar
14 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - ½ tsp salt
16 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
18 - 2 tbsp chopped parsley

# Steps:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
02 - Spread chopped romaine and iceberg lettuces evenly on a large serving platter or individual plates.
03 - Evenly distribute ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, eggs, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, and red onion atop the lettuce base.
04 - Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad just before serving, or offer it on the side.
05 - Sprinkle chopped chives and parsley over the salad if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in half an hour, yet looks impressive enough to serve to guests without apology.
  • Every bite has texture and flavor because you're getting proteins, fresh vegetables, and creamy cheese all at once.
  • You can prep everything in advance and assemble it just before eating, making it perfect for busy days or entertaining.
02 -
  • Hard-boil your eggs the day before if you're planning ahead; they peel more easily and you'll have one less thing to do when you're assembling the salad.
  • Don't dress the entire salad if you're not serving it right away—the lettuce will get soggy and lose that crisp quality that makes this salad special.
  • Slice everything as close to serving time as possible; the fresher it is, the more vibrant the salad tastes.
03 -
  • Slice your vegetables on a mandoline if you have one; uniformly thin slices make the salad look restaurant-quality and taste more refined.
  • Toast your own ham or turkey slices briefly in a hot skillet if you want them to have a little more texture and warmth; it changes the whole feeling of the salad.
  • Make a double batch of vinaigrette and keep it in a jar—you'll use it on other salads all week.
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