Olive Garden Salad Recipe filled with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crunchy croutons, and tossed in a creamy Italian dressing youโll want on everything.
authorโs note
My Homemade Take On The Famous Salad
If Iโm being honest, Olive Garden is not my go-to for Italian-style mains. Iโd take my homemade lasagna or Alfredo any day. And donโt even get me started on meatballs!
But the salad and soups? Thatโs a different story. I really love those. Iโve already made a few over time like Zuppa Toscana, minestrone, and Pasta e Fagioli.
So it felt only right to finally tackle the salad. And honestlyโฆthis version is so good. Itโs fresh, crisp, and full of flavor in every bite!
The homemade dressing is the real star here. It pulls everything together and makes the whole salad. And donโt skip the garlicky croutons and freshly grated Parm, theyโre what take it from good to really, really good!
Olive Garden Salad Recipe Ingredients
| Ingredient | Letโs Chat About It |
|---|---|
| Romaine lettuce | Chop into bite-sized pieces and dry completely so the dressing sticks well. |
| Tomatoes & red onion | Slice thin for the best texture; mellow the bite of the red onion if needed (see quick tip below). |
| Olives & Pepperoncini | Drain well so they donโt water down this Olive Garden Salad Recipe; thinly slice whole pepperoncini for more in every bite. |
| Croutons & Parmesan | Nothing beats homemade croutons, but store-bought works great too! Grate Parm with a microplane for the perfect texture. |
| Dressing | Shake well until smooth; chill if you have time for even better flavor. |
Quick Tip
If raw red onion is too strong, soak it in ice-cold salted water for 10 minutes. Drain and dry before adding to the salad.
Featured Comment
โI always just get salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden. NOW I donโt have to go there anymore! This SALAD looks yummy and tastes even better than the version that inspired it. WAY less salty. Love it!โ
โ Lisalia
How To Make My Olive Garden Salad Recipe
- Prep lettuce: Chop, wash, & dry well (a salad spinner works great!).
- Add toppings: Layer in remaining salad ingredients.
- Make dressing: Add to a jar and shake until smooth.
- Toss & serve: Toss with dressing, then top with croutons and cheese; serve right away.
Chelseaโs Notes
My Top Tips For Making It Just Like The Restaurant
Make this Olive Garden Salad Recipe taste just like the OG at home.
- Use cold ingredients: Keep everything chilled before assembling for that crisp, restaurant-style feel.
- Dress lightly first: Start with less dressing, toss, then add more if needed.
- Use a big bowl: Toss everything evenly without crushing the ingredients.
Storage
This Olive Garden Salad Recipe is best right after itโs mixed. Only add dressing, cheese, and croutons to what youโll eat that day.
Make ahead: Prep everything ahead of time and store separately. Toss together just before serving.
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Olive Garden Salad Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Salad spinner optional
Ingredients
- 8 ounces romaine lettuce coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives
- 2 large Roma tomatoes thinly sliced
- 1/4 of a large red onion very thinly sliced
- 6 pepperoncini peppers
- 1 cup croutons store-bought or homemade (I like garlic-herb flavored)
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, see note 1
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1-1/2 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons mayo full-fat
Instructionsย
- Chop the romaine, then wash and dry well (a salad spinner works great). Add to a large bowl. Top with olives, tomatoes, red onion, and pepperoncini.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a large glass jar. Season to taste (I add 1/4 tsp each salt & pepper), then seal and shake well to combine. Shake until the mayo is fully incorporated and the dressing is smooth. For best flavor, make ahead and chill. Shake again before using.
- Right before eating (see note 2), toss the salad with dressing (you likely wonโt use it all; see note 3). Top with croutons and freshly grated Parmesan and enjoy right away.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I thought the red wine vinegar was overbearing. Iโd like to try it again with half. Needs more sweetness too.
You can absolutely cut it back to personal preference!
I just made this salad and itโs spot on! The dressing is so close to Olive Gardenโs and I love that itโs made with fresh ingredients. Definitely making this again
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much for your comment! ๐
It was a huge hit at the party I took it too. Delicious!
Thanks so much Lora! ๐
This didnโt really taste like OG dressing to me but not bad. The vinegar is overpowering. I would reduce the vinegar next time. Now that Iโve made it, what can I add to tone down the tanginess? Thanks!
You can reduce the vinegar or add some sugar