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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Published: Aug 20, 2020 · Modified: Oct 22, 2020 by Danielle · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Italian Chopped Salad (with options for a crowd)

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    Italian Chopped Salad ingredients in serving bowl with graphic overlay.
    Ingredients for Italian Chopped Salad on counter and in serving bowl with graphic overlay.

    In 20 minutes you can have this Italian Chopped Salad with all the goodness of an antipasto platter ready to serve. Loaded with salami, pepperoni, cheeses, olives, pepperoncinis, fresh veggies, and our favorite bottled Italian dressing, this restaurant-style salad is perfect for serving your family or a crowd any time of year.

    Ingredients for salad displayed chopped and in serving bowl
    This salad makes a great side to any Italian dinner but also pairs well with grilled meat.
    Skip to:
    • 🥬 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a Crowd
    • 🙋 Questions and Answers
    • 📖 Serving Suggestions
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
    • 👋 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Every year at Christmas my husband’s side of the family has a progressive dinner. We split up the courses of a meal, and each family serves one course. Then we pack up and move to the next house for the next course. One year my sister-in-law served us this for the salad course. Oh. My. It has been a family favorite ever since. 

    Think of it like a restaurant-style antipasto salad. This one has been modeled after Buca di Beppo’s. It is so good that it has been served at graduation celebrations, big Sunday Dinners, birthday parties, and holiday feasts. Chopping up enough for 25 or 50 doesn’t take much longer, which makes it a dream to serve a crowd.

    Salad ingredients displayed on counter
    All the goodness of an antipasto platter tossed with lettuce and delicious bottled dressing.

    🥬 Ingredients

    Iceberg lettuce: In this case using a head of lettuce and cutting it yourself is key. Bagged salad won’t come chopped in small enough pieces, and in a chopped salad similar-sized pieces are key.
    Pepperoni: If using pizza-sized or larger, cut to size. Mini ones are already the perfect size.
    Salami: Thinly-sliced dry salami is my preference.
    Provolone: Creamy and mild. Pre-sliced from the deli or in the package works great.
    Feta: Salty, creamy, and full of flavor. Athenos and President are my favorite brands.
    Tomatoes: Romas are perfect, but you can substitute with cherry tomatoes if desired.
    Red onion: Slightly milder flavor than regular onions.
    Cucumber: English cucumbers are best, but if you substitute with regular cucumbers be sure to peel them first.
    Black and green olives: Fruity bursts of salty flavor.
    Pepperoncinis: These provide a vinegary bite with a touch of heat. Cuts through the richness of the meat and cheese.
    Dried oregano: Rub between your fingers to release the oils.
    Bernstein's Restaurant Recipe Italian or Newman’s Own Family Recipe Italian: Both of these dressings are great on this salad. (This is not sponsored in any way. We just really do use these dressings.)

    🔪 Instructions

    This salad can be broken down into three parts.

    1. Chop
    2. Combine
    3. Dress

    First, chop the lettuce, pepperoni, salami, provolone, tomatoes, red onion, and cucumbers into approximately the same size pieces. Second, add in the feta and olives. Rub the dried oregano between your fingertips then sprinkle over the top and mix everything together. Finally, toss with the dressing. 

    Honestly, so much reward for so little work. Seems too good to be true, but it's not.

    Italian Chopped Salad in a bowl with fork.
    This recipe can be adjusted to serve a family during the week or at a party.

    📖 Variations

    • Add in blue cheese, little mozzarella pearls, or top with a grating of parmesan.
    • For a bit more substance add chickpeas or navy beans.
    • If you want to make your own dressing, use the one from this Greek Quinoa Salad post. It is delicious. 
    • Use romaine lettuce or a mix of the two.

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a Crowd

    This is the BEST salad for serving to a crowd. It feels special but doesn’t require hours of work. If you want to prep ahead be sure to read my tips in the Q&A section below. 

    For serving a very large crowd it will take longer, but it isn’t more difficult. The most important part is in the prep. 

    First, decide how many of the large-size recipes you need (1 large recipe serves 25, so double, triple, or quadruple that as needed). A very large serving bowl usually fits 1 large recipe, so you will need to refill the salad a few times. Also, it is easier to get an even distribution of ingredients if you toss 1 recipe together at a time. So the best way to refill the salad is to have batches prepped and set aside individually. 

    To do that, chop the total amount of each ingredient and set in piles. Then measure out enough for each recipe into individual baggies. Gather up all the baggies needed for one recipe and place them together in a gallon-sized bag. Now when it is time to serve you can just dump and toss. 

    For example, if I am going to triple the large salad recipe, I would cut 18 ounces of provolone. Then I would measure out 6 ounces into 3 separate baggies, repeating that process for each ingredient. Finally, I would grab 3 gallon-sized bags and add one bag of each ingredient into the larger bag.

    For serving this or any other large salad (see it at work in this Autumn Chopped Salad and this Summer Fruit Salad) I use a serving platter from Sur la Table. Unfortunately, I don’t see the exact one online, but they do carry a similar bowl. My favorite way to shop there is to watch for a good sale, and then buy 2-3 items so that I have multiples. #neverenoughwhiteservingdishes

    🙋 Questions and Answers

    Can I serve this to 25, 50, 75, or 100 people?

    In the recipe card below there are instructions for feeding 25, but it is easily scalable to serve 50, 75, or 100. For tips on making that process easier see the For a Crowd section above.

    Can I prep Italian Chopped Salad ahead?

    This salad can have all of the components prepped ahead and refrigerated. However, it does not hold well once the salad dressing is on it. It is best to dress only the amount you will eat in one sitting.

    How long does this salad last?

