Category: Salads

Diner-Style Coleslaw

I do love a cold, creamy coleslaw. Nothing fancy. And maybe a little vinegary kick. But not much. This diner-style coleslaw is my kind of slaw. Perfect on a hot day, for lunch or dinner. Perfect on a cool day too. And crazy easy to make. This slaw reminds me of the ones you’d find in the glass cases in the diners of old. The ones with the sliding doors. Made early that morning, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled to perfection!

Diner-Style Coleslaw

Nice And Creamy

I use Blue Plate mayonnaise in all of my slaws. For me, it’s the best-tasting, creamiest mayonnaise around. You can use your favorite. Even though this diner-style coleslaw isn’t complicated, better ingredients make for a better slaw.

I didn’t have white balsamic vinegar on hand. I knew I didn’t want to use regular ole balsamic vinegar. Though it’d add the same flavor, it’d discolor the slaw. That wouldn’t be good. I used apple cider vinegar instead and the slaw come out fantastic. Problem solved!

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Also try a delicious homemade chef’s salad!

Diner-Style Coleslaw

Diner-Style Coleslaw

Best served well-chilled!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Coleslaw
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 869 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl mix together everything except for the slaw mix.
  • Add the slaw mix and toss to coat.
  • Sprinkle with the parsley (if using) and stir.

Notes

Stir again before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge.
You can substitute two small heads of cabbage and 2 carrots, all shredded, for the bagged slaw instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 869kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 2gFat: 88gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 50gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 718mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword coleslaw, diner
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper - Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer - Onion Chopper with Container - Pro Food Chopper - Slicer Dicer Cutter - (4 in 1, White)40%
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper – Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer – Onion Chopper with Container – Pro Food Chopper – Slicer Dicer Cutter – (4 in 1, White)

Copycat McDonald’s Chef Salad

If I had to choose a salad as my favorite, this copycat McDonald’s Chef Salad would be it. Not because it’s fancy. But because it reminds me of diner salads. The kind that would be in a refrigerated glass case, wrapped in plastic wrap. Premade that morning. McDonald’s served these for a few years. They came in plastic containers with a packet of your favorite dressing. Nothing fancy but reminiscent of the classic.

Copycat McDonald's Chef Salad

Oh the Ham and Turkey!

I often slice sandwich meats to top my salads. This copycat McDonald’s Chef Salad called for something a bit more. Roasted turkey and smoked ham cut into thin almost-matchstick-like strips. They make this salad better. A lot better. Don’t skimp on the meats. Grab some good stuff out of the meat case. It’s more than worth it.

Great Eggs

To make the perfect hard-boiled eggs for my salads, I ‘cheat’. I use an egg cooker. I laughed when my mom gave us one of these cookers years ago. Well, I don’t laugh now. I love it. Every single time I get perfectly cooked eggs. And they shell easy. I have to say I’ll never make boiled eggs in a pot again.

Elite Gourmet EGC-007B# Rapid Egg Cooker, 7 Easy-To-Peel, Hard, Medium, Soft Boiled Eggs, Poacher, Omelet Maker, Auto Shut-Off, Alarm, 16-Recipe Booklet, Black
Elite Gourmet EGC-007B# Rapid Egg Cooker, 7 Easy-To-Peel, Hard, Medium, Soft Boiled Eggs, Poacher, Omelet Maker, Auto Shut-Off, Alarm, 16-Recipe Booklet, Black

Great Cheese

You really need to shred your own cheese for this salad. Or any salad. Or any dish. It makes a big difference. The cheese is creamier. Tastier. It doesn’t have that ‘stuff’ on it that keeps it from sticking together like you’ll find in bagged pre-shredded cheese. This shredder makers it super-easy to shred cheese and it’s easy to clean too. It also grates cheese!

Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater, Kitchen Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Blades, Easy to Clean Rotary Grater Slicer for Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts
Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater, Kitchen Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Blades, Easy to Clean Rotary Grater Slicer for Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts

Also try my loaded chef’s salad.

