If you’re familiar with my Italian Chopped Sandwich and you’re looking for a low-carb option, you will love this Italian Chopped Salad. This salad takes just a few minutes to make and is incredibly satisfying. Although it’s not traditional, it uses fresh Italian ingredients that you may even already have on hand, including any sliced ham or cured pork, sliced cheese, and Italian seasoning.

What makes this salad so special is that every ingredient is chopped as finely as possible. This allows you to experience each flavor and enjoy a perfect bite every time. This Italian chopped salad is perfect for a picnic, school lunches, or even camping. You can prep all of the ingredients the night before (leaving the lettuce on the side so that it doesn’t get soggy) and assemble the following day.

If you feel like leveling up, you can absolutely make this into an Italian chopped pasta salad and add your favorite cooked, cooled small pasta shape of choice.

Italian Chopped Salad

The Modern NonnaThe Modern Nonna
I use iconic Italian ingredients, such as provolone, mortadella, prosciutto cotto, pepperoncini, which are accompanied by a creamy pepperoncini juice dressing. This salad takes 10 minutes from start to finish and I guarantee you'll be asking for more.
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • ½ head iceberg lettuce
  • 3 slices prosciutto cotto or any sliced ham
  • 3 slices mortadella
  • 3 slices provolone cheese
  • cup sliced pepperoncini (optional)

Dressing

  • 2 heaping tablespoons mayo, or to taste
  • Italian seasoning to taste
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons pepperoncini juice

Instructions
 

  • Chop the lettuce of choice into small pieces. Add it to a clean cutting board with slices of prosciutto cotto, mortadella, provolone cheese, and pepperoncini (if using).
  • With a big sharp knife, chop everything as small as possible. Note: You can transfer this into a bowl and add the dressing or simply add it on top.
  • Once finely chopped, add the mayo, Italian seasoning and the pickled juice from the pepperoncini jar.
  • Mix well and enjoy!
  • Note: You can definitely add more protein to it or use lean ground turkey to lighten it up.

Notes

What is Prosciutto Cotto? Prosciutto Cotto is an Italian ham that is salted and dry-cured. It is much more exquisite and healthier* than your regular deli ham but you can absolutely use any you any variety of deli ham . I recommend going to a local Italian bakery and getting good-quality meats for this recipe.
What is Mortadella? Mortadella is a large Italian sausage or luncheon meat made of ground meat-cured pork, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat. It is traditionally flavored with black pepper grains, but modern versions can also contain pistachios or, more rarely, myrtle berries.
How to prepare this for a picnic or camping: chop all of the ingredients finely and add them to a Tupperware making sure you leave the chopped lettuce separately so that it doesn’t get soggy. Assemble the following day or at your destination by mixing the lettuce with the rest of the chopped ingredients and mix in the mayo dressing.
If you want the sandwich version of this recipe, check my Italian Chopped Sandwich recipe here.
If you want a lighter version for the dressing, feel free to use yogurt instead of mayo or 1/2 mayo and 1/2 yogurt to balance it out.
Use any cold cuts you like or whatever you have on hand. Make this salad your own.
If you want to make this into a chopped pasta salad, boil your favorite small pasta shape of choice, let it cool and add it in. You may need to adjust the mayo and make it as creamy as you like. 
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4 Responses

  1. So good. Found the panini pak of deli meat at Costco has both the prosciutto cotto and mortadella (plus bonus capicolla) that works perfectly. Will be perfect for packed lunch

  2. 4 stars
    I made this for lunch today and it was delicious! I got my meats and cheese at Kroger. The mortadella was no problem, but the woman at the counter had never heard of prosciutto cotto so I had to make a quick substitution. Luckily I had read the notes to this recipe so I knew not to go with traditional proscuitto but rather a deli ham.

    I shared this with my three kids and they all loved it and asked me to make it again! My only complaint was it got watery very quickly. I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t dry the lettuce enough or maybe I went too heavy on the pepperocini juice. Regardless, I’ll be sure to make this again!

    1. Nice improvising, Blair! You really can use any kind of deli or cured meat you like here, and it sounds like it worked out! The wateriness could be due to wet lettuce, but in any case, be sure to serve the salad as soon as you’re finished preparing it — it will get soggy if it sits around.

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