Learn to make this copycat Olive Garden Salad recipe that not only tastes exactly like the original zesty Olive Garden salad, but because we’re using a salad mix and storebought Olive Garden salad dressing, it’s easy to make too!

A bowl of Olive Garden house salad placed on a wooden table, surrounded by breadsticks on a white platter and salt and pepper shakers. The salad contains lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, red onions, pepperoncini, croutons, carrots, and shredded Parmesan cheese.

While the Olive Garden is famous for several dishes, including Zuppa Toscana soup, all kinds of pasta, and their freshly baked garlicky breadsticks… it’s their house salad that I look forward to the most!

It’s the perfect mix of crisp veggies, creamy Italian dressing, and crunchy croutons, making it hard to resist.

That’s why I decided to make a copycat version I can whip up anytime at home. It’s just as delicious, super easy to throw together, and I often make a double batch to bring to parties because it’s always a hit!

A close-up of copycat Olive Garden Salad with croutons, tomatoes, olives, onions, and pepperoncini.

This simple, fresh, and vibrant salad pairs well with all the comfort foods like crockpot garlic parmesan chicken pasta, penne alla vodka, and chicken bacon alfredo bake. It’s a crave-worthy salad that will elevate any meal!

Why you’ll love this recipe

It’s simple to make and comes together in minutes.
Made with convenience in mind, so we use a salad mix and store-bought dressing.
You can make it your own with a homemade dressing and extra toppings.
It’s got the same bold, vibrant, and zesty flavors that you’d get eating out.

Olive Garden Salad Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Iceberg Garden Salad Mix – This is a bagged salad that comes prechopped with shredded carrots and red cabbage. Prefer to make your own salad mix? See the note below.
Roma tomatoes, red onion, pitted black olives – Sliced tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, and black olives are signature add-ins to this Olive Garden house salad recipe.
Pepperoncini peppers – These add a crunchy, vinegary, and spicy element. I keep them whole and only add a few to the salad.
Parmesan cheese – I recommend shredding or grating it fresh from a block. If not, a shaker container of Parmesan is just fine.
Croutons – I use the Olive Garden brand just to keep it as close to the real deal as possible, but any kind will work. Using homemade croutons would be great here too.
Olive Garden Signature Salad Dressing – Make life a little easier and pick up a jar of the dressing from our local grocery store.

Homemade Salad Mix

To make a homemade salad mix, use 6 cups of chopped iceberg lettuce and/or romaine, 1/4 cup shredded red cabbage, and 1/4 cup julienned carrots. Be sure to wash and dry your lettuce completely.

How to Make this Olive Garden Italian Salad Recipe

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

Step 1: Add iceberg salad mix to a large bowl.

Step 2: Place tomatoes, olives, onion, pepperoncini, fresh Parmesan cheese, and croutons on top.

A glass bowl with Olive Garden Salad ingredients, including croutons, pepperoncini, black olives, tomatoes, red onions, lettuce, and shredded cheese.

Step 3: Drizzle with the salad dressing.

A close-up of Olive Garden signature Italian dressing being poured from a bottle onto a fresh salad, featuring iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onion rings, pitted black olives, pepperoncini, and grated Parmesan cheese.

Step 4: Use salad tongs to gently toss the salad ingredients together. Enjoy immediately.

A close-up shot highlighting a juicy tomato slice atop fresh iceberg lettuce, with black olives, red onion rings, crunchy croutons, shredded carrots, and a yellow pepperoncini visible in the background, part of the Olive Garden Italian Salad.

Storage

Refrigerator: This salad is best enjoyed right away. Leftover salad can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days but be prepared- the croutons will be soggy after a few hours.

Make ahead: Prep the salad while leaving the croutons and dressing aside to be added just before serving.

Recipe Tips

A good tomato knife is key to getting a nice thin slice on your tomatoes.
Double or triple the recipe as needed.
Make the salad your own by using a different dressing, adding extra vegetables, or omitting whatever you don’t want.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Olive Garden copycat salad on the side of something like crockpot Marry Me chicken or pizza pasta casserole. You can also never go wrong with soup and salad. We love it with Instant Pot potato soup as well as crockpot loaded baked potato soup.

And you can’t forget the bread! Herb biscuit pull apart bread is always a fun one, but air fryer garlic bread is a classic choice. You can’t go wrong either way.

Additions and variations

Swap the Roma tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes cut in half can be a great stand in.
Add protein. Bulk it up and make it a meal with steak bites, grilled chicken, shrimp, or Italian sausage.
Use cucumbers. Although not part of the original Olive Garden salad recipe, I usually add a chopped cucumber to the salad.
Canned olives. Sliced canned olives are great if you prefer smaller olive pieces in your salad.
Omit the pepperoncini. If you don’t want the spice, you can leave them out.

A bowl of Olive Garden salad sitting on a rustic wooden table with a black-and-white striped napkin, salad tongs, and a plate of breadsticks in the background. The salad includes crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, black olives, red onions, pepperoncini, croutons, and shredded cheese.

More Tasty Salad Recipes

Recipe

A top view of a bowl of copycat Olive Garden Salad with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions, croutons, and pepperoncini.

Recipe

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Olive Garden Salad

Author: Jaclyn

Prep: 10

Total: 10

This easy Olive Garden salad recipe tastes just like the original! Made with store-bought Olive Garden dressing and croutons for a quick, flavorful salad at home.

Ingredients

▢ 1 bag iceberg garden salad mix or homemade salad mix, ingredients in notes
▢ 2 Roma tomatoes sliced
▢ ½ small red onion thinly sliced
▢ ½ cup pitted black olives
▢ 4-6 pepperoncini peppers
▢ ¼ cup parmesan cheese shredded or grated
▢ 1 cup croutons Olive Garden brand preferred
▢ 1 cup Olive Garden Signature Salad Dressing

Instructions

Place iceberg salad mix in a large serving bowl.
Add tomatoes, olives, onion, pepperoncini, parmesan, and croutons.
Drizzle with salad dressing.
Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.

Notes

Instead of bagged salad mix you can use:

6 cups chopped iceberg lettuce and/or romaine lettuce
¼ cup shredded red cabbage
¼ cup julienned carrots

Don’t care for pepperoncini? You can leave them out.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, please keep in mind that this salad is best enjoy right away as the croutons will get soggy as time goes on.

To make ahead, prep the salad while leaving the croutons and dressing aside to be added just before serving.