Olive Garden Salad Recipe (2024)

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (1)

Crispy lettuce, fresh vegetables and a homemade creamy Italian dressing will make this copycat Olive garden salad recipe your new favorite salad to make at home.

Jump to Recipe
Table of Contents
  1. Olive Garden Salad Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make Olive Garden Salad
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE
  9. Even More Recipes You’ll Love

This copycat Olive Garden salad recipe tastes just like the incredible restaurant version that you love. The delicious salad is full of crisp fresh veggies, topped with crunchy croutons, and drenched in a tangy dressing for a combination that is full of addictive flavor.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (2)

Olive Garden Salad Ingredients

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (3)

You’ll need:

For The Salad:

  • 6 cups of chopped iceberg lettuce
  • 1 cup of whole pitted black olives, drained
  • 1 cup of thinly sliced red onions
  • 4 medium firm Roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 cup of seasoned croutons
  • 6 whole pepperoncini peppers
  • ¼ cup of fresh parmesan cheese

For The Dressing:

  • ⅔ cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅓ cup of white wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons of water
  • 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of fresh minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
  • 1½ teaspoons of Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon of fresh cracked black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

Substitutions And Additions

DRESSING: If you can’t find the official Olive Garden dressing at the grocery store, you can substitute it for the homemade dressing.

You can also substitute a 0.7-ounce packet of Italian dressing mix for the homemade dressing.

LETTUCE: Any variety of lettuce, or bagged salad, can be used for this Olive Garden house salad recipe.

A bagged salad mix will save you time to whip up this easy recipe in a flash.

MIX-INS: You can add chopped bacon, cubed ham, or even shredded cooked or grilled chicken.

CROUTONS: You can use store-bought or homemade croutons in this recipe.

TOMATOES: Halved grape or cherry tomatoes would also work just as well as the Roma tomatoes in this Olive Garden Italian salad recipe.

How To Make Olive Garden Salad

STEP ONE: Using a large bowl, layer 3 cups of the chopped lettuce, ½ cup of the black olives, ½ cup of the sliced red onion, ½ of the sliced tomatoes, and ½ cup of the croutons.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Make sure your red onions are sliced nice and thin. A mandoline would work well to slice them.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (4)

STEP TWO: Layer the remaining lettuce, black olives, red onion slices, tomato slices, and croutons.

STEP THREE: Lay the pepperoncini peppers on top of the salad.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (5)

STEP FOUR: Evenly sprinkle the grated parmesan on top of the salad. Set the salad aside.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (6)

STEP FIVE: Using either a small mixing bowl and a whisk, or a quart-sized mason jar with a lid, combine the olive oil, white wine vinegar, water, mayonnaise, sugar, fresh minced garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.

If using the bowl and whisk, whisk until the dressing is well combined. If using the mason jar, tightly screw on the lid and shake until the ingredients are completely incorporated,

PRO TIP:

Small mason jars are just the right size to make salad dressing and to store any dressing leftovers in the fridge.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (7)

STEP SIX: Immediately pour the dressing over the top of the salad. Serve immediately.

PRO TIP:

This salad is best served right away, otherwise, the croutons will start to soften in the dressing.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (8)

How To Serve

Serve this Italian salad as a side dish alongside our creamy Olive Garden chicken pasta.

Add a tasty bowl of minestrone soup and garlic bread, and you will feel like you are sitting at the beloved restaurant chain.

A wonderful salad is always a great addition to a delicious meal. Our cucumber salad and broccoli salad are both favorites to add a bit of greenery to your table.

MORE SALAD RECIPES

Side Dishes

Dill Pickle Salad with Pasta

Side Dishes

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers from this amazing salad in an airtight container, or a gallon-sized Ziploc bag, for up to two days.

If you anticipate having leftovers, we would recommend adding croutons to individual servings as they will get soggy if left in the dressing for any amount of time.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend trying to freeze any components of this salad recipe.

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (11)

This copycat recipe is a great way to bring your favorite restaurant home. Our homemade version of the Olive Garden salad recipe features all the fresh ingredients from the original and is topped with a tangy copycat dressing that you will love.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save the leftovers of this salad?

