Copycat Maggiano’s Chopped Salad
This Copycat Maggiano’s Chopped Salad is a life changer. No really, life changer. Jorge has always turned up his nose when I have tried to make salad for dinner…joking it was too healthy. So this week, I decided I would make one for myself and also do a thin crust pizza on the side for him.
I gave him a tiny side of salad and a huge bowl for myself. Next thing I know, he was going back for seconds and then thirds…and then fourths! And I was SHOCKED when he asked me to start making this for dinner weekly. WHOA. I knew I had a winner. I made it again to photograph it and guess who ate another huge helping? Yup. He’s a chopped salad addict now.
I love love love this chopped salad from Maggiano’s. I order it every single time we go and I had a serious random craving for it. We don’t live super close to a Maggiano’s and haven’t been in probably close to a year, but I couldn’t get it out of my head.
We used to go to Maggiano’s a ton growing up for family dinners and Jorge and I even went there the night we got engaged (10 years ago this July – holy crap). So you can understand, I have a certain soft spot for their food.
I am proud to say this Copycat Maggiano’s Chopped Salad recipe is just as good – if not better – than the original. Crispy salty prosciutto, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy ripe avocado and tangy gorgonzola cheese make this salad divine. The creamy homemade vinagrette adds just the right finishing touch!
Oh and did I forget to mention — it takes less than 30 minutes to make!
For a party: arrange the salad with toppings in lines on top like I did in the first photo. Then when you are ready to serve, toss it all together and add the dressing!
Copycat Maggiano's Chopped Salad
Recipe Note: to pan fry prosciutto — you cook it just like bacon. In a frying pan over medium-high heat, cook prosciutto slices for about 30 seconds per side. Remove from pan and transfer to a chopping board. Let cool for 2 minutes and it will crisp up. Then just chop it up!
Ingredients:
Dressing:
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1⁄3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1⁄3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Salad:
- 3 romaine hearts, chopped
- 1 (10.5 oz) container cherry tomatoes, chopped
- 5 oz crumbled gorgonzola cheese (or blue cheese)
- 3 oz prosciutto, pan fried till crispy and chopped
- 1 large avocado, chopped
Directions:
- Dressing: In a food processor or blender, add all ingredients and process until smooth. Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to a week until ready to serve.
- Salad: In a large bowl, toss together lettuce, tomatoes, gorgonzola, prosciutto and avocados. Drizzle on top as much dressing as you would like and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
We don’t have a Maggiano’s anywhere by us, but needed a good dinner salad recipe. This looks wonderful!
I love this salad, and am so glad you made a version I can have at home. Definetly on menu soon!
Gorgeous salad!!! Perfect dressing. Love pancetta!
I can totally see why he is a fan of this! i love a good salad
This salad…um, I could eat this all day, everyday. Crunch, PANCETTA, flavor, THAT dressing…it has it all!
Chopped salads are my favorite. I love how you can get all the ingredients in one bite.
What a gorgeous salad! I cannot wait to make that dressing for sure!
I’m loving this salad! Can’t wait to try this one! Thank you for sharing!
I love me some Maggiano’s chopped salad! What a fabulous recipe!
When I am in the mood to be “Healthy” this recipe I will turn to! Thanks!
This is in no way healthy.
I saw nancy fuller I think off Food network make this last night and she added bacon (cooked) to a blender with the other ingredients to the dressing
I just googled and found this recipe with bacon salad dressing. Is this the one you are talking about? Sounds interesting! I will have to check it out!
http://foodnetwork.com/recipes/nancy-fuller/cobb-salad-and-bacon-buttermilk-dressing.html
This salad looks so good! I’m wondering if replacing the Gorgonzola with feta would be a mistake. We all really like feta, I’m not sure my family would like Gorgonzola. 🙂
Hmm. I worry that the feta and prosciutto combined would make it too salty…but it’s worth a shot! Gorgozonla really is mild though! My husband HATES blue cheese and he ate three bowls of this and it’s now in our weekly rotation!
