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20+ Italian Salad Recipes to Brighten Up Your Meal

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

February 26, 2025

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5 from 1 vote

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Italian salads are known for their fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and simple elegance. From the classic Caprese salad to a crunchy radicchio salad. You’re guaranteed to find a perfect Italian salad here!

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These Italian salads are sure to be a hit with your friends and family! They’re easy to make ahead and will add a delicious touch to your next get-together. So, next time you’re planning an Italian-inspired meal, be sure to include one of these flavorful salads.

Buon Appetito!

PS – Don’t forget about these Italian appetizers, Italian soups, Italian sides, Italian desserts, and these 85+ delicious Italian foods too! And say cheers with one of these Italian cocktails.

The BEST Italian Salads to Try!

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Italian Chopped Salad
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Italian Chopped Salad
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Italian Radicchio Salad
This delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese. And, a special tip ensures that your radicchio won't be bitter!
Radicchio Salad
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Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons
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Cherry Tomato Salad
Overhead shot of brussel sprout caesar salad in white serving bowl with serving spoons.
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
This Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad is made with shaved brussels sprouts, homemade Caesar dressing, and baked croutons, offering a fresh and extra-crunchy take on a classic. Easy to make ahead of time and it pairs well with everything!
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
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Italian Grinder Salad (Chopped Sub Salad) 
Italian sub fans will adore this Grinder Salad. Inspired by the viral TikTok recipe, it’s a loaded chopped salad made with deli meats, cheeses, lettuce, fresh veggies, and pepperoncini peppers. A creamy vinaigrette ties it all together!
Grinder Salad
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Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad
This Kale Caesar Salad is topped with crispy homemade croutons and parmesan cheese. Massaging the creamy garlic dressing into the kale makes it extra tender and delicious.
Kale Caesar Salad
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Shaved Fennel Salad
This Fennel Celery Salad comes together quickly and has such a delicious light lemon-parmesan vinaigrette and wonderful crunch. It's the perfect side salad for rich and hearty dishes like pasta or braised short ribs.  
Shaved Fennel Salad
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Mediterranean Tomato Cucumber Salad
This Tomato Cucumber Salad features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed in a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette, every bite is bursting with refreshing Mediterranean flavors!
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Arugula Salad ready to be served.
The BEST Arugula Salad Dressing
This Arugula Salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette is my go-to green salad. The arugula has a peppery bite to it which pairs wonderfully with the acid in the vinaigrette. It’s the perfect salad for pairing with rich dishes.
Arugula Salad
Panzanella Salad
This panzanella salad has tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, cucumber and toasted bread cubes, all tossed in a homemade dressing. A fresh and light side dish.
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Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso
Not only is this the best brown rice salad recipe in terms of flavour, but it’s also highly a nutritious rice salad, boasting ingredients such as nutty brown rice, tomatoes, red onion, arugula, cucumber, fresh lemon juice, and more.
Italian Rice Salad
Italian Tuna White Bean Salad
Simple ingredients combine to make this Tuscan classic. Juicy fresh tuna pairs with beans for a Tuscan tuna white bean salad everyone will enjoy. It makes a tasty meal, whatever the season.
Italian Tuna White Bean Salad
Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese)
Traditional Caprese Salad Recipe (Insalata Caprese) made with alternating slices of juicy, ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil leaves, and olive oil. Naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, prepare this easy Caprese Salad in under 10 minutes and enjoy as a light lunch or dinner appetizer.
Recipe: The Forked Spoon
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Orzo Pesto Salad
This super easy orzo pesto salad will become your go-to fresh pasta salad. It’s as simple as mixing orzo with lots of herby pesto, tomatoes, cheese and olives, is fab for feeding a crowd, keeps really well and is full of Mediterranean flavours everyone will love.
Recipe: Dished By Kate
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Italian Octopus Salad Recipe with Potatoes (Insalata Di Polpo)
Italian Octopus Salad Recipe (Insalata Di Polpo)- The combination of flavors in this salad is beautifully balanced. Authentic and delicious!
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Tuscan Artichoke Salad
Tuscan artichoke salad with garbanzo beans, fire roasted peppers, and herbed vinaigrette! One of the simplest and most delicious salads.
Recipe: A Simple Palate
Tuscan Artichoke Salad
Antipasto Pasta Salad
Antipasto Pasta Salad with Herby Parmesan Vinaigrette. If you’re searching for a delicious pasta salad, look no further. This is the perfect quick fix salad that’s mayo-free, almost no-cook, comes together in minutes, and is great for warm weather picnics and BBQ’s.
Recipe: Half Baked Harvest
Antipasto Pasta Salad
Italian Tricolore Salad
This Italian Tricolore Salad combines the bold flavors of arugula, radicchio and Belgian endive to represent the colors of the Italian flag. They’re tossed with shaved parmesan and a zesty red wine vinaigrette for an unforgettable salad that comes together in 10 minutes!
Recipe: Flavor The Moments
Italian Tricolore Salad
Italian Couscous Salad
A Roasted Garlic Italian Couscous Salad that’s light and refreshing! We’re roasting garlic and tomatoes and adding them to pearl couscous with an easy Italian dressing, fresh basil, olives, and fresh mozzarella. The perfect spring side dish!
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Roasted Garlic Italian Couscous Salad
Potato Salad with Capers
This Potato Salad with Capers recipe is a creamy, salty, savory take on traditional potato salad. It’s tossed in a homemade mayo-mustard dressing with extra special bits of pickles, scallions and hard-boiled eggs.
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Italian Shaved Zucchini Salad
This light and vibrant Italian Shaved Zucchini Salad with Feta is a simple dish you can serve on the side of all of your summer favorites. Made with marinated zucchini ribbons, feta, and herbs, it’s a flavorful recipe you can whip up in minutes.
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Orange and Fennel Salad
The sweet citrus paired with the aniseed flavours of fennel makes this salad fresh, vibrant and full of flavour. Full of healthy ingredients and quick to prepare, this orange and fennel salad is a great go to dish.
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Orange and Fennel Salad
Burrata Caprese Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes
This burrata caprese salad is the perfect Summer salad, featuring slices of fresh heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata and fresh basil leaves.
Recipe: Our Nourishing Table
Burrata Caprese Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes

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Full Recipe

20+ Italian Salads to Try

Italian salads are known for their fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and simple elegance. Try this delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese.
5 from 1 vote
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Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Breadcrumbs:

  • 2 thick slices crusty sourdough bread (cut into large cubes (2 heaping cups))
  • 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin oil
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Salad:

  • 2 medium heads radicchio (about 1 pound)
  • ⅓ cup chopped Castelvetrano olives
  • 1 ounce parmesan (finely grated)

Dressing:

  • 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
  • 1 large garlic clove (grated or minced)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Discard any browned outer leaves of the radicchio. Quarter the heads, and cut into them at a diagonal to remove the core. Cut into bite-sized pieces. Add radicchio to a salad spinner or a large bowl. Fill bowl with ice water and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, make the breadcrumbs. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Toss until evenly coated. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the bread is brown and crisp. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop the cubes on a cutting board or process in a food processor to make coarse crumbs.
  • Make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a small mason jar or small container. Shake to combine, or whisk. Taste, and adjust seasonings with additional salt and pepper, or sugar.
  • Drain the radicchio and spin it dry or pat dry with a large dish towel. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Add olives, parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1mg
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5 from 1 vote

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2 responses

  1. Ice
    November 1, 2023

    5 stars
    What a wonderful round up of Italian salad goodness. I cannot wait to try them all.
    So much inspiration all in one place.
    Cheers!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 2, 2023

      Thank you!

      Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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