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    Home > Recipes > Salad

    Italian House Salad with Parmesan and Croutons

    Published: Sep 30, 2021 · Modified: Mar 12, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    italian house salad
    italian house salad

    italian salad in a white bowl

    Italian House Salad with Parmesan and Croutons is the perfect side for almost any meal. Serve it with your favorite pasta dishes, cozy soups, or roast chicken. 

    Earlier this week I shared Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast and, if you ask me, the best thing to serve with that savory, rich meat dish is a crunchy, bright Italian House Salad. Come to think of it, an Italian House Salad with tangy vinaigrette is the best thing to serve with many great weeknight meals. Pastas and red sauce, meatballs, lemon roasted chicken, lemony gnocchi (I love this one), or truly just about any other meal you can dream up will be great with this classic salad.

    tomatoes, peppers and olives in a colander

    What You’ll Love About an Italian House Salad

    Make it as simple or complex as you want. Load it up with all the classic fillings (think Olive Garden house salad here) like olives, pepperoncini, tomatoes, and thinly sliced onion, or keep it super simple and just toss romaine and croutons in the tangy vinaigrette. It’s great either way. If you want to customize it, see below for a few ideas!

    Optional Add-ins for Italian Salad

    • Red Onion
    • Peperoncini
    • Black Olives
    • Tomatoes
    • Cucumbers
    • Parmesan Cheese
    • Salami or Cured Meat
    • Mozzarella Pearls
    • Cooked Pasta
    • Artichoke Hearts

    an open bag of croutons

    If you ask me, croutons aren’t optional in this salad. Don’t forget them! You can make them yourself, but these Zesty Italian Texas Toast Croutons (available at pretty much any grocery store) are the best. Lots of different shapes and tossed with dried spices, I love these. 

    More Colorful Salads

    • Asian Chopped Salad with Sweet Sesame Vinaigrette
    • Pan-Seared Chicken with Balsamic Tomato Salad
    • Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
    • Fresh Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette
    • Fresh Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette

    Favorite Tools

    • 6-inch Global Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Small Jar or bowl
    • Salad Bowl
    • Salad Tongs

    adding dressing to a salad in a white bowl

    house salad
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Italian House Salad with Parmesan and Croutons

    Italian House Salad with Parmesan and Croutons is the perfect side for almost any meal. Serve it with your favorite pasta dishes, cozy soups, or roast chicken.
    To adjust the servings in this recipe, click on the number next to servings.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: easy salad, easy side dish
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 163kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $6.00

    Equipment

    • Salad Bowl
    • Small Jar or Bowl with Lid

    Ingredients

    For the Dressing:

    • 3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon Honey
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder (not garlic salt)
    • ¼ cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

    For the Salad:

    • ½ cup thin slices Red Onion
    • 8 cups chopped Romaine Lettuce
    • 1 cup Pepperoncini, whole or sliced (these come in mild, medium, and hot)
    • 1 cup Black Olives, sliced or whole
    • 1 ½ cups Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, halved (or use one regular tomato, sliced into wedges)
    • 1 ½ cups Croutons, homemade or store-bought
    • ½ cup grated or thinly sliced Parmesan Cheese
    • Fresh cracked black pepper

    Instructions

    • Whisk together vinegar, honey, salt, dried oregano, and garlic powder. Add olive oil while whisking until dressing is smooth. (Or just combine everything in a jar with a lid and shake well.)
    • Optional step: Add red onions to dressing and let sit for 10 minutes. This will help to mellow the bite of the onions and add flavor to the dressing. Feel free to skip this step if you prefer the onions raw.
    • Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add dressing gradually, tossing to combine, until salad is dressed to your liking.
    • Finish salad with fresh-cracked black pepper.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 802mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4444IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1mg

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

    « Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast
    Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup with Ricotta »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

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