Nani's Italian Chopped Salad

Name: Nani's Italian Chopped Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce; 1/2 cup diced ham; 1/2 cup diced salami; 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained; 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, diced or shredded; 1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced; 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; Salt and black pepper to taste

This fresh and crunchy chopped salad is a perfect copycat of the classic restaurant favorite.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Italian· July 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

0 minutes

Total

15 minutes

Serves

There is something so satisfying about a salad where every single bite has a little bit of everything. This Italian chopped salad is one of my absolute favorites because it is packed with salty meats, creamy cheese, and tangy pepperoncini for a real flavor punch.

I love serving this for a quick lunch or as a side dish for pizza night. My best tip is to chop all your ingredients into bite sized pieces so they stay nicely mixed with the dressing in every forkful.

🧺 Ingredients

4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1/2 cup diced ham
1/2 cup diced salami
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, diced or shredded
1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
In a small jar or bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
2
Place the chopped romaine lettuce into a large serving bowl.
3
Add the ham, salami, chickpeas, mozzarella, and pepperoncini on top of the lettuce.
4
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well coated.
5
Sprinkle with the fresh basil and serve immediately.

💡 Tips

Store the dressing separately from the salad if you plan on keeping leftovers to prevent the lettuce from wilting. This salad keeps well in the fridge for up to one day if the dressing is added right before you eat.

#salad #italian #healthy #lunch #gluten free

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.