This creamy Italian Grinder chicken salad is packed with all the delicious flavors of an Italian deli sandwich and tossed in a creamy dressing. It makes the most incredible chicken salad sandwich, or serve it over greens for a lower-carb option!

Love salads with chicken? You’ll love this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad, this Mexican chicken salad, or this fall chicken salad with cranberries! And if you’re obsessed with everything “grinder,” DO NOT miss this grinder pasta salad and this grinder chopped salad!

Recipe Ingredients: Italian Grinder Chicken Salad

For the salad & dressing:

Cooked, shredded chicken
Salami
Pepperoni
Provolone cheese
Cherry tomatoes
Banana peppers or pepperoncini
Red onion
Mayonnaise
Italian dressing or submarine oil
Italian seasoning

Ingredients needed to make easy Italian grinder chicken salad.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken breast is easy and tasty, so that’s what I always use. You can also make shredded chicken breast in the air fryer or in a pan.

Pepperoni/Salami: You can substitute any of your favorite deli meats like ham, turkey, or even prosciutto!

Banana peppers: You can also use pepperoncini which have a bit more spice.

Italian dressing: Our very favorite bottled brand is Ken’s Lite Northern Italian, but use your favorite or use this recipe for Italian dressing! You can also use a “submarine dressing” like this one.

How to make this Italian Grinder Chicken Salad: Step by Step

Ingredients for Italian grinder chicken salad and the creamy dressing before. being mixed. — In a large bowl, add chicken, deli meat, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and onion. In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients.

Italian chicken salad being mixed in a glass bowl. — Add the dressing to the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.

Italian grinder chicken salad sandwich on a bun.. — Serve on bread, rolls, or croissants. See lots of other serving suggestions below!

Expert Tips

Shredding chicken: Want to get your chicken shredded up super easily?? Throw it in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and “blend” it on low for about 45 seconds. Boom! Perfectly shredded chicken every time! You can also use a hand mixer!
Taste: Add some of the dressing, taste, then add more if needed. The amount of dressing is often a personal preference so make it work for you!
Refrigerate: Pop the chicken salad in the fridge for about an hour before serving to allow the salad to chill and all the flavors to marry.
Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This salad holds up pretty well in the fridge so it’s great for meal preps!
Spice: For added heat, add some red pepper flakes or more banana peppers!

How to serve

Croissants/bread/rolls: This chicken salad is amazing on warm, toasty bread or a soft croissant.

Tortilla: Wrap it up in a tortilla and add shredded lettuce for the perfect wrap!

Crackers: Grab some sturdy crackers and enjoy this high-protein snack!

Lettuce wraps: Want to low-carb it? Serve this salad in romaine or butter lettuce cups or just spoon it over a bed of mixed greens.

Stuffed bell peppers: Another great low-carb snack! Cut a bell pepper in half, emove the seeds, and serve the chicken salad inside these little pepper bowls!

More delicious salads with chicken!

Grinder chicken salad sandwich on a plate.

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Thank you! ~ Casey