Description
This Crispy Olive Garden Salad is a refreshing homemade take on the classic restaurant favorite. Packed with crunchy lettuce, zesty pepperoncini, black olives, and a tangy Italian dressing, it’s the perfect side dish for pasta, grilled meats, or to enjoy solo. Ideal for salad lovers looking for a copycat Olive Garden salad with extra crunch and flavor.
Ingredients
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup black olives
1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers
1 cup croutons
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup Italian dressing
Instructions
1. Rinse and dry the romaine and iceberg lettuce thoroughly, then chop them into bite-sized pieces.
2. Slice the red onion thinly and halve the cherry tomatoes.
3. Chill the prepared vegetables in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
4. In a large serving bowl, combine the chilled lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olives, and pepperoncini.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss lightly.
6. Just before serving, add the croutons and drizzle with Italian dressing.
7. Toss gently to coat all ingredients without making the croutons soggy.
8. Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh crunch.
Notes
Keep the dressing separate until just before serving for max crunch.
Chill the bowl for a few minutes to help keep the salad crisp longer.
For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of Italian seasoning over the top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossed
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg