Classic House Salad Made In Minutes

This classic house salad has everything you'd want in a salad. From the crisp lettuce and fresh vegetables, crunchy croutons, and delicious dressing, it's just so good. You'll want to make this recipe all the time, and since it's so easy, you can!

The Best House Salad

Think of the best house salad you've had. Maybe you remember the crispy greens, the tender cherry tomatoes, or the delicious dressing on top. Or maybe it was everything combined.

Well, this homemade house salad recipe has it all, and I have a feeling it'll become your go to salad recipe.

It's a simple salad, yet it's so satisfying. There's something about it that is so much better than any other salad, and if you serve it to a group, they'll think you actually got it catered from your favorite restaurant.

It's delicious just to eat alone, or you can have it with these Olive Garden breadsticks for the ultimate meal.

Why This Recipe Works

Easy to customize. You can drizzle this delicious salad with your favorite dressing or a homemade dressing like the one from this La Scala chopped salad. Either way, it keeps this house salad exciting and always caters to your taste buds.

Takes minutes to make. It's never been easier to make a simple house salad! Combine the ingredients, toss them with the dressing, and it's ready to eat.

There's less mess. This American house salad is essentially a one-bowl meal, and you can eat it out of the bowl that you make it in.

Perfect for meal prep. You can pre-mix the salad ahead of time, store it in an airtight container, grab a dressing, and have an easy lunch on the go!

Ingredients

This is a basic salad recipe with fresh vegetables and cheese. There's nothing special about the ingredients, but once they're tossed together, it's magical.

Check out all of the house salad ingredients:

• 4 cups mixed greens salad
• 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 ¼ cup cucumber cut into half moons
• 1 cup croutons, divided
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ cup of favorite salad dressing
• ¼ cup cooked and crumbled bacon

How To Make A House Salad

1. Mix the salad: Toss mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers in a large salad bowl. Add half of the croutons, onion, and half the cheddar cheese to the bowl. 

2. Drizzle the dressing: Drizzle the salad dressing of your choice over the ingredients and toss to coat everything in the dressing.

3. Top the salad: Top the salad with the remaining croutons, cheddar cheese, and add the bacon bits. Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving.

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Use any green leaf lettuce like romaine lettuce or butter lettuce to make the salad.
• Add more vegetables like shredded carrots, red onion, or sliced avocado.
• Change up the house salad dressing each time. I love making my own dressing with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, and a bit of salt and pepper. Or you can use this Texas Roadhouse ranch dressing.
• Add grilled chicken for some protein to make the salad more filling.
• Swap the cheddar cheese for crumbled feta cheese, parmesan cheese, crumbled blue cheese, or anything you want.

What To Serve With House Salad

There's no doubt this house salad can work as a main dish salad. But if you want to serve it as a side, here are some of my go-to dinner recipes that are just as easy to make as this house salad:

• Cheeseburger casserole
• Panko chicken tenders
• Panko breaded pork chops
• Shake and bake chicken
• Mac and cheese

FAQs About This House Salad Recipe

What is a house salad?

A house salad is a basic salad that's offered in US restaurants as the first course of the meal. You can pretty much find an American house salad at any restaurant, but they'll be slightly different depending on where you get it from. 

What is in a house salad?

Typically, a house salad is made with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cucumber. Some common toppings are cheese, olives, and nuts.

How long does house salad last in the fridge?

This house salad is best stored without dressing and in an airtight container. Place a paper towel on top, add the lid, and store it upside down in the fridge for up to 5 days.

What is the difference between a caesar salad and a house salad?

A caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce and only has cheese and croutons on it, mixed in a caesar dressing. A house salad is made with leafy greens with vegetables and is served with an array of dressings.

More Easy Salad Recipes

• Panera strawberry poppyseed salad
• Spicy southwest salad
• Chicken salad chick recipe
• Din Tai Fung cucumber salad