Deli salads are a must for lunches, potlucks, picnics, barbecues, or really any gathering. They work great as a side dish or even as a main course. And they’re the perfect accompaniment to a sub sandwich with the works. From fresh fruit salads to creamy chicken salads, these 20 deli salads taste like they’re straight from the deli counter itself.
1. Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is the quintessential deli salad. This one is so comforting, you’ll swear your grandmother made it. Al dente macaroni pasta has the perfect texture to meld with creamy mayo and crunchy veggies. Remember, all that mayo can go bad if left out too long. So keep it in the fridge or on ice during transportation.
2. New York Deli Potato Salad
Do you prefer creamy potato salads with a subtle hint of tang? Then grab a fork because you won’t want to miss this. New York Deli Potato Salad melds new potatoes with mayo and white vinegar. Some carrots, parsley, and onions add a burst of freshness to cut through all the starch and fat. This salad is so filling and yummy, I often eat it all by itself.
3. Rotisserie Chicken Salad
This rotisserie chicken salad will leave you feeling like a deli pro. And guess what, you can whip it up in just 15 minutes! It’s got juicy grapes, crunchy celery, fresh parsley, almond slices, and of course, rotisserie chicken. A combo of mayo and heavy whipping cream make up the dressing. Rather than fuss over roasting chicken at home, opt for store-bought. This recipe is so good nobody will even be able to tell.
4. Marinated Vegetable Salad
If you love a good marinated veggie salad like I do, then you will dig this recipe! This salad is brimming with vibrant summer veggies like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers. All that healthy goodness is coated in a tart, tangy red wine vinaigrette. To let all the flavors meld, I recommend letting this sit overnight in the fridge.
5. Coleslaw
KFC coleslaw is super addicting. It has a zesty kick and a little bit of tang that goes smashingly with barbecue on a hot summer day. Plus, this copycat recipe tastes just like it came from the Colonel himself. Serve it up with whatever you like. I guarantee there won’t be any leftovers in sight.
6. Bulgur Salad with Cucumbers, Red Peppers, Chickpeas, Lemon & Dill
Bulgur salad is one of those recipes I never get tired of. I love that I can prep it in advance for work lunches on busy weeks. Similar to tabbouleh, this salad uses bulgur, lemon juice, chopped parsley, and cucumbers. Chickpeas are thrown in for protein and bell peppers give it a nice crunch. I like to add in some cherry tomatoes when they’re in season. Also, this recipe does use sugar, but you can leave it out if you’re on a low-sugar diet.
7. Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is low in calories and big on flavor. Combine fresh broccoli with golden raisins, sunflower seeds, red onion, and bacon bits. Then, smother the salad in a vinegar and mayo-based dressing. You could saute your ingredients and serve this salad warm on a chilly night, but I find serving the veggies raw makes it much easier and just as tasty.
8. Bean Salad
Bean salad has been a staple on my table since I was a kid. It’s simple to make, affordable, and full of protein. For this five-bean salad, you’ll need black beans, wax beans, green beans, garbanzo beans, and kidney beans. This would make a phenomenal addition to any southern meal. I’m thinking, fried chicken, homemade cornbread, and bacon-sauteed collard greens. Who’s hungry?
9. Curried Chicken Salad
There are many ways to make chicken salad. But if you want the best salad, go with this recipe. Curry adds a flavorful kick to melt-in-your-mouth shredded chicken. Of course, you can’t forget the crunchy celery, juicy grapes, and silky mayo dressing. You can serve this on a sandwich or a bed of crisp lettuce. Or just eat it right out of the bowl – I won’t tell.
10. Chicken Waldorf Salad
Did you know Waldorf salad was named after a hotel in New York? It was first served in 1896 during a charity event for St. Mary’s hospital for Children. Since then, this salad has exploded in popularity and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a harmonious blend of sweet, creamy, crunchy, and fresh. The best part about this Waldorf is the dressing. It’s made with mayo, Greek yogurt, orange juice, and salt to taste.
11. Creamy Delicatessen Fruit Salad
Spruce up your fruit salad delicatessen style with this amazing recipe. Crisp apples, pineapple chunks, mandarin orange slices, and juicy grapes serve as the base. Meanwhile, cream cheese, mayo, and Greek yogurt make up the dressing. This recipe does call for canned pineapple and mandarin oranges, but you can also use fresh.
12. Broccoli Slaw
If you’ve never had slaw featuring broccoli, I highly encourage you to whip this up now. This epic slaw is full of fresh broccoli, protein-packed quinoa, basil, and slivered almonds. And what about the dressing you ask? Why that’s none other than a delicious homemade honey-mustard.
13. Fruit Salad
Looking for a refreshing summer salad? Try this incredible recipe. It’s bursting with a colorful array of fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and oranges. All that fresh goodness gets a drizzle of honey-lime dressing. Fresh, fast, and easy, this salad will kill it at a potluck or Fourth of July barbecue.
14. Rice Salad
Guys, we need to talk about rice salad, specifically, this rice salad. It takes the best parts of cowboy caviar and turns it into an incredibly scrumptious deli salad. But wait, it gets even better because all the fresh veggies and rice get a coating of a spicy, citrusy dressing.
15. Tomato Salad
What’s better than a garden-fresh tomato? This tomato salad recipe! Light and refreshing, this recipe calls for ripe grape tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, and fresh mozzarella balls. To keep things simple, drizzle some red wine vinegar and olive oil on top, then toss. It seriously doesn’t get any better than this!
16. Grated Carrot Salad
Who knew grated carrots could taste this good? This fantastic recipe is super easy to make. All you’ll need is carrots, parsley, onion, and a lemon dijon vinaigrette. Serve it as a side or use it in a stacked veggie sandwich. Either way, it will taste great!
17. Sweet Macaroni Salad
Let me introduce you to your new favorite deli salad, sweet macaroni. It has everything you love about macaroni salad and then some. The real treat is what gives the creamy dressing its sweet twist, condensed milk. Use that with all the other fixings and all your friends will beg you for your secret.
18. Grape Salad
This grape salad is an excellent vegetarian alternative to classic chicken salad. It’s a bit sweeter but so amazingly good! Combine green and purple grapes, pecans, cream cheese, sour cream, and sugar to taste. Then, pop this in an air-tight container and store it in the fridge for about an hour.
19. Apple Cranberry Coleslaw
Need a festive holiday deli salad? I have the treat for you! Toss crisp apples, dried cranberries, almonds, cabbage, and carrots in a tangy Greek yogurt dressing. This creamy, sweet slaw is the perfect addition to a holiday feast.
20. Ambrosia Salad
Why not whip up the food of the gods with this delectable recipe! Kids and adults won’t be able to resist this sweet delight. A bowl of fluffy marshmallows, coconut, vanilla yogurt, pecans, and canned fruits is a fantastic treat for potlucks and brunches. Sorry deli sandwiches, this deli salad is the star of the show! Click on a star to rate it!
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