Olive Garden Salad
If you’re looking to bring a taste of Olive Garden into your home, the Olive Garden Salad is your answer! This delightful dish combines crisp, fresh ingredients to create a salad that’s both vibrant and satisfying. With the perfect blend of textures and flavors, it’s an ideal accompaniment to pasta dishes or as a stand-alone meal on a warm day. It’s a salad that celebrates simplicity without sacrificing taste, making it a popular choice for both casual gatherings and family dinners.
What truly makes this salad special is its delightful dressing, which ties all the ingredients together beautifully. The combination of crunchy vegetables and savory toppings will not only please your palate but also lift your spirits. Serve it at your next dinner party or family gathering, and watch as everyone reaches for seconds!
"This is what the finished dish looks like when perfectly baked."
Ingredients
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cucumbers, sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup croutons
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive Garden Dressing (can be homemade or store-bought)
"A vibrant mix of fresh ingredients ready to be combined."
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, black olives, pepperoncini, and shredded carrots.
- Toss the salad ingredients together until well mixed, ensuring that every bite has a hint of each flavor.
- Drizzle with Olive Garden dressing and toss again to coat all the ingredients perfectly.
- Before serving, top the salad with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese for added crunch and flavor.
Tips & Variations
- Ingredient Substitutions: Feel free to substitute romaine lettuce with mixed greens or spinach for a different flavor. You can also replace black olives with Kalamata olives for a more robust taste.
- Optional Variations: Consider adding grilled chicken or shrimp to turn your salad into a hearty meal. You might also experiment with adding avocados for creaminess or nuts for extra crunch!
- Storage Tips: Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing separate to maintain the freshness of the vegetables.
Recipe Information
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 0 minutes
- Total time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Difficulty level: Easy
Olive Garden Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cucumbers, sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup croutons
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Olive Garden Dressing (can be homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, black olives, pepperoncini, and shredded carrots.
- Toss the salad ingredients together until well mixed, ensuring that every bite has a hint of each flavor.
- Drizzle with Olive Garden dressing and toss again to coat all the ingredients perfectly.
- Before serving, top the salad with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese for added crunch and flavor.