Our Olive Garden copycat salad will keep in the fridge for up to two days. Leave off the croutons as they will get soggy when stored.

Can I store leftover dressing?

The leftover dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to five days. Seal it tightly in a mason jar or airtight container.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

You can make this Olive Garden green salad up to a couple days in advance. Just wait to add the dressing and croutons until you are ready to serve it.

What cheese does Olive Garden use?

The Olive Garden uses a tangy parmesan romano cheese in their garden salad recipe.

More Recipes You’ll Love

  • Caprese Pasta Salad
  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Ranch Potato Salad
  • Pea Salad
  • Simple Homemade Caesar Salad
  • Caesar Pasta Salad
  • 5 Cup Salad
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • Broccoli Apple Salad
  • Greek Pasta Salad
  • Tuna Salad
  • Mexican Corn Salad
  • Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
  • Cowboy Pasta Salad
  • Chicken Salad
  • Macaroni Pasta Salad
  • Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
  • Big Mac Salad

Get Recipes on Pinterest

Follow Us

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (12)

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (13)

Olive Garden Salad Recipe

5 from 6 votes

Crispy lettuce, fresh vegetables and a homemade creamy Italian dressing will make this copycat Olive garden salad recipe your new favorite salad to make at home.

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

PrintRecipeReviewRecipe

Ingredients

Salad

  • 6 cups iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup whole pitted black olives, drained
  • 1 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 medium firm Roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 cup seasoned croutons
  • 6 whole pepperoncini peppers
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, fresh grated

Dressing

  • cup olive oil, extra virgin
  • cup white wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, fresh minced
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Using a large serving bowl, layer 3 cups of the chopped lettuce, ½ cup of the black olives, ½ cup of the sliced red onion, ½ of the sliced tomatoes, and ½ cup of the croutons.

  • Layer the remaining lettuce, black olives, sliced red onion, sliced tomatoes, and croutons.

  • Lay the pepperoncini peppers on top of the salad.

  • Evenly sprinkle the grated parmesan on top of the salad. Set the salad aside.

  • Using either a small mixing bowl and a whisk, or a quart-sized mason jar with a lid, combine the olive oil, white wine vinegar, water, mayonnaise, sugar, fresh minced garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. If using the bowl and whisk, whisk until the dressing is well combined. If using the mason jar, tightly screw on the lid and shake until the ingredients are completely incorporated,

  • Immediately pour the dressing over the top of the salad. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Make sure your red onions are sliced nice and thin. A mandoline would work well to slice them.
  • Small mason jars are just the right size to make salad dressing and to store any dressing leftovers in the fridge.
  • This salad is best served right away, otherwise, the croutons will start to soften in the dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 517mg | Potassium: 212mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 651IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb

Get Recipes on Facebook

Follow Us

Olive Garden Salad Recipe (14)

Even More Recipes You’ll Love

Soup Recipes

  • Minestrone Soup
  • Crack Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Cabbage Roll Soup
  • Tomato Soup Recipe

Dinner Recipes

  • Crock Pot Spaghetti
  • Egg Salad Sandwich
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu
  • Chicken Stuffed Peppers
  • Peanut Noodles
  • General Tso Chicken
  • One Pot Pasta

Dessert Recipes

  • Pumpkin Bars
  • Pumpkin Pudding
  • Pumpkin Delight
  • Pineapple Coleslaw
  • Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
  • Chocolate Puddles
  • Lemon Brownies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
  • Strawberry Poke Cake
  • Cowboy Cookies
  • Caramel Apple Crisp Bites
  • Banana Upside Down Cake
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Mini Pumpkin Pies
  • Blueberry Cake
  • Hershey Pie
  • Energy Balls
  • Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

  • Stephanie KeepingPublisher

    Olive Garden Salad Recipe (15)
  • Layne KangasMarketing

    Olive Garden Salad Recipe (16)
  • Rhadonda SedgwickCreative Director

    Olive Garden Salad Recipe (17)
  • Lexus MonroeEditorial Assistant

    Olive Garden Salad Recipe (18)
  • Teresia ShrumRecipe Developer

    Olive Garden Salad Recipe (19)
Olive Garden Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Olive Garden's salad made of? ›

Olive Garden Salad Ingredients

To make this salad, you will need iceberg salad mix, tomatoes, red onion, pepperoncini peppers, black olives, croutons and parmesan cheese.

