Olive Garden Salad (Vegan Copycat Recipe)
This Vegan Olive Garden Salad tastes just like the restaurant classic, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, spicy pepperoncini, crunchy croutons, and the signature creamy-tangy Italian dressing. It’s quick to make, perfect for serving a crowd, and perfect paired with a bowl of pasta.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- ½ head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 2 - 3 Roma tomatoes sliced
- ½ small red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup whole pitted black olives
- ⅓ cup pepperoncini peppers left whole
- 1 cup vegan croutons (see notes for homemade)
- Vegan parmesan to taste
Olive Garden–Style Dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ¾ teaspoon sugar (or maple syrup)
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Add the olive oil, vegan mayo, vinegar, nutritional yeast, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a jar. Shake well (or whisk in a bowl) until fully combined.
- Assemble: To a large salad bowl add the romaine, iceberg, tomatoes, red onion, black olives, and pepperoncini.
- Dress and serve: Toss with the dressing right before serving. Top with vegan croutons and vegan parmesan and serve.
Notes
Vegan Croutons: To make your own croutons, cube bread and toss it with a drizzle of olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through or until golden and crispy.
Make-ahead tip: The dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge. The salad is best prepared fresh and tossed with the dressing right before serving so it doesn’t get soggy.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving (recipe makes 6 servings) | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 442mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 9556IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg
Find it online:
https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/olive-garden-salad/Scan the QR code for updates, tips, and to ask me any questions!
