This Italian Chopped Salad is a hearty, meaty, cheesy salad recipe that is bold in flavor and will keep you fueled for hours on end. It comes together in no time and has a salad dressing that is going to be your next favorite. When you need a quick salad recipe with delicious flavors, textures and color, look no further!
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If you're looking for more hearty salads that will keep you full and prevent the hanger from creeping in, I got you! My Grilled Steak Salad, Thai Beef Salad, and Greek Salmon Salad are loaded with flavor and eat like a full meal deal!
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I am not a fan of a salad recipe for lunch or dinner that will leave me hungry in just a couple of hours. Hangry is not a state I am a fan of. I want something that will taste amazing AND fill me up for hours on end. This Italian Chopped Salad is just such a salad.
Filled up with delicious cuts of Italian cured meats and cheeses, this salad is also full of wonderful lettuces, tomatoes and onions. Pepperoncini peppers help bring in the zing and tang. This salad is crunchy and delicious and oh so savory.
The salad dressing? It's the stuff of my dreams and one of my top favorites to keep in the fridge at all times. It's not only fantastic in the salad, but also makes an incredible sandwich spread and veggie dip!
Serve this chopped salad as a quick and easy hearty salad for lunch or dinner. Take it to your next get-together with friends - they'll thank you for your contribution I promise. This salad is even great as a weekly meal prep situation for easy lunches on the go.
You cannot go wrong with this one. I promise.
ingredients
What goes into an Italian Chopped Salad? Most of the ingredients in this chopped salad recipe are pantry staples or probably have a permanent residency in your fridge. Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:
For the salad:
- Lettuce of Choice - Iceberg, Romaine, Radicchio, Red Leaf, Arugula, etc.
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Red Onion
- Fresh Mozzarella Pearls
- Provolone or Pepper Jack Cheese
- Pepperoncini Peppers
- Salami
- Capicola
- Ham
For the dressing:
- Mayonnaise
- Sour Cream
- Parmesan Cheese
- Pepperoncini Peppers With Brine
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Fresh Parsley
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Basil
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
- Red Chili Flakes
Equipment
- Salad Spinner
- Chef's Knife
- Cutting Board
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Whisk
- Salad Bowl
- Salad Servers
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instructions
1. prep the ingredients
To begin, we need to prep all of the Italian Chopped Salad ingredients. Invest in a large salad spinner. It really does help in the meal prep arena. Wash all the veggies. Lettuces are notoriously dirty so take the time to do so.
In a salad like this, I prefer my ingredients to be chopped into small pieces. That way I can get a little of everything in each bite.
Chop the tomatoes and slice the onion. I give the pepperoncini peppers a rough chop as well. Pickled jalapeños would be good, too!
Cube the cheeses. There is something about a petite cube of cheese that makes me very happy. Cut the meats into small pieces as well.
Toss the salad ingredients together and set aside.
2. make the dressing
The dressing for our Italian Chopped Salad is very straightforward. Throw everything into a mixing bowl and combine. I love to make my dressing for the salad spicy, so I definitely add plenty of red chili flakes.
I also cannot get enough pepperoncinis. I usually add more than what the recipe calls for. The bite and tang just make me happy.
3. toss and serve
Once all of the veggies are chopped and the dressing is mixed, all that's left to do is toss everything together. Always top with extra parmesan and enjoy! It's so so good. I hope you guys love this one!
recipe frequently asked questions
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! This recipe is absolutely gluten-free. No worries there.
What do I serve with this Italian Chopped Salad?
This is a hearty salad that will keep you satisfied for a long time. If you want to serve anything along with it, I would go with a simple bread like my No Knead or a Pull Apart Bread. A cup of easy lasagna soup or creamy tomato soup would be fanastic as an accompaniment!
chopped salad variations
- If you are feeling more like a sandwich, combine all the ingredients in the Chopped Italian Salad and spread them onto a toasted roll. This salad makes an incredible grinder sandwich situation!
- Use whatever proteins you like. Have fun playing with combinations of Italian cured meats. Everything from pepperoni to prosciutto is so good in this salad. I use whatever I have in the fridge and what is available at my local grocery store. It's a little different every time.
- If you don't have any Italian meats or just don't like them, throw in some rotisserie chicken or grilled steak. Grilled shrimp is also a wonderful option and something my people often request.
- Use whatever veggies you love with this salad. I often use this as a fridge clean out opportunity and add whatever crunchy, pickled things I have on hand. Have fun with this one! Just don't forget the dressing!
- Use pickled jalapeños instead of pepperoncini peppers if you like super spicy!
- Turn this salad into a sandwich! Portion out the salad with the add-ins and dressing and chop it until everything is very fine. Scoop the salad onto a hoagie or your favorite sandwich bread and dig in!
tips and tricks
- Wash the lettuces well and remove as much moisture as you can. This is the best defense against the lettuces going bad.
- Store the washed lettuces in a separate zip top bag in the fridge. I like to put a paper towel in the bag to help absorb any excess moisture.
- The Chopped Italian Salad dressing also makes a phenomenal sandwich spread or veggie dip.
- This salad is a fantastic mason jar salad. Layer the ingredients into the jar, top with the lid, and store in the fridge until you're ready. Shake it to combine all the lovely things and enjoy! It's a great option for a quick and easy lunch to take to the office.
- Make the dressing ahead of time if you are able. It does taste better if it has the opportunity to sit in the fridge for a few hours.
storage instructions
- For the best result, store the salad components separately in the fridge.
- Stored correctly and in separate airtight containers, this salad can stay good 3-4 days. The salad dressing will stay good 5-6 days in the fridge.
- If you decided to store the salad tossed and dressed, it will stay good 1-2 days.
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If you guys make this Italian Chopped Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Recipe
Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ⅓ cup pepperoncini peppers, minced or your favorite pickled pepper
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
- 1 tablespoon pepperoncini pepper brine
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- red chili flakes, optional
Chopped Salad
- 6-8 cups lettuce of choice use your favorite combo
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup mozzarella pearls
- ½ cup provolone or pepper jack cheese, cubed
- ½ cup dry salami, diced
- ½ cup capicola, diced
- ½ cup ham, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
The Dressing
- Mix the dressing ingredients together and store in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
The Chopped Salad
- Toss all of the ingredients together in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with as much dressing as you like. Always add extra parmesan on top. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Italian Chopped Salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Erin C says
Oh my yummmmmmm! This dressing is amazing. I’m on my second batch and will forever keep it in the fridge!