By Becky Hardin
Updated Aug 29, 2025
I love this Olive Garden Salad recipe! In just 10 minutes, I can whip up this incredible restaurant-quality dish that’s bursting with flavor and loaded with texture. Believe me, this is the only salad recipe you will need!
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5-Star Review
“I could eat Olive Garden salad all day! That copycat dressing was perfection!” – Stephanie
Easy Olive Garden Salad with Copycat Dressing
Does anyone else have an obsession with Olive Garden’s salad, or is it just me? The flavors and textures are so good, and I find the dressing is out of this world! Lucky for you, I’ve got just the recipe for when you can’t make it to the restaurant.
Although I’ve stayed true to the salad you’d get in the restaurant, salads are easily modified based on what you have on hand, what’s in season, and your preferences. So, go ahead and make it your own. But the dressing—well, I suggest you make a double batch as it’s just so good and goes well with any salad.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 cups chopped green leaf lettuce or romaine
- ▢ 2 cups chopped Iceberg lettuce
- ▢ 3 cups chopped red leaf lettuce
- ▢ 1 cup sliced black olives
- ▢ 1 cup chopped (deli-sliced) pepperoncinis
- ▢ ½ medium red onion halved and cut into paper-thin slices
- ▢ 1 pint Glory cherry tomatoes halved
- ▢ 2 cups croutons homemade, if possible
- ▢ ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese optional
For the Vinaigrette:
- ▢ ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- ▢ 1½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ▢ ½ tsp dried oregano
- ▢ ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
- ▢ ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ▢ ¾ tsp granulated sugar
- ▢ ½ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Video
Instructions
For the Vinaigrette:
Whisk together vinegar, mustard, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl. ¾ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, ⅓ cup red wine vinegar, 1½ tsp Dijon mustard, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp Italian seasoning, ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, ¾ tsp granulated sugar, ½ tsp kosher salt, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Continue whisking and drizzle in the olive oil. Whisk until combined and smooth. ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Combine all salad ingredients in a large serving bowl and toss to mix. 3 cups chopped green leaf lettuce or romaine, 2 cups chopped Iceberg lettuce, 3 cups chopped red leaf lettuce, 1 cup sliced black olives, 1 cup chopped (deli-sliced) pepperoncinis, ½ medium red onion, 1 pint Glory cherry tomatoes, 2 cups croutons
To Serve:
- Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Serve with freshly grated or shaved Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy! ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese
Becky’s Tips
- For a vegan Olive Garden salad , choose a vegan parmesan cheese, or omit it completely.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Olive Garden Salad with Copycat Dressing
Prepare the dressing: Whisk ¾ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, ⅓ cup red wine vinegar, 1½ tsp Dijon mustard, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp Italian seasoning, ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, ¾ tsp granulated sugar, ½ tsp kosher salt, and ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper in a medium bowl to combine. Continue to whisk while drizzling in the olive oil so the mixture combines. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth.
Toss the salad : Drizzle the dressing over the bowl of salad and toss to coat it well. Serve garnished with ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!
How to Store
The salad can easily be prepared ahead of time and stored, covered, in the fridge. Just add the salad dressing when you are ready to serve it so that the lettuce doesn’t get soggy. You can easily meal prep this salad too – just portion it and store it in airtight containers, again, separate from the dressing.
The dressing will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge in an airtight jar or bottle.
Serving Suggestions
This salad is light and flavorful and is easily paired with your favorite meals and it’s also great to serve as an appetizer. It’s my favorite salad to serve with pasta favorites you’d find at Olive Garden, like baked spaghetti , these hearty and comforting stuffed shells , or baked ziti . And, of course, don’t forget about those memorable Olive Garden breadsticks !
If you want to make it into a fuller meal on its own, you can add protein like shredded chicken or steak.
Try these other salads
Cucumber Onion Salad
Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Mind Blowing Grilled Corn Salad Recipe
Green Goddess Salad
Olive Garden Salad with Copycat Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped green leaf lettuce or romaine
- 2 cups chopped Iceberg lettuce
- 3 cups chopped red leaf lettuce
- 1 cup sliced black olives
- 1 cup chopped (deli-sliced) pepperoncinis
- ½ medium red onion halved and cut into paper-thin slices
- 1 pint Glory cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 cups croutons homemade, if possible
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese optional
For the Vinaigrette:
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 1½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
- ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ¾ tsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
For the Vinaigrette:
Whisk together vinegar, mustard, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl. ¾ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, ⅓ cup red wine vinegar, 1½ tsp Dijon mustard, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp Italian seasoning, ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, ¾ tsp granulated sugar, ½ tsp kosher salt, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Continue whisking and drizzle in the olive oil. Whisk until combined and smooth. ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Combine all salad ingredients in a large serving bowl and toss to mix. 3 cups chopped green leaf lettuce or romaine, 2 cups chopped Iceberg lettuce, 3 cups chopped red leaf lettuce, 1 cup sliced black olives, 1 cup chopped (deli-sliced) pepperoncinis, ½ medium red onion, 1 pint Glory cherry tomatoes, 2 cups croutons
To Serve:
- Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Serve with freshly grated or shaved Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy! ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese
Video
Notes
- For a vegan Olive Garden salad , choose a vegan parmesan cheese, or omit it completely.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
