Olive Garden Salad Recipe
This Olive Garden salad recipe delivers crisp lettuce, briny olives, pepperoncini, parmesan, and a creamy zesty dressing for an easy restaurant-style salad at home.
Equipment
- large bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the salad
- 12 ounce bag iceberg salad mix
- 2 Roma tomatoes sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers whole
- 1/2 cup black olives
- 3/4 cup croutons
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded or shaved
For the dressing
- 1 packet Italian dressing mix
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
Instructions
For the salad
- I add the salad mix, sliced tomatoes, red onion, whole pepperoncini, black olives, croutons, and parmesan to a large bowl. The bowl should look colorful and full, with the croutons and cheese spread around instead of clumped in one spot so every bite gets some crunch.
For the dressing
- I whisk the Italian dressing mix, olive oil, white wine vinegar, water, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mayonnaise together until the dressing turns smooth. You’re looking for a creamy, opaque dressing with no oily streaks left behind. I always give it an extra whisk when I catch that whiff of garlic and vinegar blending together.
- I pour 2/3 cup dressing over the salad, toss everything together, and serve it right away. Start with that amount and watch the leaves as you toss. They should look lightly glossy, not heavy or weighed down. Trust me, soggy croutons happen fast.
Notes
Storage Tip: Keep the dressing refrigerated because it contains mayonnaise. If it separates after chilling, whisk or shake it again before using. If the smell, texture, or taste seems off, discard it.
Make-Ahead Tip: For the best crunch, keep the lettuce cold and very dry, pat the tomatoes dry, and store the components separately until serving. Add the dressing and croutons at the last minute.
Variation Tip: If you want a saltier, sharper finish, stir 1 tablespoon freshly grated Romano cheese into the dressing. For a more filling salad, add grilled chicken, shrimp, steak, chickpeas, or white beans.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.