Chopped Greek Salad
This Chopped Greek Salad is packed with romaine, feta, olives & chickpeas. A healthy main dish or side salad with tangy Greek dressing. Try it tonight!
More glutenFree recipes worth saving: Greek Chickpea Salad, Sun-Dried Tomato, White Bean, & Artichoke Pesto Pasta Salad, and Apple, Grape, and Candied Pecan Salad with Maple-Mustard Dressing.
Why This Chopped Greek Salad Is My Go-To Summer Salad
When the weather warms up, I start craving big, bold salads, and this Chopped Greek Salad hits every note. It brings together all my favorite Greek ingredients: crisp romaine, cool cucumber, briny olives, creamy feta, and a tangy homemade Greek dressing in one bowl. I love that it works as a hearty main dish salad or a simple side salad alongside grilled chicken or lamb. Every time I serve it, friends ask for the recipe, and I’m happy to share.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Healthy Salad
- All your favorite Greek flavors in one bowl, no need to make multiple sides.
- Comes together in minutes with no cooking, perfect for hot days.
- Easy to customize with extra protein or different veggies.
Key Ingredients for an Authentic Greek Salad Recipe
- Feta cheese, Look for feta packed in brine, not pre-crumbled. It’s creamier and more flavorful. You can crumble it yourself or cut it into cubes.
- Kalamata olives, Always buy pitted olives to avoid biting into a pit. They add a briny, rich flavor that defines this salad.
- Artichoke hearts, Use canned or jarred artichoke hearts, drained and quartered. They’re not traditional in Greek salads, but I love the extra texture and tang.
Kitchen Tools for Chopped Greek Salad
- A large mixing bowl for tossing everything together.
- A small jar or bowl with a whisk for making the Greek dressing.
- A sharp chef’s knife for chopping the romaine, cucumber, and bell pepper into even pieces.
- A salad spinner to dry the lettuce thoroughly (wet lettuce dilutes the dressing).
Tips for Making the Best Chopped Greek Salad
To keep the salad crisp, make sure you dry the romaine lettuce well after washing. Any excess water will make the dressing watery and the greens soggy. I also recommend chopping all the vegetables into similar-sized pieces so every forkful has a bit of everything.
The dressing can be made up to a week ahead and stored in the fridge. Just shake it well before using. When you’re ready to serve, toss the salad with just enough dressing to coat the ingredients lightly, you can always add more. Serve immediately for the best texture.
How to Keep Your Chopped Greek Salad Crisp
The key to a crisp chopped salad is to dress it at the last minute. The vinaigrette will wilt the lettuce and soften the vegetables if it sits too long. I like to prep all the ingredients, wash and chop the lettuce, slice the cucumber, halve the tomatoes, and store them separately in the fridge. Just before serving, I toss everything together with the dressing and add the pita chips right at the end so they stay crunchy. This way every bite is fresh and vibrant.
Chopped Greek Salad Variations to Try
This salad is easy to adapt. For a heartier main dish, add grilled chicken, shrimp, or lamb. If you’re vegetarian, the chickpeas already provide protein, but you can also add hard-boiled eggs or extra beans. To make it dairy-free, skip the feta or use a vegan feta alternative. You can swap the romaine for mixed greens or spinach, and use any color bell pepper you have on hand. For a low-carb version, omit the chickpeas and pita chips.
What to Serve with Chopped Greek Salad
This salad is substantial enough to be a main dish on its own, especially with the chickpeas and feta. I like to serve it with warm pita chips on the side for crunch. If you’re using it as a side salad, it pairs beautifully with grilled chicken souvlaki, lamb chops, or a simple piece of fish. A dollop of tzatziki on the side adds a cool, creamy element that complements the tangy dressing.
How to Store Leftover Chopped Greek Salad
This salad is best enjoyed right after tossing with the dressing. If you have leftovers, store the undressed salad components in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing in a separate jar. When you’re ready to eat, toss the salad with the dressing again. Note that the lettuce will soften over time, so it won’t be as crisp as the first day.
Chopped Greek Salad FAQs
Can I use regular tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes?
Yes, you can chop any ripe tomato into bite-sized pieces. Grape or cherry tomatoes are convenient because they’re sweet and hold their shape, but regular tomatoes work fine. Just drain any excess juice to keep the salad from getting watery.
How can I make this salad dairy-free?
Simply omit the feta cheese or use a dairy-free feta alternative made from tofu or nuts. The rest of the salad is naturally dairy-free, including the dressing (which uses olive oil and vinegar).
Can I add protein to make it a full meal?
Absolutely. Grilled chicken, shrimp, or lamb are classic additions. You can also add canned tuna or hard-boiled eggs. The chickpeas already provide some protein, but adding meat makes it more filling.
Recipe
Chopped Greek Salad
Chopped Greek Salad made with romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, red onion, feta cheese, and a simple Greek dressing. Serve as a main dish salad or side salad, the flavors are incredible!
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup olive oil
- 0.333 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 0.5 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 6 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 seedless cucumber, chopped
- 1 pt grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 14 oz artichoke hearts, chopped
- 0.5 red onion, chopped
- 0.5 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 14 oz chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 6 oz feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
- homemade pita chips
Instructions
- 1
First, make the Greek salad dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper, artichokes, red onion, kalamata olives, chickpeas, and feta cheese. If you are using the homemade pita chips, break them up into the salad or you can use store bought pita chips. Drizzle the salad with the Greek dressing and toss until all of the ingredients are well coated. Serve immediately.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calorie breakdown
How this was calculated — 16 of 17 ingredients matched
Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.
Open in analyzerKeyword: gluten-free, glutenFree, healthy, No-Cook, nutFree, vegetarian
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