A rainbow of fresh summer veggies combines with the classic chef’s salad and an extra-creamy pesto ranch dressing in this ultimate veggie-lover’s lunch salad!
Another mid-August Monday, another salad in your face.
…literally loaded with nearly all the summer things.
A legit plethora of rainbow veggies. (nearly all from my garden, yo!)
All the makin’s of a fabulous chef’s salad. (totally love that name—makes me feel like a pro chef whippin’ up my fancy salad!)
Creamy pesto ranch dressing. (’nuff said)
Currently crushing on: All things salad and all things that do not require turning on an oven.
Desperately clinging to: Every part of summer. Don’t leaaaave me yet!
Sidenote: the calendar may be saying that summer is slipping away (at an insane rate of speed, I might add) but the weather? It’s laughing at the calendar and still dishing out those lovely nearly-triple-digit with 100% humidity August days.
Gotta love those days when you work at the city pool and every kid in the general vicinity are trying to keep cool by staying at the pool. All day.
And holy moly, speaking of summer leaving us…Eeek!! I start college one week from today!!
Summer, slow down and just let me chill with my margarita for another month or two.
Don’t get me wrong guys, I’m totally psyched up and excited to start culinary school but at the same I’m definitely nervous about how different it’s undoubtedly going to be—don’t forget, I’ve been homeschooled my entire life, so this is all new to me!
No pajamas allowed in school for one thing. Are you even KIDDING me, guys?!
Geez, if you think I sound like a total basket-case right now, you should hear my mom. She’s already freaking out over me having to commute to school 4 days a week, plus the fact that I have a few slightly-late night classes. She’s insisting that I keep my phone on my person 24/7 NO MATTER WHAT.
And call her every 10 minutes just so she knows I’m still alive and breathing.
Okay, yeah I DID stretch that last one just a little bit….
You’re right, we should probably get around to chatting it up about salad right about now. That kinda turned into the longest sidenote ever up there. Sorry, peeps!
I’m almost embarrassed to actually call this salad a recipe just because how freakin’ SIMPLE it is. Really, it’s just all the summer veggies tossed with all the classic chef’s salad components (eggs, cheese, and such goodness) and dumped with ALL THE PESTO RANCH DRESSING.
I’ll say that again just for clarification. Pesto.Ranch.Dressing. Otherwise known as the Green Dark Horse of all ranch dressing. Holy schmo….
Dump that dressing on and dump it on in slightly-copious amounts.
We don’t go light on the dressing around here, guys. Especially on a Monday! Plus, uh green on green! A good thing.
Toss ‘yer salad and you are ready for that inevitable, just-necessary Monday lunch hour faceplant.
Face, meet salad. Salad, meet face. ♥
I herby declare this chef’s salad the salad of your summer DREAMS. And this is one dream that you do not have to wake up from, so there ‘ya go. You’ve got life MADE.
Summer in a salad bowl right there, guys. There’s just no denying it. 😉
Rainbow Veggie Chef’s Salad with Creamy Pesto Ranch Dressing
This recipe may included paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- SALAD:
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup chopped baby spinach
- 1 small cucumber thinly sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes halved and thinly sliced
- 1 large sweet pepper thinly sliced
- 1 avocado peeled, pitted and diced
- 1 medium carrot julienned into thin strips
- 3 hard-boiled eggs thinly sliced
- 1 cup 1-in cubed mozzarella cheese
- DRESSING:
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup prepared pesto
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the salad: In a large bowl, toss all salad ingredients until evenly distributed and combined. Set aside for a moment while you prepare the dressing.
- Make the dressing: Place all dressing ingredients in a food processor and pulse several times until dressing is creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Divide salad between serving plates and drizzle ranch dressing over top. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag your photo #wholeandheavenlyoven on Instagram. And follow me so we can be friends! ♥
Hungry for more salad? What a silly question….
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Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I can’t get enough of salads, so this is just calling my name! I’m especially in love with that pesto ranch dressing. What a perfect combination, Sarah! I think I could eat this for breakfast! Yum!
Sarah says
Thanks Gayle! I’m definitely not above eating salad for breakfast either! 😉
Kathryn Mader says
I took one look at that salad and started drooling and BINGO!, dinner tonight! I can’t wait and just the thought will keep be ticking through the day, ’cause what on earth am I doing up so early? I’m excited for your culinary schooling to start, just think of the possibilities! Your mom is cute; I’m glad you come home every day, did I read that right, a commute? That will be a nice transition for both of you. Have a WONDERFUL last week of summer!
Sarah says
Yay! I hope you’ll let me know how the salad turns out! And thank you so much for the well wishes about my going to college! Yes, I will be commuting from home at least for the first semester. 😉 Thanks again, Kathryn!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Looking at Pinterest you would think it’s October aready! I’m still in summer mode, so send me all the salad!
Sarah says
Right?! There’s still a little bit of summer left! 😉
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
This is not another salad, this is a great salad, a rainbow on a plate, the crunchy veggies, the dressing are so great, love it!
Sarah says
Thanks so much Katalina! This salad sounds right up your alley, friend! 🙂
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
This salad looks delicious, Sarah! The perfect summer food, especially when it is too hot to have the oven on! I really love pesto dressing, so much flavour! Definitely going to try this out!
Good luck for culinary school! You’re going to have a blast, I’m about start my final year at culinary school myself, it has been a lot of hard work, but so much fun! 😀
Sarah says
Oh my gosh, your final year already! That’s so awesome, Jess! I’m definitely looking forward to starting mine! 😉
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
That pesto ranch dressing sounds perfect with this chefs salad. I can eat salad for every meal and be completely happy.
Sarah says
I’m right there with ‘ya, Jen! Salad is just life. 🙂
Kara says
Pesto ranch? Omg that sounds amazing. I have some left over pesto in my fridge and now I know exactly what to do with it! :)) Thanks for the idea!
Sarah says
Let me know how it turns out, Kara! Thanks for stopping by. 😉
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
We’ve been trying to hang on to everything we love about summer since it’s zooming by way too quickly. This salad is the best way to enjoy all those summer flavors! It looks amazing! Good luck with school next week! So exciting, you will have a great time 🙂
Sarah says
Exactly! Summer needs to sloooooow down and let us enjoy all the summer salad first!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
Now this is one gorgeous salad Sarah, such pretty colorful veggies! And good luck with the school, you will do just fine! I am sure of that! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Manali! I appreciate the sweet words!
Danielle says
How exciting that you’ll be starting college soon! I look forward to hearing how you enjoy culinary school, but knowing you I think you will absolutely love it. By the way, that cream pesto ranch dressing is AMAZING! I love this salad, Sarah!
Sarah says
Danielle, you are totally the sweetest! You make my day every time with your kind words. 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Just look at all those gorgeous veggies! I could probablllly eat that whole bowl myself. Haha! And I love that pesto ranch dressing. yum!
Sarah says
Thanks lady! The pesto ranch dressing is right up your alley for sure! 😉