Simple Italian Salad (Better Than Olive Garden!)
You will never make a more gorgeous, inviting salad than this crunchy, fresh, simple Italian salad recipe. Loaded with cherry tomatoes, olives, pickle-y peperoncini, and crunchy croutons, it’s the perfectly light-yet-satisfying side salad to accompany all your favorite Italian dishes! It’s a riff on the famous Olive Garden Italian salad, and what makes it really sing is a super zesty, scratch-made Italian Dressing that you’re going to want to put on everything!
Want more of a main-dish Italian salad? Try our classic Panzanella, or hearty Italian Chopped Salad.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Quick & easy - Ready in just 15 minutes.
Customizable - Add or substitute your favorite salad ingredients. Swap the onions, tomatoes or olives for the ones you already have on hand!
Make-ahead friendly - Prepare the dressing up to 6 days in advance!
Crowd pleaser - Everyone loves an Olive Garden style salad which makes it perfect for a family dinner or even entertaining!
Healthier option - Fresh ingredients with a clean homemade dressing. Way better than the bottles stuff!
If you're looking for the perfect side salad for your Italian dinner, this simple Italian salad recipe is exactly what you need. It pairs beautifully with pasta dishes, pizza, or any Italian-inspired main course!
Ingredients You'll Need
Scroll down for the full recipe with measurements below.
- Lettuce: Bright, leafy, green romaine. We love its crunch, and that it actually has a lot of vitamins and minerals — it’s one of the most nutritious lettuce choices you can make.
- Red onions: Slice them as thinly as you can for just a little hint of onion-y sharpness in every bite. If they’re still too assertively flavored for you, a quick soak in cold water takes away some of their edge.
- Cherry tomatoes: Juicy and sweet, the perfect little pop of color and flavor.
- Pepperoncini: Slightly spicy, but mostly pickle-y, these pickled peppers are an absolute must in our honest opinion, for that authentic Italian salad taste.
- Black olives: There’s nothing better than a rich, briny black olive!
- Grated parmesan: Use as much as you want, of course! (Just like with the Olive Garden salad.)
- Croutons: Keep it simple with store bought croutons, or go all the way with homemade if you have the time!
Why Homemade Italian Dressing is Better?
Have you ever looked up the ingredient list of one of your favorite products and immediately wished you hadn’t? We hate to ruin it for you, but we thought you should see a comparison of what’s in Olive Garden’s Italian dressing verses our own version of the beloved Italian vinaigrette. Olive Garden salad dressing ingredients include: Water, Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Dehydrated Garlic, Xanthan Gum, Dextrose, Calcium Disodium EDTA, plus a few regular things like sugar and salt.
Our homemade dressing recipe is a little easier to read, and easier on your body, too.
You’ll need:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, salt
- ...and that’s it!
How To Make The Best Italian Salad
- Make the dressing: Grab a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Add the dressing ingredients, secure the lid, and shake vigorously until well combined and emulsified. Congratulations! You just made homemade Italian salad dressing! Set aside or refrigerate if making ahead.
- Prepare the vegetables: Chop the romaine hearts into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion (pro tip: soak in cold water for 10 minutes to reduce sharpness). Drain the pepperoncini and olives.
- Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, red onion, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, black olives, and the Parmesan cheese.
- Toss the salad with the dressing!
- Put as much Parmesan cheese and croutons as you’d like on your perfect Italian side salad! No skimping please.
What To Serve With This Salad
This versatile salad pairs perfectly with so many Italian favorites:
- Pizza night: The perfect fresh side for homemade pizza or Salami, Jalapeño & Olive Pizza with Honey!
- It goes so well with pasta, obviously! A few of our favorites are: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Classic Lasagna, Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce, Easy Stuffed Pasta Shells or this Baked Penne Alla Vodka.
- Complete the meal: Don't forget a side of Garlic Bread for the full Italian dinner experience!
More Beautiful Salad Ideas
Variations to Try
Protein-packed: Add Grilled Chicken, salami, or chickpeas to transform this side salad into a satisfying main course.
Mediterranean twist: Include artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese.
Vegetable boost: Mix in shredded carrots, diced cucumber, or bell peppers for extra nutrition and color.
Creamier dressing: Add 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to the dressing for a creamier texture.
Gluten-free: The salad itself is gluten-free if you use gluten-free croutons or omit them altogether.
Cook, Post, Eat, Repeat!
For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!