Can you put the calorie and nutrition info please?
Hi Lin, I do not calculate nutrition information because it varies heavily on what brands of ingredients you use. I recommend using a program like sparkrecipes.com to calculate recipes. Thanks!
Approximately how many people will the above recipe serve? I would like to make it for a large group – approximately 8 people.
If it is for the meal – 2-3 people. If it is an appetizer I would say it would serve 6 people generously.
Hi Jessica, I love your blog. Made this copycat salad last night, but substituted blue cheese for the Gorgonzola and bacon for the prosciutto. It was wonderful — both my husband and I graded it as a “do over” — meaning I’ll do this again!
So glad y’all liked it Shelia!! Thanks for taking the time to come back and comment how it turned out. 🙂
If you want to be super authentic—Maggiano’s uses White Balsamic Vinegar. The rest is spot on!!
(I used to work there and made this dressing in 4 gallon buckets nearly daily). To make the house dressing extra creamy, slowly add the oil. VERY SLOWLY. I cannot stress that enough. I dropped the oil a couple of times because I was adding it so slow.
Thanks for sharing Alexa!!!
Do you use the white balsamic in place of both vinegars (red wine and white) or just one of them?
I can not thank you enough for this recipe! I was at Maggiano’s last week and had this salad and added chicken to it. I loved it so much! It was a bit pricey, $15.00. NOW I can make my own! I have not made this as yet. I’m not crazy about mustard, will it make a huge difference if I leave it out?
Hi Janice! If you like it at Maggiano’s, I would leave in the mustard. I promise you won’t taste mustard – it just adds to the overall flavor…just like at the restaurant! 🙂
This is the best salad I’ve ever eaten. And the best that suits my low carb diet. No doubt came to stay definitely in my menu. Again thank you very much Jessica.
I love healthy eating, especially if it is rich in good fats
Can this salad be consumed in the paleo diet?
Hi Receitas, I am sorry, I do not follow the paleo diet so I am unsure of the rules.
Made this a while back and doubled the recipe. Absolutely fantastic. A family favorite and definite keeper. Thanks for the recipe.
Made this tonight, and it was delicious! Used bacon and added chicken and a little more sugar, we’ll definitely make it again!
I have crumbled goat cheese in my fridge. Do you think I could sub it for the gorgonzola?
Of course!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOW our delight, gave me mouth water !!
How do you keep the lettuce crisp.? You
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Wow what a wonderful recipe, I never imagined it in a dish like this, I’ll make it look very good, I hope you keep posting recipes of this type.
How wonderful, I’ll write down and do it here at home, then I’ll tell you how it was!
Made this a while back and doubled the recipe. Absolutely fantastic. A family favorite and definite keeper. Thanks for the recipe.
OOOW very good
How wonderful, very good
I added chicken. The dressing was spot on!!! Delicious
Delicious recipe. Thanks
Another fantastic recipe, thank you for sharing this deliciousness.
Is that ok if I change to another type o cheese?
Very good healthy eating, especially if it is rich in good fats
simply perfect, thank you very much for the content.
Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful and very healthy salad recipe!!!
It’s definitely worth doing.
Wow what a treat, it’s a very healthy dish, I do low carb, I think I could easily put it on my menu
Thanks for sharing this informative and inspirational article.
Your blog is so amazing, i already subscribed to get more recipes on my email!!! Thanks for sharing!
I loved your article! Thank you
This was SO good! The dressing was amazing too and so easy. Homemade dressing always tastes better!
How do you keep the lettuce crisp.? You
I love this salad
Did you ever get an answer on whether to use White balsamic vinegar for both vinegars or just one? Had this salad recently at the restaurant and loved it. I really want to bring it to Christmas dinner.
I never got an answer so I just replaced the white vinegar with white balsamic vinegar. I thought the dressing was very good and did taste like what we had at Maggiano’s, although maybe a little bit more pepper than I remembered. The salad was a big hit at Christmas dinner.
Excelente, adorei estas imagens.
Muito bom, excelente!
Very Much!