Description

This Olive Garden Salad recipe recreates the classic, flavorful salad with layers of crisp iceberg lettuce, black olives, red onion, ripe Roma tomatoes, seasoned croutons, and tangy pepperoncini peppers. Topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and dressed in a homemade zesty Italian dressing made from extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, and aromatic seasonings, this salad is perfect for a fresh, quick appetizer or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

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, freshly grated

Dressing Ingredients

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

Instructions

Layer the Salad Ingredients: In a large serving bowl, begin by layering half of the salad ingredients: 3 cups of chopped iceberg lettuce, ½ cup of black olives, ½ cup of thinly sliced red onion, half of the sliced Roma tomatoes, and ½ cup of seasoned croutons. This forms the base layer of your salad.
Complete the Layers: Add the remaining salad ingredients by layering the remaining 3 cups of chopped iceberg lettuce, ½ cup black olives, ½ cup red onion, the rest of the sliced tomatoes, and ½ cup seasoned croutons on top of the first layer to fully build the salad.
Add Pepperoncini Peppers: Evenly distribute the six whole pepperoncini peppers on top of the salad layers to impart that characteristic tangy and slightly spicy flavor.
Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese: Generously sprinkle the freshly grated ¼ cup Parmesan cheese evenly over the entire salad to add zest and richness.
Prepare the Dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, water, mayonnaise, granulated sugar, fresh minced garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes until the dressing is well combined. Alternatively, place all dressing ingredients into a quart-sized mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until fully emulsified.
Dress and Serve: Immediately before serving, pour the freshly prepared Italian dressing over the salad. Gently toss if desired to coat the salad evenly. Serve immediately to enjoy the salad’s crisp texture and vibrant flavors at their best.

Notes

For best texture, add dressing just before serving to prevent sogginess.
You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes depending on your spice preference.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for optimal flavor and texture.
If you prefer, substitute iceberg lettuce with romaine for a slightly different texture.
The dressing can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; whisk well before using.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American-Italian

Keywords: Olive Garden salad, classic Italian salad, iceberg lettuce salad, Italian dressing, pepperoncini salad, side salad recipe, easy salad