Pittsburgh Salad (Pittsburgh Chicken Salad)

Pittsburgh Chicken Salad – slices of juicy chicken breast and a pile of hot, crispy fries on top of a cool, crunchy salad make this famous regional dish a local favorite and a delicious, complete meal in a bowl!

this recipe!

What is a Pittsburgh Chicken Salad

A regional favorite from western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Chicken Salad is a simple, house salad topped with slices of grilled chicken and a layer of crispy fries. Of all the food Pittsburgh is known for, (think Primanti Brothers sandwiches, pierogies, potato patch fries, and burnt almond torte) this is my favorite!

It starts on a base of your favorite lettuce. While romaine and iceberg lettuce are common, you can use any lettuce mix you like. Cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and cheddar cheese are the most common additions, but feel free to add any of your other favorite salad ingredients – red onion slices, bell pepper slices, olives, shredded carrot, croutons, or hard-boiled egg.

It’s topped with slices of juicy grilled chicken breast and a pile of crispy fries. It’s then drizzled with your favorite dressing. Ours is ranch, but Italian, blue cheese, or thousand island are popular too.

Pittsburgh Steak Salad

For a Pittsburgh Steak Salad, substitute thinly sliced grilled steak for the chicken breast. Use your favorite cut of steak cooked on the grill or in the skillet.  Try flank, sirloin, strip, or ribeye.

Who invented the Pittsburgh Salad?

Jerry’s Curb Service just outside of Pittsburgh in Beaver, Pennsylvania, claims to have invented this western Pennsylvania chicken salad in the 60’s when a customer requested everything that could be on a steak sandwich, but without the bread. Donna Reed, the wife of founder Jerry Reed, piled fries, steak, and salad dressing on top of a bed of lettuce.

Fries on a salad is a brilliant invention!

Fries add texture, flavor, crunch, and warmth. They make a salad hearty enough to be a complete meal and are the perfect substitution for croutons. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked!

You can find a Pittsburgh Salad on many menus across the city. However, In Pittsburgh, it’s not referred to as a “Pittsburgh salad.” It’s often on menus as “steak salad” or “chicken salad.”

Ingredients in Pittsburgh Salad recipe

• French fries – they key ingredient in a Pittsburgh style salad. Use whichever style of fries you like, as long as you make them nice and crispy. Seasoned fries add extra flavor. Frozen fries make a quick and easy salad.

• Chicken breast – grilled or cooked in a skillet then sliced. Season the chicken as you like – a little salt and pepper, some Italian seasoning, or cajun seasoning (my fave and can also be used to season the fries). For a Pittsburgh Steak Salad, use steak instead

• Lettuce – Use your favorite lettuce mix. Pittsburgh Salad is usually served on top of a simple, house style salad that contains romaine or iceberg lettuce that holds up well to the heat of the grilled meat and fries.

• Veggies – Cherry tomatoes and sliced cucumber are most common. You can also add sliced red onion, bell pepper, shredded carrot, or olives

• Salad dressing – Ranch is the most popular dressing for a Pittsburgh Salad. It’s perfect for drizzling on top as well as serving on the side for dipping. Other options include Italian, blue cheese, or thousand island.

• Cheddar cheese – grated, or a blend of cheddar and mozzarella

How to make Pittsburgh Chicken Salad

• Cook chicken breast on the grill or in a skillet until done. Let rest for 5 minutes then cut into slices.

• Prepare the French fries. I use frozen, seasoned, thin-cut fries and bake them a few extra minutes so they’re extra crispy.

• Assemble the salad: put the lettuce into a serving bowl and add veggies and cheese

• Top with sliced chicken breast and fries

• Serve with dressing drizzled on top or on the side.

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