The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Craving a fresh, hearty salad that’s better than takeout? My Mediterranean chopped salad is the answer! After making this for countless cookouts, I’ve perfected the balance of crisp veggies, tangy dressing, and crunchy pita chips. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Olive Garden Salad and The Best Panzanella Salad.
Why This The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad Is Pure Comfort
- Crisp veggies and tangy dressing
- Easy to customize with your favorite ingredients
- Better than takeout and perfect for meal prep
What You'll Need for The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Romaine lettuce
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Red onion
- Kalamata olives
- Feta cheese
- Pita chips
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Dried oregano
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Chicken
- Optional: Shrimp
- Optional: Artichoke hearts
- Optional: Sun-dried tomatoes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Romaine lettuce: Iceberg or green leaf lettuce can be substituted.
- Kalamata olives: Black olives can be used as a substitute.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Good Grips Santoku Knife — Makes quick work of chopping veggies → See on Amazon
- OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner — Dries lettuce quickly and easily → See on Amazon
How to Make The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Prepare the veggies: Chop romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion. Drain and rinse olives if using canned.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine chopped veggies, olives, and feta. Pour dressing over the top and toss to combine. Add pita chips just before serving.
Cook's Tips for Perfect The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Tip: For a heartier salad, add grilled chicken or shrimp.
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid soggy lettuce by adding dressing just before serving. To make ahead, dress the salad without the pita chips and add them just before serving.
- Tip: Customize the salad with your favorite Mediterranean ingredients like artichoke hearts or sun-dried tomatoes.
Storing & Reheating The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the veggies and dressing up to a day ahead. Combine just before serving.
Freezing The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a tangier dressing, add more red wine vinegar to taste.
- Best substitution: Use your favorite salad greens in place of romaine lettuce.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the veggies and dressing up to a day ahead. Combine just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your dressing is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
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The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Romaine lettuce
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Red onion
- Kalamata olives
- Feta cheese
- Pita chips
Seasonings
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Dried oregano
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Artichoke hearts
- Sun-dried tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare the veggies: Chop romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion. Drain and rinse olives if using canned.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine chopped veggies, olives, and feta. Pour dressing over the top and toss to combine. Add pita chips just before serving.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a tangier dressing, add more red wine vinegar to taste.
- Best substitution: Use your favorite salad greens in place of romaine lettuce.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the veggies and dressing up to a day ahead. Combine just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your dressing is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: Prepare the veggies and dressing up to a day ahead. Combine just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 280
- Protein: 8g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 22g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sat. Fat: 5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad FAQs
Yes, prepare the veggies and dressing up to a day ahead. Combine just before serving and add pita chips.
Add a tablespoon or two of water to thin it out.
Yes, use your favorite olives or omit them altogether.
Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas for extra protein.
Crumble goat cheese or use crumbled blue cheese as a substitute.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try The Best Mediterranean Chopped Salad and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
