20 Minute Classic Italian Salad

20 Minute Classic Italian Salad is the perfect way to enjoy your vegetables. Chop, prep, and store in your refrigerator for an easy weeknight dinner on a budget. Enjoy in 20 minutes or less!

What you need to make a Classic Italian Salad 

• Any vegetable
• Classic Italian meats: Ham, Salami, Pepperoni
• Oregano
• Italian Dressing

How To

20 Minute Classic Italian Salad ingredients are romaine lettuce, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, pepperoncinis, radishes, carrots, and onions.  At this time, chop and toss all vegetables in a bowl and mix. I gave in this dinner and added Salami, because my husband loves it!  I used black forest ham, pepperoni, and salami for the classic flavors. Secondly, to finish your salad prep, cut Italian meats into squares, dust with oregano seasoning. Third, cover your veggies with the seasoned meats and Italian dressing! The 20 minute Classic Italian salad is a life saver when you are tired from working all day.

Substitutions 

Provolone cheese, commonly found on Italian subs, was left off the ingredient list. Because of my sensitivity with lactose. If you have sensitivity to lactose, you can buy Daiya Provolone slices. Daiya Provolone is delicious and easy to digest. Additionally, Daiya Foods have many cheese options to offer that are delicious.

Ditch the processed pepperoni. Pepperoni has little to no protein and is loaded with salt. Instead, use Turkey pepperoni. It still has a salt added but it does contain more protein. So, you won’t be sacrificing your classic Italian salad flavors. Just remember, balance and portion is key!

Ditch the high in fat, salt loaded salami for a healthier choice. Although, pastrami is high in sodium it has more protein and it much lower in fat.

Leftovers for Lunch

I love a quick dinner that turns into a yummy lunch! Because I hate spending my Sunday meal prepping, so ditch the meal prep with me. In place of meal prepping, make delicious, vegetable loaded, healthy portioned dinners. Make sure you have enough leftovers for lunch the next day! So pull out the Pyrex, Tupperware or the butter container and fill it up! Because this delicious classic Italian salad then doubled as dinner and lunch. So no one has to stress about what is for lunch the next day!

I have this life style to a science. I plan my meals for the week, purchase specific foods, and freezer. All of this allows me to always have just what I need for dinner and lunch.

Print Recipe

20 Minute Classic Italian Salad

A savory vegetable loaded salad perfect for a quick weeknight dinner on a budget! You can even use it for leftovers for lunch the next day!

Prep Time20 mins

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Keyword: 20 minute dinner, Easy Dinner, Italian Salad, Leftovers for lunch, Loaded Salads, Substitutions, Weeknight dinner on a budget

Servings: 2 people

Author: The Healthy Classified- Melissa Griffin

Ingredients

• Romaine Lettuce and Kale
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Peperoncinos
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Black Forest Ham
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Oregano
• Italian Dressing

Instructions

• Chop the Romaine Lettuce and Kale to make a bed on plate
• Slice- Tomatoes, Onions, Carrots, and Cucumbers
• Cut Pepperoni, Salami, and Ham into squares
• Layer on bed of lettuce
• Dust with oregano
• Enjoy!

Notes

Ditch the cheese if you are sensitive to lactose. You can also replace with Diaya Provolone Cheese.

If you want a Spicy Italian Hoagie Salad use Capicola ham! It will be delicious. 

Check out the substitution list to make it healthier!  

Check out…

Vegetable Pasta Salad  is loaded with vegetables and great to take to any BBQ!

Tomato Cucumber Summer Salad is a mouth watering salad perfect as side dish or leftovers for lunch!