This Italian Salad Recipe is loaded with fresh veggies, croutons, and a tasty herb dressing. It’s great with Italian dishes or grilled meats.
author’s note
A Homemade Twist on My Childhood Favorite!
Growing up, my mom always made an Italian salad to go with dinner. She’d load it with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, avocado, and whatever other veggies we had in the fridge, then toss it all with Kraft Italian dressing. That dressing made its way into plenty of our dinners too, especially pasta salad and Zesty Italian Pasta. It was simple, but those familiar flavors became part of what home tasted like.
This is my homemade take on that salad. It has all the fresh, colorful ingredients I remember, but with a from-scratch Italian dressing packed with herbs and flavor. It’s nostalgic, just a little upgraded, and still easy enough to make any night of the week.
Ingredients In This Italian Salad Recipe
| Ingredient | Tip |
|---|---|
| Romaine Lettuce | Wash and dry thoroughly. A salad spinner works great! |
| English Cucumbers | Crisp, less seedy, and no peeling needed. |
| Red Onion | Soak in salted water for a milder flavor. |
| Tomatoes | Choose ripe, firm tomatoes or use cherry or grape tomatoes. |
| Black or Kalamata Olives | Remove the pits before adding. |
| Avocado | Slice just before serving to prevent browning. |
| Croutons | Homemade croutons add the best crunch! |
| Dressing Ingredients | Fresh herbs, oregano, garlic, honey, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper create a tangy, flavorful dressing. |
Quick Tip
Try the dressing as you make it. Add a little more sugar, vinegar, or salt if needed.
chelsea’s recipe tip
My Top Italian Salad Recipe Tips
- Make Dressing Early: Prep the dressing a few hours ahead to blend flavors.
- Dress at the Last Minute: Add the dressing just before eating to keep the salad fresh.
- Keep Toppings Separate: Add croutons and cheese right before serving so they stay crunchy.
- Add Protein: For a bigger meal, top with baked chicken, chicken milanese shrimp, steak, or air-fried chickpeas.
Variations
- Try Different Greens: Use spinach, leaf lettuce, or mixed greens instead of romaine.
- Veggies: Toss in bell peppers, carrots, artichokes, or radishes for extra crunch.
- Cheese: Use feta, goat cheese, or shaved pecorino instead of Parmesan.
- Try this Italian Pasta Salad recipe for a great Italian salad with pasta!
- Change the Dressing: Try balsamic vinaigrette, Greek salad dressing, or my favorite lemon dressing to change things up.
Storage
- Make-ahead: Prepare dressing and salad components separately, refrigerate, and combine just before serving.
- Storage: Store dressing and salad ingredients (excluding avocado, cheese, and croutons) separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Add perishables fresh when serving.
More Italian-Style Dishes:
Easy Italian Salad Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 large head Romaine lettuce washed, dried and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3/4 cup English cucumber halved and quartered
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion or coarsely chopped drained artichokes
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1/3 cup black olives pitted and halved
- 1 large avocado chopped or thinly sliced
- Croutons store-bought or homemade
- Pepperoncini peppers optional
- Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Combine all the “dressing” ingredients in a food processor or mini blender. Season to taste; I add a heaping 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Blend. Taste and adjust to personal preference. Transfer to a mason jar and place in the fridge until ready to use. Shake before using.
- Add avocado, dressing, cheese, and croutons only to the portion of salad that will be finished immediately. This salad doesn’t hold well with dressing; leftover salad may result in soggy croutons and browning avocado.
- In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce with veggies. Just before serving, add half the dressing, avocado, and Parmesan cheese, tossing well. Adjust dressing as needed to coat lettuce generously. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with croutons and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks It’s super!
Glad to hear it! 🙂
The dressing was out of this world! I topped my salad with some chicken breast and it hit the spot
Yay! So thrilled to hear this was a hit 🙂
LOVE this dressing!! It makes the salad next level! Even my “ranch dressing only” daughter liked the dressing!! Thanks.
LOVE hearing that! Thanks so much Diane 🙂
I’ve eaten three batches of this salad using my original dressing. I swear I could eat it every day! Making for a party next week too. Best dressing ever!
Ahh I am sooo happy too hear this and soo glad you enjoyed! Thanks so much! 🙂
The perfect summertime salad.
It really is! Thanks! 🙂
The perfect side dish!
It is!! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
This is THE BEST salad! We loved it!
I am sooo happy to hear this! Thanks! 🙂
I LOVED the Italian flavors in this salad! We all enjoyed it.
So happy to hear it! Thanks Katie 🙂
I know what I will be making for dinner tonight-wow! What a gorgeous looking salad; yum!
Thanks Sara!
Your dressing is amazing. Love it!
Thank you so much Karen! 🙂