What the heck is this?
Italian Chopped Salad is everything you love about a hearty, fresh, flavor-packed Italian meal — in one giant, colorful bowl. It’s a classic salad that doesn’t feel like a side dish; it’s bold enough to stand as a full meal if you want it to. Crisp lettuce, crunchy vegetables, savory meats, creamy cheeses, and a zesty homemade dressing all come together in perfect harmony. Every bite is a little different but every bite is packed with flavor. Whether you’re serving it up for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a party side dish, it never fails to impress.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Packed with textures: crunchy, creamy, crisp, and tender all in one
- Loaded with bold flavors from meats, cheeses, and tangy dressing
- Super customizable depending on what you have in the fridge
- Feels hearty and satisfying without being heavy
- Perfect for meal prep — holds up well for a day or two in the fridge
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
- 1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 head of radicchio, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini slices
- 1/2 cup black olives or Kalamata olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup diced salami
- 1/2 cup diced provolone cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Make the Dressing
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking until the dressing is emulsified and smooth. Set aside.
Step 2: Prep the Salad
Chop the romaine and radicchio into bite-sized pieces and toss them into a very large mixing bowl. The bigger the bowl, the better — you’ll want plenty of space to mix everything without squishing the ingredients.
Step 3: Add the Toppings
Toss in the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, pepperoncini, olives, salami, provolone, and Parmesan. Give it a light toss to mix everything together evenly.
Step 4: Dress and Toss
Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss thoroughly so that every little piece gets a coating of that tangy, herby dressing.
Step 5: Serve It Up
Pile the salad high onto plates or shallow bowls and serve immediately. For a little extra flair, you can sprinkle a few more shavings of Parmesan over the top right before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This Italian Chopped Salad is hearty enough to stand alone for lunch or a lighter dinner. If you want to make it part of a bigger meal, it pairs beautifully with pizza, pasta, grilled chicken, or even a simple bowl of soup. It’s also a fantastic potluck dish because it holds up really well at room temperature.
Switch It Up
- Add More Protein: Toss in some grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to make it even more filling.
- Change the Cheeses: Mozzarella balls, Asiago, or even a sharp cheddar can mix things up.
- Make It Spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the dressing or use spicy salami.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can prep all the ingredients a day ahead and keep them separate. Chop the veggies, slice the meats, and make the dressing, but wait to toss everything together until right before serving to keep it crisp and fresh. If you want to toss it ahead of time, leave the dressing on the side until the last minute.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use bagged salad mix instead of chopping fresh lettuce?
A: Absolutely. A good-quality Italian-style salad blend works great if you’re in a pinch.
Q: How long does Italian Chopped Salad last?
A: Once dressed, it’s best eaten immediately, but it can hang out in the fridge for about a day. If undressed, the salad components can last 2–3 days refrigerated.
Q: What’s a good substitute for radicchio?
A: If you can’t find radicchio, you can use extra romaine or throw in some arugula for a little peppery kick.
Italian Chopped Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Italian Chopped Salad is everything you love about a hearty, fresh, flavor-packed Italian meal — in one giant, colorful bowl. It’s a classic salad that doesn’t feel like a side dish; it’s bold enough to stand as a full meal if you want it to. Crisp lettuce, crunchy vegetables, savory meats, creamy cheeses, and a zesty homemade dressing all come together in perfect harmony. Every bite is a little different but every bite is packed with flavor. Whether you’re serving it up for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a party side dish, it never fails to impress.
Ingredients
1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 head of radicchio, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cucumber, diced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup pepperoncini slices
1/2 cup black olives or Kalamata olives, sliced
1/2 cup diced salami
1/2 cup diced provolone cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking until the dressing is emulsified and smooth. Set aside.
Chop the romaine and radicchio into bite-sized pieces and toss them into a very large mixing bowl. The bigger the bowl, the better — you’ll want plenty of space to mix everything without squishing the ingredients.
Toss in the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, pepperoncini, olives, salami, provolone, and Parmesan. Give it a light toss to mix everything together evenly.
Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss thoroughly so that every little piece gets a coating of that tangy, herby dressing.
Pile the salad high onto plates or shallow bowls and serve immediately. For a little extra flair, you can sprinkle a few more shavings of Parmesan over the top right before serving.
Notes
This Italian Chopped Salad is hearty enough to stand alone for lunch or a lighter dinner. If you want to make it part of a bigger meal, it pairs beautifully with pizza, pasta, grilled chicken, or even a simple bowl of soup. It’s also a fantastic potluck dish because it holds up really well at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~250 calories
- Protein: ~9g per serving