Copycat McDonald's Chef Salad

Copycat McDonald’s Chef Salad

A tasty classic!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 289 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup iceberg lettuce chopped
  • 1 cup green leaf lettuce chopped. I like a combination of green and red leaf lettuce
  • 1/4 cup roasted turkey cut into thin strips
  • 1/4 cup smoked ham cut into thin strips
  • 1 radish sliced thin
  • 6 slices cucumber
  • 4 quarters tomato or use 3 halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
  • 3 halves hard-boiled eggs
  • kosher salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • your favorite salad dressing to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine the chopped lettuces and place onto a plate.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and serve.

Notes

Best served on a cold plate!

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 22gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 894mgPotassium: 410mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 3607IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 449mgIron: 2mg
Keyword chef’s salad, copycat
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper - Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer - Onion Chopper with Container - Pro Food Chopper - Slicer Dicer Cutter - (4 in 1, White)40%
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper – Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer – Onion Chopper with Container – Pro Food Chopper – Slicer Dicer Cutter – (4 in 1, White)

Copycat Classic Diner Chef Salad

I wanted a salad that would harken back to earlier times. When I could walk into a diner, order a burger, some fries, and a salad. This copycat classic diner chef salad reminds me of the salads the waitress would grab out of the little fridge on the counter by the pass to the kitchen. They were usually behind glass doors that slid open. Covered in plastic wrap, they were made fresh every morning. And they always hit the spot. Just like this one. And I always got it with Ranch dressing. Even though they had French. Maybe there were other dressing choices but my brain always stopped once it heard ‘Ranch’.

Copycat Classic Diner Chef Salad

Diners And Salad Bars

Whenever I get lucky enough to find a decent salad bar at a restaurant, which is kinda rare these days, I end up making a copycat classic diner chef salad. Not just because it’s easy. It has all of my favorite things on it. From fresh mushrooms to ham to bacon to green onions. For me, it’s the perfect combination.

(24 Pack, 2 Sizes) Small Sauce Cups, Stainless Steel Ramekin Dipping Sauce Cup, Commercial Grade Individual Round Condiment Cups (12 of - 1.5oz: 12 of - 2.5oz)
(24 Pack, 2 Sizes) Small Sauce Cups, Stainless Steel Ramekin Dipping Sauce Cup, Commercial Grade Individual Round Condiment Cups (12 of – 1.5oz: 12 of – 2.5oz)

There used to be a Ruby Tuesday restaurant by our house that always had the ultimate salad bar. And some of the best Ranch dressing around. I sure miss it. But to make up for it being gone, and there being no good diner’s near me, I made these at home.

It might seem a bit odd, but I think freshly-shredded cheese is a must on a salad. You want fresh vegetables, why not fresh cheese? That pre-shredded stuff isn’t as creamy. And it’s not as tasty. So I always take the few extra minutes to shred my own.

Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater, Kitchen Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Blades, Easy to Clean Rotary Grater Slicer for Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts
Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater, Kitchen Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Blades, Easy to Clean Rotary Grater Slicer for Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts
Copycat Classic Diner Chef Salad

Copycat Classic Diner Chef Salad

Inspired by a recipe from Berly’s Kitchen
The perfect classic salad.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 251 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce cleaned, cored, sliced or shredded as desired
  • 1 ounce cheddar cheese shredded
  • 12 cherry tomatoes rinsed, halved
  • 1/2 small onion white, red, or sweet, sliced into rings
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms rinsed, sliced
  • 1 medium carrot peeled, sliced or shredded
  • 1/2 medium cucumber peeled, sliced
  • 4 large eggs hard-boiled, peeled, halved
  • 4 slices bacon cooked, chopped
  • 4 green onions rinsed, sliced thin
  • 1/4 cup ham diced
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Assemble your salad by dividing the lettuce between four plates.
  • Add remaining ingredients and season well.
  • Serve with your favorite dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 15gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 213mgSodium: 393mgPotassium: 516mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3622IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 2mg
Keyword classic, salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper - Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer - Onion Chopper with Container - Pro Food Chopper - Slicer Dicer Cutter - (4 in 1, White)40%
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper – Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer – Onion Chopper with Container – Pro Food Chopper – Slicer Dicer Cutter – (4 in 1, White)