This is a favorite both in restaurants and made at home!
Italian Salad is filled with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, olives, red onions and of course zesty pepperoncinis. We add in a simple homemade Italian vinaigrette for the perfect fresh salad.
This salad is full of flavor and we love it as a fresh side dish next to our favorite Italian-inspired recipes.
When we go to an Italian restaurant, one of the things I look forward to the most is endless bowls of fresh Italian Salad.
Ingredients
Lettuce – I love a combination of lettuce in this recipe, I start with either iceberg lettuce or a large head of romaine lettuce and add in a little bit of radicchio.
Toppings – Keep it simple or add lots of goodies. This recipe uses red onion, Roma or cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, olives, and homemade croutons.
Dressing – I love homemade Italian dressing (or creamy Italian dressing) but any vinaigrette you love will go well with this recipe.
Variations
- Pasta – Turn this into an Italian pasta salad by adding cooked and cooled cheese tortellini or penne.
- Veggies – Add artichoke hearts, red peppers, cucumbers.
- Other Additions – Try salami or white beans if you’d like.
How to Make Italian Salad
- Wash and dry the lettuce and radicchio and tear them into pieces.
- Prepare the rest of the fresh ingredients per the recipe below.
- Prepare the Italian Dressing if making it homemade.
- Toss everything in a large bowl and serve immediately.
If you’re preparing this salad recipe in advance or planning for leftovers, don’t add the dressing until you’re ready to serve the salad!
Italian Salad Dressing
We love homemade Italian dressing but use any kind of vinaigrette including balsamic or dijon vinaigrette.
DRESSING TIP: Oil and vinegar (or vinaigrette) dressings can separate, including dijon or a bit of honey (or even an egg yolk like in Caesar Salad dressing) can help keep the mixture from separating so don’t skip them! Shake in a mason jar before serving as ingredients may settle.
This Italian salad recipe can be topped with salmon or chicken as a full meal.
It is great serving with Italian favorites like chicken parmesan or chicken piccata. Don’t forget to add in a side of focaccia bread (with olive oil for dipping)
More Easy Salads
Easy Italian Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups lettuce romaine or iceberg
- 2 cups radicchio
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup seasoned croutons
- ½ cup black olives pitted
- 6 pepperoncini peppers
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese or to taste, shredded
- ½ cup Italian dressing homemade or store bought
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs parsley or basil
Instructions
- Wash and dry lettuce and radicchio.
- Add remaining ingredients along with dressing to taste.
- Mix and top with freshly shredded parmesan cheese.
Notes
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or use half olive oil, half vegetable oil)
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon (or 1 very small clove) garlic, optional
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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This salad was not only delicious, it was beautiful…luring in even the most stubborn salad haters at my latest potluck. I added sliced English cucumbers and a little extra honey to the dressing…otherwise I followed the recipe as written. Thanks for sharing this great recipe! So good! Rivals the Olive Garden salad for sure!
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Jainy!
Salads looks very appetizing I will definitely try to make some of these. Thank you
Hope you love them Kay! Come back and let us know how it goes.
Your salad looks delish.
Thank you, Veda!
I enjoy a good salad
I love to cook and I would love to enjoy your recipes.
Welcome Emily! To receive emails with new recipes, you can click here to sign up to receive emails. Look forward to sending you recipes!
Wonderful go to salad. Everyone loves it.
can not wait to try these Recipes.
I love your recipes. I am wondering why we need to go thu the verification process. So many times I cannot get the recipes which is frustrating. The reason is I cannot see the pictures clearly – I am a senio. Also,, most seniors n Ed the print be high contrast. We can’t see the gray print. Hope you can support.
Recipes are free and require no sign in or verification so I can’t say for sure what you’re seeing. Only comments require verification to help control spam as well as to conform with legal requirements.
Thank you for the feedback on printing.
Salad. Sounds good dont u squeese. Lemon juice on it?
We didn’t but you definitely could Gail!
Made this Italian salad for a small dinner party! It was a hit! Two guests asked for the recipe!
Yay! I am so glad this recipe was a hit with your guests D!
Spiced recipe hmmm,
Great recipe, Holly.. I can’t wait to try it!!
Let me know how you like it!