Name: Olive Garden‑Style House Salad (Copycat)
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 head Iceberg lettuce, chopped; 6-8 Pepperoncini peppers; 3 Roma tomatoes, sliced; 1/2 cup Pitted black olives; 1/4 Red onion, thinly sliced; 1 cup Seasoned croutons; 1/4 cup Grated parmesan cheese; Dressing:; 1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup White wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons Water; 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar; 1 clove Garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon Lemon juice; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon Fresh cracked black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon Red pepper flakes

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I’ve recreated the beloved Olive Garden salad at home—crisp, colorful, and satisfying, with all those bright flavors and textures I enjoy, plus a creamy Italian-style dressing that ties everything together. Olive Garden‑Style House Salad (Copycat)

Why I’ll Love This Recipe

I like how fast and easy this recipe comes together using simple, fresh ingredients. It captures the familiar restaurant-style flavor I know, but I get to tweak it just the way I want—and make a bigger batch without the cost of dining out.

ingredients

(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
– Iceberg lettuce
– Pepperoncini peppers
– Roma tomatoes
– Pitted black olives
– Red onion
– Seasoned croutons
– Grated parmesan cheese

Dressing
– Extra virgin olive oil
– White wine vinegar
– Water
– Mayonnaise
– Granulated sugar
– Fresh minced garlic
– Lemon juice
– Italian seasoning
– Kosher salt
– Fresh cracked black pepper
– Red pepper flakes

directions

In a large serving bowl, layer half the lettuce, olives, red onion, tomatoes, and croutons.
Add the remaining lettuce, olives, onion, tomatoes, and croutons on top.
Arrange the pepperoncini peppers around the top for color and flavor.
Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the entire salad.
To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, water, mayo, sugar, garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until smooth and creamy.
Pour the dressing over the salad right before serving and toss gently to coat.

Servings and timing

This recipe makes about 8 servings. It takes approximately 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish.

Variations

I sometimes switch out Roma tomatoes for cherry or grape tomatoes for quicker prep and easier bites. If I want to add variety, I’ll throw in shredded carrots or cucumbers. I also like trying different cheeses like feta or mozzarella, and occasionally I’ll use romaine instead of iceberg for a different texture.

storage/reheating

I store leftover salad without the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The homemade dressing keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I always wait to add croutons and dressing until right before serving to keep everything fresh and crunchy.

FAQs

What is in an Olive Garden salad?

It includes chopped iceberg lettuce, Roma tomatoes, red onion, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, croutons, and parmesan cheese with a creamy Italian dressing.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes, I prepare the veggies and cheese ahead of time, but I hold off on adding croutons and dressing until I’m ready to serve so the texture stays crisp.

What kind of lettuce should I use?

Iceberg is classic for this salad, but I sometimes use romaine or a mix of both for added variety and crunch.

Is the dressing spicy?

The dressing has a tiny kick from red pepper flakes, but I can easily leave them out or reduce the amount if I prefer it milder.

Can I make this salad dairy-free?

Yes, I just skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free substitute, and make sure the dressing ingredients are dairy-free as well.

Conclusion

This copycat Olive Garden salad is one of my favorite go-to side dishes. It’s fresh, crunchy, and full of flavor, and that homemade dressing makes it taste just like the real thing—maybe even better. I love how easy it is to customize, and it pairs perfectly with so many meals.