    If the ingredients are prepped and stored separately they should last for 3 days. However, I wouldn’t cut the lettuce more than a day ahead as it can begin to brown rather quickly.

    Italian Chopped Salad in serving bowl with blue towel and serving tongs.
    This salad has been served at many special family functions over the years.

    📖 Serving Suggestions

    • Either this 25 Minute Lemon Broccoli Pasta or this Easy Chicken Piccata Pasta are great pasta dishes to accompany this salad.
    • If you are looking for a restaurant-style main dish, try this Crispy Chicken Parmesan. It is divine!
    • Another great chopped salad is this Autumn Chopped Salad. It gets devoured every time I serve it.
    • A truly decadent way to end this meal would be with these Chocolate Lava Cakes for a Crowd or these White Chocolate Blondie Sundaes with Maple Sauce.

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

    • Thoroughly dry the lettuce. I use this salad spinner to make quick work of it. But laying out clean kitchen towels and gently rolling them up will do the trick. Just know that method takes a little bit longer.
    • Chop things in relatively the same size. A chopped salad is about texture.
    • DO NOT dress the salad until right before serving. It will continue to soften as it sits so last minute is key.
    • Also, don’t overdo the dressing. Soggy salad is not your friend. Slowly add the the dressing. Mix well and taste. It would be better to slightly under dress the salad and serve extra dressing on the side. That way people can choose how much dressing they want.

    👋 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food! To get our new recipes straight to your email, subscribe to our newsletter.

    📋 Recipe

    INgredients of Italian Chopped Salad in serving dish.

    Italian Chopped Salad (with options for a crowd)

    In 20 minutes you can have this Italian Chopped Salad with all the goodness of an antipasto platter ready to serve. Loaded with salami, pepperoni, cheeses, olives, pepperoncinis, fresh veggies, and our favorite bottled Italian dressing, this restaurant-style salad is perfect for serving your family or a crowd any time of year.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 146kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Ingredients

    Small size (feeds 6-8)

    • 8 cups iceberg lettuce diced, about 1 small head
    • 1½ ounces pepperoni diced
    • 1½ ounces salami diced
    • 1½ ounces provolone diced
    • ½ cup tomatoes, roma or cherry diced
    • ¼ cup red onion diced
    • ¼ cup English cucumber diced
    • 1 tablespoon pepperoncini peppers sliced
    • black and green olives
    • 1 ounce feta
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ cup Bernstein's Restaurant Recipe Italian or Newman's Own Family Recipe Italian plus more to taste

    Large Size (feeds about 25)

    • 24 cups iceberg lettuce diced, about 2 large heads or 3 small
    • 6 ounces pepperoni diced
    • 6 ounces salami diced
    • 6 ounces provolone diced
    • 2 cups tomatoes, roma or cherry diced
    • 1½ cup red onion diced
    • 1½ cup English cucumbers diced
    • ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers sliced
    • black and green olives
    • 4 ounces feta
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 cup Newman's Own Family Recipe Italian plus more to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Chop the lettuce, pepperoni, salami, provolone, tomatoes, red onion, and cucumbers into approximately the same size pieces. Add to mixing bowl.
    • Add in the feta and olives. Sprinkle dried oregano over the top and toss everything together.
    • Pour in about half the dressing. Mix everything together. Taste and add more dressing as desired. Pour into serving bowl.

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
    Thoroughly dry the lettuce. I use this salad spinner to make quick work of it. But laying out clean kitchen towels and gently rolling them up will do the trick. However, that method takes a little bit longer. 
    Chop things in relatively the same size. A chopped salad is about texture. 
    DO NOT dress the salad until right before serving. It will continue to soften as it sits so last minute is key. 
    Also, don’t overdo the dressing. Slowly add the the dressing. Mix well and taste. It would be better to slightly under dress and serve the extra dressing on the side.
     
    Prep Ahead:
    All of the components, except the lettuce, can be prepped ahead and refrigerated for about 3 days. However, it does not hold well once the salad dressing is on it. It is best to dress only the amount you will eat in one sitting. 
     
    Notes for serving a crowd:
    See the post for all the tips on how to serve this to a crowd. 

    Add Your Own Notes

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 508mg | Potassium: 269mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 737IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 1mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!

    The nutritional information above only includes the basic components of the salad. Depending on amounts this information will vary tremendously. Please use nutritional calculator of your own to determine the calorie content of your salad.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. CJ says

      January 30, 2022 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      I made this yesterday to have for lunch today and it was amazing. I could have eaten just that salad and nothing else. It's definitely a keeper. Thanks for the great recipe.

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        January 31, 2022 at 2:08 pm

        I can totally relate! It is super yummy. Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know. You can't know how that makes our day!

        Reply
    2. Susan says

      April 18, 2021 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      Made this salad for a group today - it was SO good and pretty too. Lots of compliments. Will definitely be on my regular rotation. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        April 18, 2021 at 4:13 pm

        That makes us so happy to hear! Thanks for sharing. We're glad you all loved it!

        Reply
    3. Ella says

      September 17, 2020 at 3:12 pm

      5 stars
      I made it for dinner last night, took for lunch today then made it again for dinner tonight. I have to do it again and again! I loved it!

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        September 17, 2020 at 3:38 pm

        It does have an addicting quality, doesn't it? So happy to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for leaving a review!!

        Reply
    4. Karen says

      August 20, 2020 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      Very good!

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        August 20, 2020 at 10:05 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply

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    Hi! We are Danielle and Misty: a mom and daughter with a serious passion for seeking out the best recipes to serve again and again to those we love. With a mix of everyday favorites and indulgent weekend fare there is something here for you and yours as you develop your own family traditions.

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