This copycat version of Olive Garden’s classic bottomless salad is easy to make at home.
Serve it with homemade creamy Italian dressing for a delicious dinner.
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| This recipe was my #4 most popular recipe in 2013! View the Top 10 here |
So my foodie friends, I have a secret to confess: I’m a huge fan of soup and salad! On nights when my hubby and I don’t feel like making a complex dinner, soup and salad is the answer! And my favorite restaurant soup and salad is none other than Olive Garden. They serve such a simple Garden Salad with a delicious vinaigrette, garlicky bread sticks, and flavor packed soups including my favorite: Zuppa Toscana which I remade and posted here back in September. I have wanted to make the Garden Salad for a while now but I tried so many version of the Olive Garden Dressing and could never find the right one. Until now! Thanks to Food Network I now think I have finally found the perfect Olive Garden Copycat Salad recipe.
We had friends over for dinner last weekend and it was the perfect time to serve my copycat Olive Garden Salad along with my delicious homemade baked Calzones and Ashton’s Italian Margaritas. Are you a Margarita fan like me? Next time you go to Olive Garden order the Italian Margarita. Olive Garden’s comes with a shot of DiSaronno Amaretto and is AH-MAZING! Check out my version below!
Copycat Olive Garden Salad
4 servings
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Miracle Whip
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons water
For the salad:
- 1 10-12 ounce bag American salad blend with Romaine, Iceberg, carrots, cabbage
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 8 small pepperoncini peppers
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 6 tablespoons whole pitted black olive about 12
- 1/2 cup large seasoned croutons
- 2 tablespoon finely shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Combine all the dressing ingredients and 1 to 2 tablespoons water in a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.
- Place the salad blend in a large bowl and top with the remaining salad ingredients.
- Drizzle with the dressing. Toss.
- Add additional cheese if desired. Enjoy!
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For The Love of Food Blog
Don’t have Italian seasoning on hand?
Don’t worry, you can make your own!
Simply mix equal parts dried oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, and basil!
Combine all the dressing ingredients and 1 to 2 tablespoons water in a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.
Add the lettuce to a large bowl and top with remaining ingredients.
Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine.
Top with additional cheese and serve.
Olive Garden’s version!
Italian Margaritas
Ingredients
- 2 parts Patron Tequila (my fave!) or you can use Sauza Gold Tequila
- 1 part Triple Sec
- 1 part DiSaronno Amaretto
- 1 part Lime Juice
- Ice
- Salted rim
- Lime and orange wedges for garnish
Directions
- Mix together 3 Liquors and Lime Juice, with Ice in a shaker.
- Add to a Margarita glass with a salted rim.
- Garnish with a lime and orange slice.
To copy the Olive Garden Italian Margarita recipe exactly, you need "sugar" – not "salt" for the rim! Thanks for the post – I will try both!
Orange sugar for the rim!
I think amaretto dipped rim in coarse sugar or salt would be delicious.
I just love your blog.Thanks for sharing.
Xtreme No
Xtremeno
When we were there yesterday they said there was orange juice in the ingredients
Interesting! I have never heard that and the bottled version does not mention it! Let me know if you try it.