Best Chopped Salad Recipe

This Italian Chopped Salad is a restaurant favorite that’s easy to make at home. Crisp veggies, creamy cheese, pickly things, salty salami and an herby homemade dressing come together in the best way.

This Chopped Salad Recipe is a Restaurant Favorite!

When I was in culinary school, the students ran a restaurant at the school where the public could come in for lunch or dinner. The best part of this place was that you could get a super high-end, gourmet meal (featuring lamb or duck or something else really nice) for like $15 for three courses, all because it was made by students.

What’s funny is that a lot of customers who came in for lunch ignored the cheap lamb and duck entrees they could have gotten, and instead got the chopped salad as their meal. It was kind of an inside joke how popular it was.

I think it was so beloved for a few reasons: 1.) It was always SO FRESH, because all of the ingredients were freshly chopped right before service, 2.) It had a ton of awesome stuff in it, and 3.) good homemade dressing. And maybe the secret 4.) is that it reminded people of what the Olive Garden unlimited salad would be like if that salad was actually good?

Whatever the case, I’m recreating it today, and I hope you love it as much as all those people turning down cheap gourmet meals did.

Italian Chopped Salad Ingredients

• lettuce – I like classic iceberg lettuce here for its crunch.
• radicchio – this adds a slightly bitter flavor that balances the rich ingredients, and gives the salad vibrant color, as well.
• Provolone cheese – adds a mild, creamy richness. You can also use mozzarella here.
• salami – brings a savory, salty element and some protein to this chopped salad recipe.
• cherry tomatoes – add a sweet and juicy burst of freshness.
• chickpeas – garbanzo beans add some protein and fiber to make the salad more filling.
• cucumber – adds that cool, crisp bite that only cucumber can.
• pickled red onion – you can simply use raw onion, but I like the tangy, slightly sweet note that pickled onions add. My quick pickled red onions recipe is fast and foolproof.
• Parmesan cheese – adds a salty, nutty richness.
• pepperoncini – these add a really tangy and just a touch spicy pop of flavor.
• Kalamata olives – Add a briny flavor that deepens the Mediterranean-inspired taste of the salad.

Italian Chopped Salad Dressing

To dress this chopped Italian salad, I usually stick with my tried-and-true Italian dressing recipe. It’s an olive oil-based vinaigrette made with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. There’s no preservatives or artificial flavors!

How to Make a Chopped Italian Salad

1. CHOP. This step is the most time consuming, but what makes a chopped salad, well, a chopped salad. Take time to chop all of the ingredients really finely into bite-sized pieces, so that when you toss them together, they really get intertwined with each other, and you get a little of everything in every bite.

2. ADD. Place the radicchio, lettuce, Provolone, salami, tomatoes, chickpeas, cucumber, onion, Parmesan, pepperoncini and olives in a large bowl. 

3. TOSS. Add the dressing and toss until well combined and all ingredients are coated in dressing. Taste and add more salt and black pepper, if necessary.

Best Chopped Salad Recipe Variations

• VEGETARIAN – Omit the salami and Parmesan cheese (which is made with rennet, so it’s not vegetarian).
• SWAP THE PROTEIN – Swap the salami for pepperoni, or chopped cooked chicken or turkey.
• DAIRY-FREE – Leave out the provolone and the Parmesan (and omit the Parmesan from the dressing), or replace them with dairy-free cheese alternatives.

How to Serve an Italian Chopped Salad

This is the best chopped salad because it’s so loaded with toppings that it’s a complete meal on its own. Serve it with our homemade garlic bread recipe or easy yeast rolls for mopping up any extra dressing if you wish.

Italian Chopped Salad Recipe FAQs