Classic Deli-Style Salad Recipes

These easy deli-style salad recipes are classic cold salads from the deli counter. They're made ahead, served cold, and meant to go with sandwiches, bagels, or rye bread. If you're tired of paying too much for tiny containers, make them at home. These are the salads you scoop by the pound at the deli.

Tuna salad with lettuce and tomatoes. Coffee and potato salad on the side.

Potato Salad Recipes

white potato salad with mayo and onions.

Deli Potato Salad

This NY deli potato salad is cold and creamy, made with thin-sliced russet potatoes in a sweet and tangy mayo dressing. Just like the kind you'd find at a New York deli. No mustard, no eggs, no relish. Perfect for picnics, BBQs, or any casual get-together. Great with pastrami, roast beef, or your favorite sandwich.

Recipe

Dill pickle potato salad with eggs and fresh dill served with oven fried chicken.

Potato Salad With Pickles and Eggs

Southern-style potato salad with pickles and eggs made with boiled potatoes and a creamy dressing. A classic, make-ahead side dish for cookouts and family meals.

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Egg Salad Recipes

New York Egg Salad Recipe

Classic NY deli egg salad. Creamy, simple, and perfect for sandwiches or salads.

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Veggie Egg Salad

This NYC deli-style veggie egg salad is creamy with a little crunch from celery, carrots, and onion. Serve it on a bagel, sandwich, or over greens.

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Chicken Salad

Sonoma Chicken Salad

This Sonoma Chicken Salad is a simple Whole Foods copycat made with tender chicken, grapes, celery, and toasted pecans. Everything is tossed in a creamy poppyseed dressing for an easy salad that works for sandwiches, wraps, or meal prep.

Recipe

bowl of chicken salad with celery and mayo

How To Make NYC Deli Chicken Salad

This NYC deli-style chicken salad is made with tender poached chicken, mayonnaise, and celery. Simple, creamy, and perfect for sandwiches.

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chicken salad with grapes, celery, mayo, and almonds

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Dill

This sweet chicken salad with grapes is creamy and lightly sweet, made with cooked chicken, mayo, Dijon, celery, and red grapes. Great for sandwiches or an easy lunch. Gluten-free.

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Tuna Salads

Old-fashioned tuna salad with crisp lettuce, sliced tomato, cucumber, and scallions

New York Diner Tuna Salad

Classic New York deli tuna salad made with canned tuna, mayonnaise, and crunchy celery. Serve it on a sandwich, in a wrap, or as a diner-style salad plate over crisp greens. Easy to make and perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

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Veggie Tuna Salad

Veggie Tuna Salad is a classic New York deli and bagel store classic. The creamy salad is loaded with crispy and chopped vegetables. Veggie tuna can be enjoyed on a bagel, wrap, or on a bed of greens. Canned tuna with veggies and mayo has tons of flavor and it's so easy to pull together! This recipe is gluten-free and low-carb.

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Homemade tuna egg salad with eggs, celery, red onion, dill, and pickles in a shallow bowl

Tuna Fish Salad With Egg

Creamy tuna fish salad with eggs is made with solid white tuna, chopped eggs, celery, dill, pickles, and celery salt. It's a classic deli-style lunch and ready in 15 minutes.

Recipe

cranberries and apple tuna with ritz crackers

Whole Foods Cranberry Apple Tuna Salad Recipe

This Whole Foods Cranberry Apple Tuna Salad copycat recipe combines flaky canned tuna fish with dried cranberries, diced apple, celery, and a creamy mayo dressing. It's perfect for sandwiches and salad toppings or an afternoon high-protein snack. It's easy to prepare and full of flavor.

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These recipes are inspired by New York delis like Katz's Delicatessen and Zabar's, where cold salads are sold by the pound.

If you're in Brooklyn, stop by Defonte's Sandwich Shop in Red Hook for an Italian sub and a side of coleslaw, then head to Steve's Key Lime Pie for dessert and enjoy your meal with a view of the Statue of Liberty.

