Chopped Salad Recipe: 3 Serving Ideas

A chopped salad is a main dish or side dish with a base of chopped lettuce and various toppings depending on personal preference and availability. A vinaigrette or another salad dressing coats all of the salad ingredients, and each bite has a little bit of everything.

Use the tips below to make a fresh and flavorful chopped salad:

1. 1. Add a variety of textures. Lettuce, fresh vegetables, nuts, and seeds provide a crunchy texture. Protein, such as tofu, chicken, or shrimp, and cheese, like feta, cheddar, or mozzarella, add softer textures. Include a variety of these textures in one salad, along with croutons or seasoned breadcrumbs, so the palate stays interested.
2. 2. Chop all of the salad ingredients into small pieces. The idea of a chopped salad is that every bite has all of the ingredients in it. Cut the ingredients into a small dice, including the lettuce and protein. Shred cheese or crumble it, so it’s the same size as everything else.
3. 3. Pick a theme for the salad. For an Italian chopped salad, add marinated artichokes, radicchio, romaine, salami, pepperoncini, cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese in a red wine vinaigrette or Italian dressing. Make a Greek salad with chopped lettuce, red onion, chickpeas, grilled chicken, feta cheese, and kalamata olives in a creamy yogurt dressing. Whatever the theme is, use complementary flavors and textures.

Try any of the three chopped salad serving options below:

1. 1. Serve a chopped salad as a side dish. Keep the salad toppings and dressing light and serve it alongside the main course. If the main course is heavier, go with a light dresser and fewer salad toppings, but if the main course is on the light side, choose a creamy dressing and add more bulk to the salad with croutons or beans.
2. 2. Serve a chopped salad as an antipasto. The first course in a traditional Italian meal, antipasto (plural: antipasti) consists of multiple small plates of food that people pick from to create an appetizer plate. Serve a chopped salad along with cured meats, cheese, roasted red peppers, and more.
3. 3. Top a chopped salad with protein. Make a chopped salad as the main course by topping the salad with a grilled chicken breast, chicken salad, steak, or salmon. Alternatively, use tofu, seitan, or plant-based meat.