Italian Chopped Salad takes everything you love about a classic salad and makes it better by chopping all the yummy ingredients into perfect, bite sized pieces! This colorful mix of fresh vegetables, salami, cheese, and tangy pepperoncini peppers is delicious with a light Italian dressing.

bowl of italian chopped salad with two wood spoons

Let’s talk about why chopped salads are pure genius! No more bites with giant lettuce leaves that won’t fit in your mouth or trying to spear multiple ingredients on your fork at once. Every single bite has the perfect mix of all the flavors and textures.

This isn’t just your regular chopped salad either. We’re talking Italian ingredients that bring serious flavor! Crisp radicchio, savory salami, nutty Parmesan cheese, and those tangy peppers that add the perfect kick. It’s like an antipasto platter, but in salad form.

One of my favorite things about it is how easy it is for meal prep since everything stays crisp when chopped small. It’s ideal for lunch meetings because you don’t need a knife, and fantastic for entertaining since it looks colorful and pretty on the table.

Serve it with some Italian pinwheels, this pizza dip for a complete Italian feast, or enjoy it as a light lunch with some garlic bread on the side. Either way, you’re going to fall in love with this salad!

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individual ingredients for a salad recipe with text overlay labeling them

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.

Ingredient Notes

Lettuce – Romaine lettuce is my favorite for these because they are sturdy enough to hold up to the other ingredients and last longer when chopping and prepping ahead of time. Substitute leafy greens, butter lettuce, or even iceberg lettuce.
Radicchio – This flavor and texture makes the salad but if it’s too bitter, you can substitute red cabbage.
Dressing – Use a homemade Italian dressing, your favorite store bought, or keep it simple with a sprinkle of olive oil and red wine vinegar and some Italian seasoning.

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How To Make Italian Chopped Salad

Wash, dry, and chop the lettuce and radicchio into bite size pieces. Place in the bottom of a large salad bowl.

knife slicing a cucumber for a salad on a cutting board

Wash, dry, and chop the cucumber, red onions, and remaining ingredients.

ingredients for a chopped salad in a brown salad bowl before it's mixed up

Top the lettuce and radicchio with all the salad stuff.

jar of salad dressing pouring dressing onto a salad

Drizzle lightly with Italian dressing and toss to coat it. Serve chilled!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

bowl of chopped italian salad in a wood bowl with two spoons

Prep & Storage

I love this salad the same day I make it but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3 days. If at all possible, keep the dressing separate until ready to eat.

This is perfect for making ahead of time. Here are some tips to keep everything fresh!

Store the dressing and salad ingredients separate until ready to eat. That way they won’t get soggy.
Add a paper towel to the container with salad greens to keep them fresh and crisp for up to 5 days.
The vegetables are fine together but I recommend storing the cheese and dried meats separately. They can add moisture and salt that can wilt the greens faster.

How To Chop Lettuce For Chopped Salad

Separate, rinse, and pat dry the romaine leaves.

slices of romaine lettuce on a cutting board

Slice lengthwise into 1-2 inch sections.

romaine heart being sliced across on a cutting board

Gather the strips and cut across them to make bite size pieces.

chopped romaine lettuce on a cutting board with a knife

Continue chopping until all done, removing any hard or under ripe pieces.

two plates of salad with a jar of dressing next to it

Variations

The beauty of this recipe is that you can switch up the salad ingredients to include your favorite ones.

Toss in a cup of chopped giardiniera or your favorite pickled peppers. A little of the brine is delicious in the dressing.
Add more vegetables like zucchini, yellow or green squash, radishes, or sliced carrots. Make them thin by using a vegetable peeler or mandoline slicer.
If you’re short on time or ideas, grab some things from the olive bar at your local grocery store if it has one. My favorite ones are the stuffed peppadew peppers, artichoke hearts, and marinated mushrooms.
Switch out the Parmesan cheese for diced provolone cheese or some fresh mozzarella.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Make it easier – use bagged romaine/radicchio mix or substitute red cabbage for radicchio to save money
Dietary swaps – leave out cheese for dairy-free, skip salami and add hearts of palm for vegetarian, or use black olives instead of Kalamata
Meal prep friendly – store all ingredients separately until ready to serve, perfect for lunch boxes or meal kits
Serve salad bar style – put lettuce in a large bowl with toppings in small bowls so everyone can customize their perfect salad

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!

Pinterest pin image for Italian Chopped Salad recipe

This Italian chopped salad recipe is super easy to make, great for meal prep for multiple lunches, and full of textures and flavors.