Italian Chopped Salad
This Italian Chopped Salad with a zesty dressing is a crisp, flavor-packed dish of fresh vegetables, savory salami, and creamy mozzarella, all brought together by a zesty homemade dressing. This salad recipe is quick to prepare, making it an excellent choice for a light lunch or a flavorful side dish.
This salad is quick to prepare, coming together in just 15 minutes, which makes it ideal for busy weekdays or last-minute meals. The homemade vinaigrette adds a freshness that’s easy to adjust and stores well. The chopped salad has a mix of salty, tangy, sweet, and savory elements that everyone will love.
We’ve been having this Italian Chopped Salad on repeat lately and I’m loving it. I don’t have to cook as much and we can customize the vegetables to what’s in the refrigerator. Salads this chopped veggie one and my Summertime Pasta Salad, along with this Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad, are perfect for dinner when the weather is too hot to cook.
This easy salad recipe is also perfect to serve as a side with slow-cooked Italian Chicken or these Ham and Cheese Sliders. In cooler weather, this would be a great accompaniment with Pasta e Fagioli Soup.
Timesaving Tips and Variations
This Italian deli salad is already quick to make, but a few small changes or substitutions can always be welcomed. Here are some of my favorite tips to save time and customize the dish:
- Use pre-washed, bagged romaine lettuce
- Substitute store-bought Italian dressing in a pinch
- Swap cherry tomatoes for grape tomatoes; no slicing needed
- Buy pre-sliced salami and pre-shredded mozzarella
- Use jarred banana peppers and pre-sliced olives
- Prep and store chopped veggies up to 2 days in advance
- Make the dressing in bulk and refrigerate for up to a week
- Add canned chickpeas or rotisserie chicken for a quick protein boost
These shortcuts can cut prep time in half and make the salad even more convenient for busy days. Swapping ingredients also makes it easy to adjust for dietary needs or what’s in your fridge.
What to Serve with Italian Chopped Salad
This pairs well with a variety of main dishes, breads, and sides that complement its bold, tangy flavors. Whether you’re serving it as a starter or a main course, adding a few simple extras can round out the meal.
- Caprese Skewers Recipe
- Grilled Beef and Bacon Roulades
- Homemade Garlic and Herb Swirl Bread
- Cilantro Lime Veggie Protein Wrap
- Spicy Sausage and Beef Rigatoni
These pairings enhance the fresh and savory notes of the salad without overpowering it. They also offer options for casual lunches, meal prep, or more complete dinner spreads. Mix and match based on your preferences or what you have on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kitchen Tools are Needed to Make Salads?
To prepare fresh and flavorful salads quickly, having the right kitchen tools can make a significant difference. This list has a few recommended items that I have and will simplify the process of chopping and serving your favorite greens and vegetables.
- cutting board
- sharp knife
- Vegetable peeler
- mixing bowls
- measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- serving bowl
- tongs
So, with these basics on hand, making tasty salads is super easy. Each tool helps get the job done, from nicely chopped veggies to making yummy dressings.
Ingredients in an Italian Chopped Salad
This Italian deli salad features a mix of fresh vegetables, savory meat, and creamy cheese. Known for its finely chopped components, this popular antipasto salad offers a balanced flavor and texture in each serving.
It usually includes Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, fresh mozzarella, green bell pepper, banana peppers, salami, fresh hebs. These ingredients offer a nice mix of textures and tastes. Tossed with a zesty dressing, it becomes an tasty salad.
Directions to Make an Italian Chopped Salad
Prep all salad ingredients by chopping, dicing, or slicing as needed. Blend dressing ingredients in a bowl, whisk until combined. Alternatively, you can use tall jar with a lid and shake until combined.
Grab a large serving bowl and layer the ingredients starting with the Romaine and ending with the fresh herbs. The order is up to you but always start with lettuce.
For the best taste, toss the salad with the zesty dressing just before bringing it to the table. This ensures the greens remain crisp and the flavors are fresh for everyone to enjoy.
Add this salad to your weekly rotation for a fast, flavorful meal that’s ready in just 15 minutes. It’s perfect for quick lunches, light dinners, or meal prep. Print it out or save it now so it’s always within reach when you need it.
Italian Chopped Salad
Equipment
- sharp knife
- serving bowl
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 4 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives, pitted and sliced
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
- ½ cup green bell peppers, diced
- ¼ cup banana peppers, sliced
- ¼ cup salami, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For the Dressing
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 – 2 lemons)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Chop, dice, and slice all ingredients listed under the salad section.
- In a medium bowl or jar, combine all dressing ingredients and blend thoroughly using a whisk or immersion blender.
- To assemble, layer the salad starting with romaine lettuce, then add cherry tomatoes, green bell peppers, cucumbers, mozzarella, salami, red onions, black olives, banana peppers, and finish with basil and parsley.
- Drizzle the prepared zesty dressing over the top just before serving.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” 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 and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
2025 Alphabet Challenge – “I”
In creating this post, I am sharing it in the 2025 Alphabet Challenge, in which fellow foodies and I will share recipes with the letters of the alphabet. Every other week, we highlight a letter and the culinary wonders it inspires. Today is “I”, and I’m sharing an easy favorite salad recipe. Here is what the others are sharing. Look at the recipes for the 2025 alphabet challenge and then check out 2024’s recipes!
- Sneha’s Recipe: Instant Urad Dal Flour & Rava Medhu Vadas
- Mayuri’s Jikoni: Ice Apple Salad
- Jolene’s Recipe Journal:Ice Cream Wafflewiches
- Food Lust People Love: Fresh Cherry Ice Cream
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Italian Ice
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Iced Gems
- A Messy Kitchen: Irish Colcannon Mac and Cheese
- Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sun-Dried Tomato & Kale Italian Pasta Salad
- Culinary Cam: Es Teler (Indonesian Drunk Ice)
Enjoy!
I love chopped salads and summertime is perfect for light meals such as this. The dressing sounds divine.
I love how colorful this salad is! This salad and some Italian bread is all I’d need for dinner tonight.
Wonderful salad, I love that Italian chop is more substantial and can basically be a meal on its own!
This looks so good. I don’t make chopped salads enough.
Your salad looks wonderful, Lisa. Fresh, crunchy and flavorful, the perfect summer meal!
This is the perfect lunch meal prep recipe- just mix up a big batch and pack it into ball jars! Then I can just carry one out to the deck and eat!
I prepare Italian Salad often as it is colourful, filling and healthy too. Though I don’t add any meat, but with mozzarella it tends to be filling.
This is the type of salad I could eat all summer long! Scratch that! All year long!!!