Copycat Olive Garden Salad – Frugal Hausfrau

I know there are a lot of Copycat Olive Garden Salad recipes out there. Maybe thousands. The world might not need another one, but I do! See, not only do I write this site for you, I write it for myself, too – it’s like a personal archive of family favorites.

 

That way, I don’t have to Google recipes and maybe take a chance on one. Doncha hate it when you make one and don’t like it? Me, too. That’s why I do everything I can to be a trusted source for you. By the way, if you haven’t signed up to follow on email yet, I’d love it if you joined. I post and send a new recipe about once a week.

Olive Garden

I know not everyone (hard to believe) knows about Olive Garden. It’s an Italian American restaurant that’s either revered or reviled, depending on who you ask.

OG is known for its “endless” (meaning they’ll refill) soups, salads, and breadsticks. They’re known, too, for generous servings and staff who grate cheese over your food until you say “Stop”.

This is Where I Ramble – Beware:

Hit the “jump to recipe” button to avoid the story, but I have to tell it. While I was caring for my folks (they had moved to rural South Dakota for tax breaks & medical care), my sister visited. The folks insisted on treating us to dinner.

Dad assured us he knew how to get to this best little Mom & Pop Italian joint in Sioux Falls (about 25 miles away), though the name had escaped him. (He was in his late 80s, so we readily forgave the lapse.)

Off we went, with Dad at the helm. We careened down back roads, with my Stepmom directing. (We later figured out she acted as Dad’s eyesight.) Eventually, we entered the city, crisscrossing through parking lots, industrial areas, and plants, bumping over a random curb now and then.

Finally, my sister nudged me! Looming in the distance, in all its glory, the Olive Garden sign! We were all but shaking with suppressed laughter. Once seated, I insisted that Dad enjoy himself and have a glass of wine. The ulterior motive? Someone else would have to drive home! In the end, we had a great time, everyone loved the food, and that was all that mattered!

About Copycat Olive Garden Salad:

One of the best things at Olive Garden is the salad, a blend of romaine (sometimes mixed with iceberg), sometimes with shreds of red cabbage and carrots. There’s always red onion, pepperoncini, olives, plum tomatoes, and croutons, all topped with croutons & Parmesan cheese.

Two changes were made:

• Since it was winter and the plum tomatoes were less than stellar, I subbed in cherry tomatoes.
• I loaded up our salad with more than OG ever would; after all, the ingredients were bought and paid for.

Making Copycat Olive Garden Salad:

After making the dressing and the croutons (both are so much better made at home than purchased), the salad is all about assembly.

If possible, make the dressing ahead so the flavors blend. The Homemade Croutons are best the same day, but are decent for several days. Knock them out earlier if you’d like.

Variations:

This is your salad now, so add any of your favorite salad fixings or leave out anything that offends.

At my house, it’s usually a meal, but add more protein with Italian charcuterie, shredded chicken, or chickpeas.

Leftover Copycat Olive Garden Salad:

Salad doesn’t store well, but since this is made of hearty Romaine and Iceberg, it will keep after being dressed, in the fridge, for a day or two without suffering too much.

If you expect leftovers, dress only the portion of the salad you’ll be eating and add the dressing and croutons when you’re ready. That will buy some time on the lettuce.

 

Other “Italian” Salads You Might Like:

Favorite Antipasto Salad

Tortellini Antipasto Salad

Grilled Pesto Pasta Salad

 

Saving Money on Groceries:

What you pay for groceries depends on not just WHERE you shop, but WHEN. Be strategic and stock up at rock-bottom prices.

• The best sales are before holidays; check out Win at the Grocers. Think beyond the occasion & use the opportunity to stock up at a low for the coming weeks to months.
• If available, take advantage of discount stores like Aldi or Lidl. The pricing at Buyer’s clubs is not always the lowest, but can trump in quality. Be selective when shopping there.

Lettuce:

• The best option is by the head/bunch, especially on sale. It tastes better, lasts longer, is fresher, and there’s less chance of contamination. Bagged lettuce runs 4 to 10 times the price when compared by weight. Use the bagged salad if you wish, though.
• Wash all greens thoroughly before using, except (according to the FDA), packaged lettuce labeled prewashed. Be very careful to avoid cross-contamination.

Tomatoes:

• Grow Your Own: Tomatoes are incredibly easy to grow, and smaller varieties do well in pots.
• If buying, the usual applies. Check your Buyer’s Club for fabulous pricing and quality, check discount grocers, or buy when on sale at the regular grocery. (Pick them up at varying degrees of ripeness to have sale priced tomatoes longer.)
• Pricing at Farmer’s Markets can be iffy, but the number of varieties is great. Consider imperfect.

Parmesan Cheese:

• Buy a Wedge: It’s always less than pre-grated. Compare by weight. Wedges won’t mold as quickly and are a better quality than pre-grated.
• Pricing for wedges at both Buyer’s Clubs and the discount stores is amazing, but if not an option, watch for grocery store sales.
• If budget is a concern, use sparingly, and consider Romano, which is cheaper with a more assertive flavor.

Pepperoncini & Olives:

• Items like this are often on sale at the grocery store before some holidays. Olives, in particular, are likely to be found at the discount stores. And both of these are items, along with other specialty items can sometimes be found in the discount aisle of the grocery.
• Both of these are items that are usually just fine for a good amount of time past the “best if used by” date.

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