Need an easy salad that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser? This Whole30 Italian Chopped Salad will become a go-to favorite. Simple to put together, no-cook, nutrient-dense, with a quick-to-make dressing.
Not only is this Italian Chopped Salad Whole30, meaning it is gluten-free and dairy-free, it is also egg-free and nut-free. A great easy weeknight dinner option or perfect side to take to a potluck or BBQ.
Building Your Salad
We love that the ingredients were easy to find at our local grocery store, making this salad accessible and budget-friendly. It starts with a base of romaine lettuce, finely chopped in true chopped salad fashion. Then, you build with so many flavorful add-ins: grape or cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumber, red onion, olives, pepperoncini peppers, green bell pepper, fresh basil leaves, and compatible ham or deli meat.
To save time, we used jarred chopped pepperoncini peppers and olives. But you are welcome to use fresh ones and chop them yourself. However, we highly recommend using fresh basil leaves – they really elevate the flavor of this salad!
For the compatible deli meat, traditional salami or pepperoni are ideal for an Italian salad, but Whole30 compatible options can be hard to find. Most have some form of added sugar, which is not allowed on the Whole30 (read more in the Whole30 rules here). Some Whole30ers have success finding those meats without sugar at their local butcher. If not, we used Applegate Whole30 Approved ham, which is available at many Walmart and Target stores.
If you are making this salad as the main dish, use at least 1 pound of chopped meat for this salad. As a dinner salad, this serves 6. As a side salad, this serves 8.
About that Dressing
Most store-bought Italian salad dressings have sugar, making them also not compatible for your Whole30. But never fear – we have a fantastic Whole30 Italian Salad Dressing that is easy to make, egg-free, and doesn’t require a blender. Making salad dressing doesn’t get much easier than this one! Or, you can also use one like this one from Primal Kitchen that is Whole30 Approved.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of romaine lettuce finely chopped
- 10 oz cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
- 1 medium cucumber diced into about ½” cubes
- 1 medium green bell pepper seeded and finely chopped
- 1/2 red onion skin removed and cut into thin slivers
- 1 (2.25) oz can of sliced black olives drained
- 1 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- 8 medium fresh basil leaves finely chopped
- 1/2 to 1 lb chopped compatible deli meat such as ham, prosciutto, salami, or pepperoni
- salt or garlic salt to taste
- compatible Italian salad dressing
Instructions
- COMBINE all of the salad ingredients except the salt and salad dressing. Serve with the dressing and salt, adding to taste. Enjoy immediately.
