Italian Chopped Salad is crisp, fresh, and loaded with ham, salami, chickpeas, mozzarella, pepperoncini, basil, and a bright lemon dressing.
Author’s Note
The CPK Salad I Never Got Over
I still remember the first time I had the California Pizza Kitchen Italian Chopped Salad. I went with a friend, and she said we had to get that salad and the BBQ chicken pizza.
I loved both, but I could not stop thinking about the salad. After that, it was my order every time I went! The only problem was my college budget did not exactly leave much room for CPK, so I finally started making it at home.
And honestly, even after all these years, I still think this salad is even better at home. The lettuce is cold and crisp, the toppings taste so fresh, and I can add as much pepperoncini and dressing as I want. It hits every note: crunchy, salty, briny, fresh, and truly just so good.
Italian Chopped Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Let’s Chat About It |
|---|---|
| Romaine lettuce | Dry it really well so the dressing doesn’t water down the salad. |
| Chickpeas, tomatoes, red onion & pepperoncini | Slice the onion very thin so it doesn’t take over each bite. |
| Salami & ham | Chop into small, even pieces so every bite has a little of each. |
| Mozzarella pearls & basil | To keep the basil fresher longer, tear it instead of cutting it. |
| Lemon dressing | Shake well before serving and only add to the portion you’ll eat right away. |
Featured Comment
“Wow! Been wanting to make this for awhile. It was out of this world! The dressing is insanely good. Thanks for the recipe!”
– Lee
What to Serve with Italian Chopped Salad
- Dinner Rolls or Garlic Bread: reliable for soaking up extra dressing.
- Pasta: Try a simple dish like this zucchini pasta sauce over spaghetti.
- Soup: A bowl of minestrone or vegetable soup goes so well.
- Pizza: A slice of pepperoni pizza or this straightforward flatbread pizza.
the cook’s Notes
Recipe Tips for Italian Chopped Salad
- Dry Lettuce: Make sure the lettuce is 100% dry to prevent a soggy salad.
- Cut Evenly: Cut the ingredients into similar sizes so every bite is balanced.
- Fresh Ingredients: Use the freshest ingredients you can for the best flavor and texture.
Storage
Chopped Italian Salad Storage
- Dress only what you will eat right away.
- Store undressed salad and dressing separately.
- Prep salad ingredients ahead of time and store separate. Keep dressing in the fridge and shake well before using.
More satisfying Salad Recipes:
Salads With Meat
Grilled Steak Salad Recipe
Healthy
Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe
Salads
BBQ Chicken SaladReader’s Notes & Tips
Tips & Variations from Flexfa’s Community
“Phenomenal! I’ve made it many times.” Sara makes this one on repeat.
“The star for me is THE SALAD DRESSING!” Heather added bell pepper, cucumber, and roasted chickpeas, then served it with grilled chicken and focaccia.
“We ate the whole salad. It’s that good.” Gina used balsamic vinegar, added hard-boiled eggs and pepperoni, and said it was a hit.
