Absolutely the BEST salad ever, our fresh, crunchy Italian Chopped Salad brings all the delicious flavors into every scrumptious bite!

Loaded with flavor and packed with protein, this easy Italian Chopped Salad recipe is more like a deconstructed submarine sandwich or charcuterie board than a salad! The pepperoni, salami, parmesan, and cubes of cheddar make it hearty and filling, while the abundance of lettuce, olives, and peppers keeps it healthy and nutritious! Add a sweet and tangy homemade dressing, and this salad is going to become your new favorite!

looking down at an italian chopped salad in a serving bowl with recipe name at the bottom

Chopped Salads are SO Versatile!

I’m a big fan of healthy foods that taste like something special and this Italian Chop Salad tops the list! Chopped salads are extra flavorful because each bite contains a mini-buffet of meat, cheese, and veggies bathed in a brilliant balsamic dressing!

I’m also a fan of recipes that allow me to “mix and match” ingredients! For example, I can swap out the romaine for spinach or spring mix lettuce, exchange the cured deli meats for grilled chicken or salmon, add sun-dried tomatoes, nuts, and mozzarella, or even swap out the balsamic dressing for some basil pesto, and I’m STILL going to have an iconic Italian insalata!

Other Recipes to Serve with Chopped Salad

Homemade White Bread is a super easy bread for special occasions or every day!
Once you’ve made the Italian Chop Salad, you’ll want to try this Chopped Spinach Pomegranate Salad! It’s fresh, colorful, and indulgent without guilt!

Ingredients

Lettuce: Romaine or red leaf lettuce makes a fabulous foundation, but other leafy greens (like spinach) would also be delicious!

Veggies: For an Italian salad, we’re going with olives—both green and kalamata—along with pepperoncini peppers. You can easily add any other veggies you like or need to use up!

Protein: With their uniquely Italian flavors, hard salami and pepperoni are the perfect meats for this hearty chopped salad recipe.

Cheese: For a cheesy flavor, we’re using Parmesan and cubes of white cheddar. Mozzarella, Romano, feta, and several other cheeses would also work!

Dressing: This super easy Italian dressing consists of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, dried oregano, and dried rosemary. It has an amazing flavor!

How to Make Italian Chopped Salad

STEP ONE: With a large cutting board and sharp chopping knife, finely chop the lettuce and place it in a large bowl. Then, finely chop all the other salad ingredients, including the meat and cheese, and add them to the bowl with the lettuce.

salamis, olives, cheese, and pepperoncini over chopped romaine lettuce in a serving bowl

STEP TWO: Pour the salad dressing ingredients into a mason jar. Close the lid tightly and shake until everything is well combined. You can also whisk the dressing up in a small mixing bowl if that suits you.

honey being poured into a mason jar with other balsamic vinaigrette ingredients

STEP THREE: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is coated. Then scoop up a bite with your fork, insert it into your mouth, chew, and be happy!

balsamic vinaigrette being poured over italian chopped salad

Tips for Success

A sharp knife and a chopping board are essential to making a good chopped salad!
To make this vegetarian, replace the meats with chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and nuts.
Chopped salads are better when you toss the dressing rather than just drizzle it over the ingredients.
Chopped salads are great for utilizing the crunchy center of lettuce or cabbage.
If you’re not a fan of Italian dressing, try tossing your salad with basil pesto or any other dressing you love!
This is the PERFECT recipe to make when you have a little leftover pizza or spaghetti but not enough for a whole meal.

tossed italian chopped salad in a glass serving bowl

What’s the Difference Between a Tossed Salad and a Chopped Salad?

In theory, a tossed salad is any lettuce-based salad that is sliced or torn into large pieces, then tossed together and drizzled with a dressing. Every bite is chunky and unique—you may have a bite that’s only lettuce, broccoli, or cucumber.

A chopped salad contains ingredients that have all been uniformly cut into very small pieces – that’s why it’s called a chopped salad! Each bite contains the perfect balance of yummy flavors, with a little bit of everything in each forkful!

balsamic vinaigrette dressing in a mason jar

Can I Make a Chopped Salad in Advance?

Chopped salads make GREAT meal-prep lunches! To prepare a chopped salad in advance, chop each ingredient individually and store in separate containers to prevent it from getting watery. When you’re ready to make today’s lunch, take a spoonful of each ingredient (more of the lettuce), add some dressing, and toss it thoroughly. Keep it chilled until it’s time to eat.

portion of italian chopped salad in a white bowl next to the jar of dressing

Other Irresistible Italian Recipes!

*This post originally posted on 01/06/2016.