Classic House Salad
Enjoy a fresh, crispy House Salad recipe (Olive Garden salad copycat) made from scratch with wholesome, real food ingredients.
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed greens romaine, green leaf, red leaf
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup black olives
- 1 cup pepperoncini peppers
- ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup croutons
House Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and basil
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, add 6 cups mixed greens, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup red onion, 1 cup black olives, and 1 cup pepperoncini peppers.
- In a small bowl, whisk the salad dressing ingredients, including ¼ cup avocado oil, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise, ¾ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and basil.
- Drizzle the salad dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Top with 1 cup croutons and ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Notes
Storage: Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day, keeping the dressing and croutons separate to prevent fogginess. For the best texture, add dressing and croutons just before serving.
Helpful Tips:
- Start with dry lettuce - After washing, use a salad spinner or pat the lettuce dry with a clean kitchen towel. I also like to set it aside to air dry as much as possible. Any moisture on the lettuce will prevent the salad from sticking.
- Slice veggies thinly - If you're going for that Olive Garden copycat look-alike, slice the red onions and tomatoes into thin rounds and tuck them in the lettuce for even distribution.
- Assemble in layers - Start with a layer of lettuce, then add tomatoes, onions, and olives, creating a few more layers to ensure everything is evenly distributed.
- Toss just before serving - Add dressing right before serving to prevent the salad from getting soggy. To keep the croutons crunchy, sprinkle them on top instead of mixing them in.
Nutrition
Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 1207mg | Potassium: 338mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1180IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 2mg