Perfectly paired with our grilled steaks, this Italian Chopped Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette was chock full of delicious flavors and textures. It was a hugewith our friends!

When entertaining, I love a green salad on the menu. This versatile chopped salad recipe can be tweaked with your favorite ingredients!

Italian Chopped Salad on a white salad plate with a red handled fork

Chopped Italian Salad

I’m not sure you’d ever find this particular salad in Italy, but it has a certain Italian flair. With roasted peppers, pine nuts, greens and a Parmesan vinaigrette, it’s tasty as well as versatile!

I’m a sucker for chopped salads! Where the hubby would be happy with a salad of lettuce, tomatoes and Ranch dressing, I’m more inclined to add multiple ingredients with varied textures like in this colorful chopped Italian salad.

Italian Chopped Salad ingredients in a glass salad bowl

What Entrees Work with This Italian Salad?

Serve this salad with pasta smothered in an Italian Meat SauceCreamy Chicken Marsala or even an Italian Pesto Burger.

How Can I Tweak This Salad Recipe?

I’m used to finding a pile of artichoke hearts or hearts of palm on the side of the picky hubby’s plate, so feel free to leave out any ingredient that your family does not enjoy.

  • If you love onions, you may not need to pickle them by soaking them in vinegar to tame down their sharpness. I like a red or yellow onion as they tend to be sweeter than white onions. Or use green onions or scallions instead.
  • I found some of my favorite jarred piquillo peppers and diced them up. Feel free to use roasted bell peppers or even chopped raw red bell peppers for some crunch.
  • Don’t like pine nuts? Sliced almonds would work well, too, or just leave them out. The picky hubby would like the latter option. 
  • Feel free to use your favorite lettuces, add cucumbers, grape tomatoes, etc.
  • Make sure to shake the vinaigrette well before dressing the salad. Any simple vinaigrette will work with this salad though the Parmesan gives another taste of Italy!
  • You can prep this salad well ahead of time. Just keep all the components refrigerated and toss with the dressing right before serving so the greens don’t get bogged down from the dressing.

Italian Chopped Salad on a square plate with a fork

More Terrific Salad Recipes You’ll Love

This Kitchen Sink Chopped Salad needs to return to our menu soon as I love leftovers for lunch. Simple and delicious, a Marinated Vegetable Salad is an old classic that’s perfect for a summer picnic. And if you haven’t made a Caesar Salad at home, it’s high time you do!

I’ve also had my eye on this Green Salad with Feta and Beets and this Israeli Chopped Salad from my blogger friends. But this Italian Chopped Salad is a new favorite!

You might like these pretty Quattro Stagioni jars for your salad dressing, this Santoku knife for chopping, and this dishwasher safe cutting board.

Italian Chopped Salad featured image

Italian Chopped Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 6 servings

A loaded Italian chopped salad with an easy Parmesan dressing

Ingredients

  • 1 head Romaine lettuce, sliced crosswise into 1/2 inch ribbons
  • 1/4 head of iceberg lettuce, chopped into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 small red onion, peeled, thinly sliced and soaked in sherry or champagne vinegar while salad is prepped
  • 1 jar marinated artichoke hearts (14 ounces), cut into quarters and tough leaves removed if needed
  • 1 jar (or can) hearts of palm, drained and sliced
  • 1 jar piquillo peppers, drained and chopped
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

Dressing:

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

Instructions

Place lettuces in the bottom of a large salad bowl. Add toppings.

To make the dressing, whisk red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic powder and Parmesan in large Pyrex measuring up. Slowly whisk in olive oil.

To serve, rewhisk the dressing and pour over the salad ingredients. Toss until combined.  Serve immediately. May top with more Parmesan if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 255Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 300mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

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