The perfect side salad, this copycat Olive Garden Salad is fresh and delicious and maybe even better than the original! It comes together in minutes and is the perfect salad to serve with any dinner.
Fan of copycat recipes? You also need to try these Texas Roadhouse Rolls or these Doubletree Cookies.
If you’re like me, you go to Olive Garden just for the salad and the breadsticks. (And maybe the Zuppa Toscana or the Chicken and Gnocchi Soup.)
But when you can make this Olive Garden Salad at home, there’s no need to go out!
This salad is really easy to through together, and is just as good (or better!) than the original. I could seriously just eat a big bowl of this for dinner and be very happy!
Ingredients
- Lettuce: An actual Olive Garden salad uses iceberg lettuce, but I prefer romaine hearts, so that is what I use. But feel free to use iceberg!
- Cabbage: You’ll need a little bit of shredded purple cabbage. I like the color and crunch so I go a little heavy.
- Carrots: You can julienne the carrots, but I find it’s much easier to shred the carrots.
- Olives: I feel like the olives at Olive Garden are bigger than the ones I can buy at the store, but the regular canned olives work just fine.
- Tomatoes: I like to use a couple Roma tomatoes. But if needed, you can use another tomato and just dice it. You’ll get the same flavor, although it won’t look exactly the same.
- Pepperoncinis: We go heavy on these, as well, because this is what my family will fight over!
- Croutons: I used store-bought croutons. Feel free to make them from scratch, if desired.
- Red Onion: You don’t need a lot of red onion, but it is important for the overall flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: I mix some of the parmesan cheese into the salad, then serve some over the top.
- Olive Garden Dressing: The dressing is really what makes this salad! You can use my Olive Garden Dressing recipe, or if you want, you can use the store bought version. But trust me – the homemade version is so easy and fast!
How to Make Olive Garden Salad
STEP 1: Combine the lettuce, cabbage, and carrots in a large bowl. Mix this well.
STEP 2: Add in the olives, tomatoes, pepperoncinis, croutons, red onions, and half of the parmesan cheese. Mix this thoroughly, but lightly.
STEP 3: Pour half of the dressing over the top of the salad and toss gently to combine. Top with the remaining parmesan cheese. Serve the salad with the remaining dressing at the table.
Tips and Tricks
I like to keep the salad crisp, so I only add half of the dressing. Then serve the rest of the dressing at the table for those that want more. You may not use all of the dressing.
This salad really is best once served right away. If you do need to make it ahead of time, do not add the dressing until right before you serve it.
I tried to keep as close to the original salad as possible, but feel free to swap in or swap out ingredients according to your preferences.
More Salad Recipes
Cobb Salad
Raspberry Spinach Salad
Antipasto Salad
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Olive Garden Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups chopped lettuce
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1/4 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup pitted black olives
- 2 roma tomatoes sliced
- 1 cup pepperoncinis
- 1 cup croutons
- 1/4 cup sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese divided
- 1 batch Olive Garden dressing
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cabbage, and carrots. Mix to combine.8 cups chopped lettuce, 1 cup shredded red cabbage, 1/4 cup grated carrots
- Add the olives, tomatoes, pepperoncinis, croutons, red onion, and half of the parmesan cheese. Gently mix until all of the ingredients are fully combined.1 cup pitted black olives, 2 roma tomatoes, 1 cup pepperoncinis, 1 cup croutons, 1/4 cup sliced red onion, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Pour about half of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.1 batch Olive Garden dressing
- Top the salad with the remaining parmesan, and serve with the extra dressing for those who want more dressing.
Recipe Notes:
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
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