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This chopped salad is ready in a quick 10 minutes and includes 40 grams of protein! It’s an easy (and very delicious) lunch option that will support your health goals!
People often assume that I make time for elaborate lunches since my job involves food and I work from home. Well I absolutely do not. The truth is that by lunchtime I’ve been working for a few hours and I have a good rhythm going. I don’t want to disrupt my flow and get off task for long. Plus I’ve done a workout (usually tennis, a run, or an Orange Theory class) which makes me ravenous. So by the time noon rolls around I am very hungry but I want something fast. For that reason I rely heavily on reheated dinner leftovers or lunches I can throw together in 10 minutes or less.
This chopped salad really does take under 10 minutes. We’re using bagged shredded lettuce and quick proteins like deli turkey, pepperoni, and cheese to save time.
We’re also loading this beauty up with a good balance of macros. There are 40 grams of protein in one serving! But don’t forget about the healthy fats and carbs. They’re important too to help keep us full and ensure our brains are capable of doing their best thinking!
You can easily make this chopped salad when you’re ready to eat like I do. But you can also prepare it the night before. I recommend keeping the dressing separate so the lettuce doesn’t get soggy. Then pour it over the other ingredients at lunchtime.
Ingredients for High Protein Deli Turkey Chopped Salad
- Shredded lettuce: Bagged shredded iceberg lettuce is the ultimate time saver for this chopped salad.
- Deli turkey: Use your favorite store-bought deli turkey. Ham or roast beef also work great!
- Pepperoni: We’re giving our pepperoni a quick chop so that’s it small enough to stir into the other ingredients. Both turkey or pork are perfect. Use whichever you prefer.
- Tomato: Any tomato works! You can dice up a medium tomato or opt for grape or cherry tomatoes.
- Cucumber: Cucumber adds freshness and a crunch that’s essential.
- Pepperoncini: Jarred pepperoncini is an easy way to add more flavor.
- Feta, blue cheese, or gorgonzola: A salty crumbled cheese is the perfect texture contrast in this salad.
- Olive oil: We’re simply dressing this salad in oil, vinegar, and seasonings because that’s truly all it needs. This lets all the other ingredients really shine!
- Balsamic or red wine vinegar: Use balsamic or red wine vinegar. I tend to prefer balsamic because it has a bolder flavor.
- Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning is a delicious blend of dried herbs so you don’t have to add individual herbs yourself. Another shortcut to keep this simple but oh so yummy!
- Salt and pepper: A little salt and black pepper help make each ingredient taste its absolute best.
Can You Make This Salad in Advance?
You can absolutely make this chopped salad in advance. In order to prevent the lettuce from getting soggy I recommend keeping the olive oil, vinegar, and Italian seasoning in a separate container from the produce until you’re ready to eat. You can go ahead and salt and pepper the salad if you like.
More recipes like this:
High Protein Deli Turkey Chopped Salad for One
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bagged shredded iceburg lettuce,
- 4 ounces deli turkey, 10 to 12 slices, chopped
- 8 – 10 turkey or pork pepperoni, diced
- ½ medium tomato, diced
- ½ medium cucumber, diced
- 1 – 2 tablespoons jarred sliced pepperoncini
- 2 ounces crumbled feta, blue cheese, or gorgonzola
- 1 tablespoon dried italian seasoning or dried herbs of choice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon balsamic or red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and give it a good toss. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
