Chef salad ( sometimes called chef 's salad ) is a type of salad . It usually includes a bed of leaf vegetables or lettuce , which can be served with hard boiled eggs , strips of meat ( such as ham , roast beef , or turkey ) , cheese , cucumbers , croutons , and tomatoes . Chef salad ( or chef 's salad ) is a salad consisting of hard-boiled eggs ; one or more meats such as ham , turkey , chicken , or roast beef ; tomatoes ; cucumbers ; and cheese ; all placed upon a bed of tossed lettuce or other leaf vegetables .