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

Scale

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

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.

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