Loaded Italian Salad is the perfect addition to a hearty family Italian dinner.
I love salads that are so loaded with all the good stuff that there’s hardly any room left to add in lettuce. This loaded Italian salad totally delivers on that front. All those antipasto “goodies” make this salad an easy favorite.
Big Italian Night Dinner to feed a crowd:
If you are planning a big Italian Dinner to feed a crowd, here are some of our other favorites for Italian Night:
- Baked Ziti
- Spaghetti Bar
- Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- Homemade Pizza
- Zuppa Toscana Soup (another Olive Garden favorite Recipe)
- Pasta Carbonara
- Garlic Bread with homemade Garlic Butter
What is Antipasto?
Antipasto is traditionally the first course of an Italian meal. It usually consists of cured meat, pickled veggies like olives, pepperoncini peppers, vinegar and oil, plus a lot more. When an antipasto is made into a salad it’s a win win. 
Variations for an antipasto Italian salad:
- vine ripe tomatoes
- artichoke hearts
- chick peas
- black olives
- pepperoni (other cured Italian meats: salami, prosciutto)
- green olives with pimento
- mozzarella cheese
- salami
- pepperoncini peppers
- red onion, thinly sliced
- green leaf lettuce
More delicious antipasto options:
- Kalamata olives
- roasted red peppers
- marinated mozzarella balls
- Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped garnish
- avocado
- fresh grated parmesan
- grated carrots
- cucumbers
- grilled chicken or shrimp
- pine nuts
- croutons
A dressing can make or break a salad. Everyone’s favorite Italian dressing from Olive Garden is now available at the grocery store, but did you know it’s so simple to make your own at home and it will taste just as good?!
Ingredients for the copycat Olive Garden Italian Salad Dressing:
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- 1 packet Italian dressing mix
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/3 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 Tbsp mayonnaise
Salad Dressing Directions:
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- Add all ingredients into a mason jar with a lid and shake until well combined.
- Serve over a fresh Italian salad.
Serve it on a Rimmed Sheet Pan:
One of our favorite ways to serve a big salad like this is on a baking tray or a sheet pan, or a low and wide salad bowl. This way all the good stuff doesn’t sink to the bottom and it will help make sure that everyone gets a little of everything on their plate. They can then top with the dressing after they plate their portion.
Loaded Italian Salad with a Copycat Olive Garden Italian Salad Dressing
Loaded Italian Salad with everyone’s favorite Italian salad dressing from Olive Garden made by you! It’s so simple to make your own at home and it will taste just as good.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1-2 heads green leaf lettuce (Romain lettuce is great too) chopped, rinsed and spinned
- 2 medium vine ripened tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers diced
- 1 cup salami (sliced or cubed) sliced into strips
- 1 cup green olives with pimento sliced in half
- 1 can chick peas (aka garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed
- 1 cup pepperoni, sliced rounds (other cured Italian meats: salami, prosciutto) *optional
- 1 small jar artichoke hearts quartered
- 1 can whole medium black olives sliced in half
- 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese grated
For the Salad Dressing:
- 1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/3 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise
Instructions
For the salad:
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In a large low and wide salad bowl or a large rimmed sheet pan start by adding the chopped lettuce.
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Now add all the other sliced and chopped ingredients one at a time sprinkling them all over the top of the bed of lettuce so they are evenly distributed: tomatoes, artichoke hearts, chick peas, black olives, salami or pepperoni (or a different cured Italian meat: like prosciutto), green olives with pimento, pepperoncini peppers, red onion and finish with the grated mozzarella cheese over the top.
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Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
For the Salad Dressing:
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Add all salad dressing ingredients into a mason jar with a lid and shake well until combined.
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If feeding a crowd, serve the salad dressing on the side. Or toss it all in the dressing. Serve chilled.
Making This Recipe? Tag us on Instagram: @NoBiggie using the hashtag #NoBiggieRecipes, so we can see what you are making in the kitchen!
MORE salad recipes we LOVE:
- Easy Caprese Salad
- Spinach Tortellini Salad
- Crab Louie Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Best Homemade Ranch Dressing