What are the ingredients in Olive Garden salad dressing? ›

Ingredients. Water, Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Eggs, Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Part Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Dehydrated Garlic, Spice, Xanthan Gum, Dextrose, Annatto Color, Calcium Disodium EDTA Added to Protect Flavor, Natural Flavor.

How many people will one Olive Garden salad feed? ›

Our Famous Jumbo House Salad includes 12 Breadsticks (Serves 6)

Why does olive garden salad taste so good? ›

Olive Garden's salad ingredients are fresh

The lettuce, greens, and produce have to be high quality, especially since you're eating most of it raw. And part of what makes Olive Garden's salad so good that its recipe has been replicated all over the internet, is that it is full of fresh ingredients.

What dressing is on Olive Garden salad? ›

Fresh, crisp, and just the way you remember, this simple recipe for Olive Garden Salad makes it so simple to enjoy this iconic restaurant salad at home. Comes complete with the clone recipe for Olive Garden Creamy Italian Dressing.

Is Olive Garden salad healthy? ›

House salad (without croutons) with low-fat dressing, and minestrone soup. Olive garden is famous for their house salad and breadsticks. Paired with minestrone soup, it's a healthier meal, although the sodium content is high. Omit the breadstick to reduce the sodium, fat, and calories.

Does Olive Garden have balsamic vinegar? ›

Appetizers, Soup and Salads

Famous House Salad with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and/or Balsamic Vinegar. Request without croutons and without signature Italian dressing.

Is olive garden salad dressing healthy? ›

Olive Garden dressings are sold at most grocery stores, but I do not recommend them as they have a lot of calories. That said, you could certainly work it into your calories. Lettuce - Any lettuce variety, bagged salad can be used for this Olive Garden house salad recipe.

What is the main ingredients in salad dressing? ›

A classic recipe that everyone enjoys, made with oil and vinegar. This is the solid foundation of the salad dressing world. To make, whisk 1 tsp Dijon mustard with 2 tbsp white wine vinegar, 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of sugar and salt and pepper in a small bowl or shake together in a jam jar.

How big is a jumbo salad from Olive Garden? ›

According to its website, Olive Garden determines that a portion of salad is five ounces, so a Jumbo Salad works out to be around 30 ounces. This is important to know because if you're throwing a dinner party you want to make sure everyone gets enough salad to eat (if they want it).

What is unique about Olive Garden? ›

Olive Garden was the first restaurant to coin the concept of “unlimited” menu items. Even though they changed their famous tagline to “We're all family here," we're glad that one thing has stayed consistent: their “never ending” menu items.

Is Olive Garden salad fresh or bagged? ›

Olive Garden's salads are prepared fresh in-house, and each one will look a little different.

Is Olive Garden healthier than McDonald's? ›

Olive Garden, Red Lobster and T.G.I. Friday's boast a significant amount of meals that have more calories, saturated fat and sodium than is recommended and even more than a McDonald's value meal, according to the Drexel University-University of Pennsylvania study.

Why do restaurant salads taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants salt their salads.

This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said. "Salt is a big difference between salads at home and salads in a restaurant." This doesn't mean you have to make your salads salty!

Is Olive Garden's food made from scratch? ›

Our soup and sauce masters create dishes by hand and from scratch, every day. With fresh, whole ingredients like kale, peppers and squash. Because they know cooking that way – the Italian way- everything tastes better. to everything they make.

Is Olive Garden salad fresh? ›

Salads – And Most Other Dishes – Are Made Fresh

Additionally, the online ordering platform allows you to hold the olives, tomatoes, onions, and/or pepperoncini if you're getting a salad for pick-up. If the ingredients came to the restaurants already mixed together, customizations likely wouldn't be allowed at all.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 6172

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.