In Key West, Goldman's Deli is where locals go for a New York-style deli fix.

Cold Deli Salads

sweet creamy coleslaw with cabbage, carrots, peppers, and creamy dressing

Sweet Coleslaw Recipe

This sweet coleslaw recipe is super easy and delicious. It combines crunchy cabbage, a little carrot, and coleslaw dressing. Perfect for burgers, bbq ribs, sliders, chicken, or a summer barbecue, it's a side dish everyone will love!

Recipe

Bowl of deli-style macaroni salad with mayonnaise.

New York Deli Macaroni Salad

New York Deli Macaroni Salad is a sweet pasta salad made with elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, vegetables, and a few finely chopped vegetables.

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Seafood Deli Salads

Cold key west pink shrimp salad on a bed of lettuce.

Shrimp Salad with Old Bay and Dill Recipe

This easy shrimp salad with Old Bay and dill is packed with fresh flavor. Cooked shrimp are tossed in a light, creamy dressing with a touch of lemon, Old Bay seasoning, celery, and fresh dill. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or a light summer meal. Ready in minutes!

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Surimi Crab Salad

This easy surimi crab salad is made with imitation crab, mayo, lemon, Old Bay, and fresh veggies. It takes minutes to mix together and makes a tasty seafood salad. Serve it in sandwiches, over lettuce, or with crackers for a great meal.

Recipe

Bagel Store Baked Salmon Salad

Deli-Style Baked Salmon Salad is a creamy, deli-style spread with baked salmon, mayo, and seasonings. Perfect on bagels or crackers for brunch or lunch! Gluten-free, dairy free, and low carb.

Recipe

Deli Classics

bowl of chopped liver with bread and crackers

Deli Chopped Liver Recipe

This deli-style chopped liver spread is rich, creamy, and full of old-school flavor. Made with chicken livers, sautéed onions, hard-boiled eggs, and a touch of sweetness from apple. Serve chilled with crackers, lettuce, or as a sandwich on fresh rye bread for a classic appetizer or lunch.

Recipe

Italian Antipasto Salad

Italian Antipasto Salad is a big chopped salad made with salami, soppressata, ham, provolone, romaine, and radicchio. Tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, it's colorful, fresh, and filling. Serve as a full dinner or a simple side. This salad also works well for potlucks, buffets, or game day spreads.

Recipe

Looking for sandwiches, soup, or deli sides? You'll find those in the full Deli Recipes collection.

Top Tips

Let the salad chill
Cold salads improve after resting in the fridge. An hour helps. Overnight is even better. Before serving, give it a stir and add a little more salt and pepper if needed.

Dress at the right time
For mixed salads like antipasto, add the dressing close to serving to keep everything crisp. For tuna or egg salads with lettuce and tomato, assemble right before serving so the mayo doesn't turn watery.

Cut ingredients evenly
Small, uniform pieces help deli salads hold together and make each bite balanced. For veggie tuna or egg salad, keep the vegetables about the same size.

About the mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is the base of many deli salads, so quality matters. Use a full-fat mayo such as Hellmann's and add it gradually. You can always add more, but you can't take it out once the salad gets too loose.

Serve at the right temperature
Deli salads should be cold, but not icy. Let them sit out for 5 to 10 minutes before serving so the flavors come through.

FAQs

What makes a deli-style salad?

Deli-style salads are cold, made ahead, and meant to be scooped. They're usually mayo-based or lightly dressed and served with sandwiches, bagels, or rye bread.

How far ahead can you make deli salads?

Most deli salads can be made 1 to 2 days in advance. Many taste better after sitting in the fridge overnight.

What type of mayonnaise works best for deli salads?

A full-fat mayonnaise works best. It keeps the texture creamy and prevents the salad from getting watery.

Potato Salad Recipes

Egg Salad Recipes

Chicken Salad

Tuna Salads

Cold Deli Salads

Seafood Deli Salads

Deli Classics

Top Tips

FAQs

More Deli Recipes

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