Name: Italian Salad
Yield: 12

This Italian Salad Recipe is loaded with fresh veggies, croutons, and a tasty herb dressing. It’s great with Italian dishes or grilled meats.

author’s note

A from-scratch Twist on My Childhood Favorite!

Growing up, my mom always made an Italian salad to go with dinner. She’d load it with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, avocado, and whatever other veggies we had in the fridge, then toss it all with Kraft Italian dressing. That dressing made its way into plenty of our dinners too, especially pasta salad and Zesty Italian Pasta. It was simple, but those familiar flavors became part of what home tasted like.

This is my from-scratch take on that salad. It has all the fresh, colorful ingredients I remember, but with a from-scratch Italian dressing packed with herbs and flavor. It’s nostalgic, just a little upgraded, and still straightforward enough to make any night of the week.

All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for straightforward assembly.

Ingredients In This Italian Salad Recipe

Ingredient	Tip
Romaine Lettuce	Wash and dry thoroughly. A salad spinner works great!
English Cucumbers	Crisp, less seedy, and no peeling needed.
Red Onion	Soak in salted water for a milder flavor.
Tomatoes	Choose ripe, firm tomatoes or use cherry or grape tomatoes.
Black or Kalamata Olives	Remove the pits before adding.
Avocado	Slice just before serving to prevent browning.
Croutons	from-scratch croutons add the best crunch!
Dressing Ingredients	Fresh herbs, oregano, garlic, honey, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper create a tangy, flavorful dressing.

Quick Tip

Try the dressing as you make it. Add a little more sugar, vinegar, or salt if needed.

The Italian dressing being made for this Italian salad.

chelsea’s recipe tip

My Top Italian Salad Recipe Tips

Make Dressing Early: Prep the dressing a few hours ahead to blend flavors.
Dress at the Last Minute: Add the dressing just before eating to keep the salad fresh.
Keep Toppings Separate: Add croutons and cheese right before serving so they stay crunchy.
Add Protein: For a bigger meal, top with baked chicken, chicken milanese shrimp, steak, or air-fried chickpeas.

All the ingredients being combined in a bowl and the dressing being poured over everything.

Variations

Try Different Greens: Use spinach, leaf lettuce, or mixed greens instead of romaine.
Veggies: Toss in bell peppers, carrots, artichokes, or radishes for extra crunch.
Cheese: Use feta, goat cheese, or shaved pecorino instead of Parmesan.
Try this Italian Pasta Salad recipe for a great Italian salad with pasta!
Change the Dressing: Try balsamic vinaigrette, Greek salad dressing, or a reliable lemon dressing to change things up.

Storage

Make-ahead: Prepare dressing and salad components separately, refrigerate, and combine just before serving.
Storage: Store dressing and salad ingredients (excluding avocado, cheese, and croutons) separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Add perishables fresh when serving.