Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Make a copycat Olive Garden salad with easy-to-find ingredients: lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, black olives, pepperoncini, and a homemade dressing.
Delicious Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Olive Garden holds a special place in my heart. Every time I came home from college (twenty-five years ago, but who’s counting?), my best friend Tiffany and I would go there to catch up over a meal. She always ordered the chicken parmesan, but I honestly can’t remember what I used to get. What I do remember, though, are the endless salad and breadsticks—we couldn’t get enough! I used to buy Olive Garden’s Italian dressing all the time, but now I prefer making it from scratch because I think it tastes better (Sorry Olive Garden) and I know exactly what goes into it (Sorry, not sorry).
Here’s why I love this Copycat Olive Garden Salad!
- You can enjoy the delicious taste of Olive Garden’s famous salad without leaving your house. Plus, making it yourself means you can customize it to your liking!
- With just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, you can whip up this salad at a fraction of the cost of dining out, making it perfect for any occasion.
- When you make it from scratch, you control the ingredients, ensuring a fresher, preservative-free version that’s packed with crisp veggies and homemade dressing.
Serve Copycat Olive Garden Salad with a delicious homemade pasta. Try it with my favorite—Baked Four Cheese Seafood Fettuccine—it’s absolutely irresistible! Another classic I love is Ricotta Lasagna , just like my mom used to make. And if you’re a fan of bold flavors, you have to try my Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Fettuccine. Plus, I’ll even show you how to make your own sun-dried tomatoes —it’s a fantastic way to preserve your summer harvest.
If you’re a salad lover, be sure to check out my post featuring all of my favorite salad recipes, complete with homemade dressings and toppings. I hope you enjoy serving this salad at your next Italian-style meal!
Visual Process for Making A Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Step 1
Make Creamy Italian Dressing
This Olive Garden dressing recipe is devine. I seriously could eat it with a spoon but I opt for putting it on this copycat Olive Garden salad instead. It starts with mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice. Add the seasonings and parmesan cheese and enjoy it.
Step 2
Combine Salad Ingredients
Add all the Copycat Olive Garden salad ingredients, except for the croutons, to the bowl.
Step 3
Add Dressing and Croutons
Toss the copycat Olive Garden salad with the Creamy Italian Dressing and then add the croutons.
Homemade Dressings Like this Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing are a must! Here are some more:
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Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups Romaine lettuce (chopped)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (grape tomatoes)
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onions
- ½ cup black olives (pitted)
- 1 cup croutons (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup pickled pepperoncini peppers (sliced, or 2-3 whole peppers)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Olive Garden Style Italian Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, basil, and parsley)
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Make the dressing:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tbsp lemon juice, until smooth and creamy. Add 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, 1 clove garlic, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. Whisk until well combined.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. (You can store it in a jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.)
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large salad bowl, combine 6 cups Romaine lettuce, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup thinly sliced red onions, ½ cup black olives, 1 cup croutons, ¼ cup pickled pepperoncini peppers and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Just before serving, toss the salad with the homemade dressing to coat everything evenly. Top with croutons and sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese.
- Serve the salad immediately as a side dish or light meal. Pair it with breadsticks or your favorite Italian entrée for the ultimate Olive Garden experience!
