The Best Italian Salad Recipe

This Italian salad recipe is so quick and easy to make. It's made with delicious cured meats, olives and cheese and it is loaded with flavor! It makes an excellent meal for lunch or a tasty salad with dinner.

4.92 from 25 votes

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Italian Chopped Salad, Italian Salad, Salad with Meat and Cheese

Prep Time: 15

Servings: salads

Calories: 366kcal

Ingredients

For Salad:

3 cups romaine lettuce coarsely chopped
1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
2 Roma tomatoes seeded and diced
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
½ cup pitted green olives
1 cup diced deli ham slices
1 cup diced hard salami slices
1 cup diced pepperoni slices
½ cup diced provolone cheese slices

For dressing:

¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Make the dressing:

Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese to a mason jar. Seal with lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until well combined. Alternatively, whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Prepare the salad base:

In a large mixing bowl, add the coarsely chopped romaine lettuce.
Add the vegetables: Add the diced green bell pepper and seeded, diced Roma tomatoes to the bowl.
Add proteins and cheese: Add the diced deli ham, hard salami, pepperoni, and provolone cheese to the bowl.
Add the olives: Add both the Kalamata olives and green olives to the bowl.
Toss the salad: Gently toss all ingredients together until evenly distributed.
Dress and serve: Pour the homemade Italian dressing over the salad and toss again to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Notes

RECIPE NOTES

• Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, keep dressing separate and add to individual portions as needed to keep vegetables fresh and crisp.

• Meal Prep: Store all components separately in airtight containers for up to 5 days. Combine and dress just before eating.

• Make It Ahead: All ingredients can be prepped 24 hours in advance. Keep separate and combine when ready to serve.

• Bottled Dressing Option: If using bottled Italian dressing, you'll need ⅓ to ½ cup for this recipe.

• Customization: Feel free to add or substitute ingredients based on your preferences. Marinated artichokes, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, or chickpeas all work beautifully.

• Nutrition Note: This salad provides approximately 21g of protein per serving, making it a satisfying and balanced meal.

Nutrition