Meal prep this simple salad for quick lunches during the week or for a perfect, cool salad on a hot summer’s day!
Last summer, I found a recipe for an Italian grinder sandwich. I was immediately intrigued!
This sandwich is loaded with vegetables and meat on chewy bread. It can be served hot or cold. It gets its name because the chewy bread requires you to grind your teeth to eat it.
You know me – I had to try it! However, I wasn’t going to drop everything I was doing, grab my keys, and go to the grocery store to get every little ingredient.
I made my own with what I already had on hand!
Here is my Italian grinder sandwich-inspired chicken salad recipe.
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Why You Need to Make This
This is the perfect make-ahead meal that is incredibly versatile.
I have eaten this plain, just straight out of a bowl. On those beautiful summer days when all I want to do is be outside, it’s the perfect grab-and-go lunch!
If you are meal prepping instead of enjoying the weather, chop up some romaine lettuce and use this to create a hearty salad (mason jar salads, anyone?).
This is also the perfect base for an antipasto salad. Just toss in your favorite pickled vegetables and top with a tangy dressing.
Or – why mess with something good? Return to what inspired this salad and serve it as a sandwich. Serve it cold (comon’ – throw those cucumbers back in there!) or broil the sandwich open-face to let the mozzarella cheese melt.
Finally, you can amp up these meal ideas with different meats or a lettuce mixture. Serve it with pasta and dessert to make a complete meal.
Italian, Grinder-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a printable recipe card!
For this salad you will need:
Chicken breast
Pepperoni
Cucumbers
Red Onion
Mozzarella
Italian Chopped Chicken Salad Dressing Recipe
Remember! Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a printable recipe card!
For this salad dressing you will need:
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Dried Parsley
Dried Basil
Dijon Mustard
Optional – You can sub in Italian seasoning for the basil and parsley if you enjoy more seasonings. You can also add apple cider vinegar for a sort of tangy vinaigrette.
Instructions
Cook the chicken breast until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
The next day, wash and chop the red bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.
Chop the chicken breast, pepperoni, and mozzarella.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
In a mason jar, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, and seasonings. Put a lid on the mason jar and shake well. Taste and adjust seasonings as you see fit.
When the salad dressing is to your liking, pour over the vegetables and meat and toss to combine.
Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to seven days.
Are you looking to get inspired in the kitchen?
I love preparing my home so it’s a haven of rest for my family. But I also love to be prepared for times of unrest. That’s why I keep a well-stocked pantry!
If you’re looking for that same peace of mind check out my FREE guide for how to stock a pantry on a budget.
Italian, Grinder-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Substitutions
This is a recipe that lends itself to endless ingredient substitutions.
If you don’t like mozzarella cheese, you can substitute it for parmesan cheese.
If you don’t like apple cider vinegar, you can add banana peppers (or add because you simply enjoy them!) We enjoy pepperoncini peppers. The added spice would be so good on a cold winter’s day.
Banana peppers aren’t the only other vegetable you can add. You can add cherry tomatoes or bell peppers for some additional crunch.
We have a roast chicken about once a week for dinner. But if we don’t, I can always throw in roast beef or deli turkey and this salad will turn out just fine.
Finally, the dressing in this recipe is a homemade dressing. There’s nothing saying you can’t use your favorite, store-bought dressing for this! Comment on this blog post and let me know which one is your favorite.
For even more recipe substitution ideas, follow me on Pinterest!
Transform This into a New Recipe
I prefer to eat this straight out of a bowl. However, you can turn this into something completely new!
Return to what inspired this salad and serve it as a sandwich. Or hold true to the salad and serve it on top of shredded lettuce or a crunchy lettuce.
Common Names for Grinder Sandwiches
If you aren’t familiar with grinder sandwiches, you may have heard of submarine sandwiches. Both sandwiches are also called hero or wedge sandwiches.
“Grinder” is also said to be a New England term that differentiates hot sandwiches from cold sandwiches. Cold sandwiches are usually referred to as “subs.”
One significant difference in submarine sandwiches is the cylindrical shape of the roll used on the sandwich.
Italian, Grinder-Inspired Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe Card
Italian Grinder-Inspired Chicken Salad
Meal prep this simple salad for quick lunches during the week or for a perfect, cool salad on a hot summer's day!
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Chicken breast, cooked and chopped
- 1/2 Cup Pepperoni, chopped
- 1/4 Cup Cucumbers, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Red Onion
- 1/2 Cup Block Mozzarella, chopped
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Pepper
- 1 Tsp Dried Parsley
- 1 Tsp Dried Basil
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
Instructions
- Cook the chicken breast until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
- The next day, wash and chop the red bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.
- Chop the chicken breast, pepperoni, and mozzarella.
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
- In a mason jar, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, and seasonings. Put a lid on the mason jar and shake well. Taste and adjust seasonings as you see fit.
- When the salad dressing is to your liking, pour over the vegetables and meat and toss to combine.
- Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to seven days.
Notes
- If you don't like mozzarella cheese, you can substitute it for parmesan cheese.
- If you don't like apple cider vinegar, you can add banana peppers.
- Banana peppers aren't the only other vegetable you can add. You can add cherry tomatoes or bell peppers for some additional crunch.
- We have a roast chicken about once a week for dinner. But if we don't, I can always throw in roast beef or deli turkey and this salad will turn out just fine.
- You can substitute your favorite, store-bought dressing for the homemade dressing in this recipe.
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