CopycatSpices
Copycat Olive Garden Famous House Salad
Toss together Olive Garden's iconic house salad at home with the signature Italian dressing, pepperoncini, and croutons.
copycat · olive-garden · casual-dining · salad
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook0 min
⏱Total15 min
🍽Serves6
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 6 pepperoncini peppers
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup croutons
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1.Make the dressing. In a jar or bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, olive oil, white wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper. Shake or whisk vigorously until emulsified.
- 2.Prepare the salad base. Wash and chop the iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large salad bowl.
- 3.Add the toppings. Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, pepperoncini peppers, and sliced black olives over the lettuce.
- 4.Dress the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat every leaf. The Olive Garden style is generously dressed — do not be shy.
- 5.Finish and serve. Top with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, ideally in a chilled bowl for the most authentic Olive Garden experience.
The Olive Garden house salad is the reason many people keep coming back. Served family-style before every meal with unlimited refills, this simple combination of crisp lettuce, tangy pepperoncini, briny olives, and zesty Italian dressing has become one of the most beloved restaurant salads in America. This copycat version brings that exact experience to your dinner table.
The Secret
Olive Garden’s salad dressing is not a standard Italian vinaigrette — it is creamier and more robust, with a good amount of garlic and Italian herbs. Starting with a base of bottled Italian dressing and enhancing it with extra olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings gets you closer to the restaurant version than making a dressing from scratch. The pepperoncini peppers and black olives are non-negotiable — they define the salad.
Pro Tips
- Chill the salad bowl and plates in the freezer for 15 minutes before serving for an authentic restaurant touch.
- The salad should be very generously dressed — Olive Garden does not hold back, and neither should you.
- Use a combination of iceberg and romaine lettuce for a mix of crunch and flavor.
- Toss the salad right before serving. If dressed too early, the lettuce will wilt.
