Description
Craving that signature Olive Garden salad at home? This Olive Garden Code brings restaurant-style freshness to your kitchen. Crisp romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, red onions, olives, pepperoncini, and crunchy croutons come together under a zesty Italian dressing with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleasing, easy recipe that works for quick lunches, light dinners, or a flavorful side dish. Whether you’re seeking healthy snacks, easy dinner ideas, or a reliable food idea for gatherings, this salad checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup green olives
1/4 cup pepperoncini, sliced
1/2 cup garlic croutons
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/2 cup Italian dressing (Olive Garden style or homemade)
Optional: grilled chicken strips
Optional: shaved carrots
Optional: cucumber slices
Instructions
1. Wash and dry the romaine lettuce thoroughly. Chop into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl.
2. Thinly slice the red onion, halve the cherry tomatoes, and slice the pepperoncini. Pat all vegetables dry.
3. Add the prepared vegetables, olives, and pepperoncini into the salad bowl with the romaine.
4. Sprinkle in garlic croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
5. Drizzle the Italian dressing evenly over the salad. Toss gently to coat all ingredients.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning or dressing as needed.
7. Serve immediately for the best crunch and freshness.
8. For meal prep, store dressing and croutons separately and assemble before serving.
Notes
Chill your veggies and dressing for extra crunch and flavor.
Use fresh Parmesan instead of pre-packaged to elevate taste.
Toss salad just before serving to preserve the crouton texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 7mg
Keywords: Olive Garden salad, easy recipe, quick lunch, side salad, healthy snack, Italian dressing, dinner ideas