Chopped Greek Salad
- By Amy Dong
- Updated May. 10, 2025
This Chopped Greek Salad is my go-to summer salad with fresh romaine, crisp veggies, and a tangy red wine dressing. It’s light, flavorful, and comes together in 15 minutes.
In This Article
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
This Chopped Greek Salad brings back memories of meals in Greece with my husband decades ago. Here’s what you’ll love:
- Fresh, Crunchy, and Bright: Crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, and cool cucumbers give this salad that perfect summer bite. It’s simple, refreshing, and full of texture, a lot like my Crunchy Thai Salad.
- Bold, Tangy Flavor: The red wine vinegar dressing adds just the right punch. Paired with briny olives and salty feta, every forkful is full of flavor.
- Make it a Full Meal: Greek salad is a healthy side dish, but also makes a satisfying meal with Juicy and Tender Grilled Chicken Breast or 10-Minute Garlic Shrimp.
- Stays Crisp Longer Than Most: This recipe is reminiscent of the Greek salads I had with my husband in Greece. It’s light, vibrant, and always with fresh romaine, like my Best Creamy Caesar Salad.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Romaine Lettuce – Crisp and refreshing, romaine lettuce forms the hearty base of this salad and holds up perfectly to the bold dressing.
- Cucumber – Cool, crunchy cucumber brings a juicy texture that keeps each bite light and fresh. Go for Persian cucumbers but English will work just as well.
- Tomatoes – Chopped tomatoes add natural sweetness and a juicy burst of flavor in every bite.
- Feta Cheese – Salty and creamy, crumbled feta ties all the Mediterranean elements together and adds richness to the salad.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – This forms the base of our dressing, bringing richness and smooth body to the salad.
- Red Wine Vinegar – Red wine vinegar adds acidity and tang that perfectly balances out the dressing.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations:
- Lettuce Swap: Romaine adds crunch, but feel free to use mixed greens, iceberg, baby spinach, or even arugula for a peppery bite.
- Tomatoes: Use grape or cherry tomatoes for a sweeter, less watery alternative, no need to seed them. Heirloom varieties work great in summer.
- Cucumbers: Persian and English cucumbers are seedless and have thin skins, so they’re ideal, but regular cucumbers work too – just peel and seed them well.
- Olives: Kalamata olives are the classic choice, but black olives, green olives, or a blend of both can be used depending on what you love or have on hand.
- Cheeses: Feta is traditional, but you can also try crumbled goat cheese for a creamier texture or a vegan feta-style cheese for a dairy-free version.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use, then whisk again before serving.
- Toss all salad ingredients except feta with desired amount of dressing. Chill up to 2 hours, then top with crumbled feta and serve.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Assemble Ahead of Time: Chop all salad ingredients (except feta) and store them in the fridge up to 1 day in advance. Toss with dressing and chill up to 2 hours before serving. Add feta just before serving to keep it fresh.
- Make the Dressing Ahead: The dressing can be made several days in advance. Store it covered in the fridge and whisk well before using.
What To Serve With Chopped Greek Salad
Chicken and Shrimp
- We love topping our Chopped Greek Salad with Honey Lime Shrimp or Lemon Pepper Shrimp. The flavors pair perfectly with the bright, tangy dressing.
- It also goes great with Asian Chicken Skewers, Easy Teriyaki Chicken, or some Grilled Shrimp Kabobs for a fresh, protein-packed meal.
Mains Dishes
- Sheet Pan Roasted Greek Chicken with Garlic Potatoes is a natural match for this salad. The Greek flavors tie everything together for a hearty, satisfying dinner.
- It also goes great as a side to Grilled Pork Tenderloin or Perfectly Cooked Steak.
Sandwiches
- We like serving this salad alongside Smoked Salmon Pinwheels for a light, elegant lunch. The briny salmon and herby cream cheese work so well with the crisp veggies.
- It also goes great with Olive, Bacon, and Watercress Sandwiches for a bold, savory combo that feels like a café-style meal.
Pastas
- Pasta Primavera is one of our favorite pairings – it’s loaded with veggies and makes for a bright, fresh plate alongside the salad.
- It also goes great with Lemon Garlic Pasta or Bruschetta (Tomato Basil) Pasta when you want a little carb on the side without overpowering the freshness of the salad.
Did you make this?
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Chopped Greek Salad
This Chopped Greek Salad is my go-to summer salad with fresh romaine, crisp veggies, and a tangy red wine dressing. It's light, flavorful, and stays crisp for hours.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 large cucumber, peeled/seeded, and chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- ½ cup red onion, chopped
- ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers, chopped
- ¼ cup sliced olives, your favorite variety
- ¼ cup parsley, freshly chopped
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
For the Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.
- Toss together all salad ingredients except feta cheese. Toss gently with desired amount of your prepared dressing. Cover and chill up to 2 hours. Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve.
Notes
- Pre-crumbled feta cheese can sometimes be dry and lacking in flavor. Opt for block feta and crumble it yourself for a creamier texture and a more authentic Greek salad.
- Dressing can be made several days ahead of time. Be sure to whisk/mix it up again right before use.
- Want to keep your salad fresh and crunchy? Add the dressing right before serving. This will prevent your lettuce from wilting and your cucumbers from getting soggy.
- This recipe is part of our Mediterranean Recipes Collection.
- This salad is great served as a side or by itself, but you can also turn it into a full meal by topping it with some Juicy and Tender Grilled Chicken Breast or 10-Minute Garlic Shrimp.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 748mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2019IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg
Commonly Asked Questions
What is a chopped salad?
A chopped salad means all the ingredients are diced into small, uniform pieces so that every bite includes a little bit of everything. It’s easy to eat with a fork or even scoop with chips!
What kind of lettuce is best for Greek salad?
Romaine lettuce is the go-to! Make sure it’s finely shredded—it adds the perfect crisp texture and blends beautifully with the other chopped ingredients.
How long does this Chopped Greek Salad keep?
If you have already dressed the salad, it’s best to consume it within 2 hours to maintain the freshness of the ingredients. If you have leftover undressed salad, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Add the dressing and feta just before serving.
More to Cook And Eat
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- Southwest Chopped Salad – This Southwest Chopped Salad is a fun, festive, and refreshingly delicious salad that’s intensely bright and colorful, both in looks and flavor.
- Pomegranate Salad with Pears – This Pomegranate Salad with Pears is the perfect holiday salad, teeming with crispy crunchy candied nuts, luscious fresh pears, and beautiful pomegranate seeds.
- Wheat Berry Salad – This Wheat Berry Salad is the perfect blend of toothsome, flavorful, and healthy.The secret? It’s all about the dressing that’s sweet, tangy, and drizzly perfection.