A version of this salad was served (back in the day) at the Pizza Shop in the mall, where I spent most of my babysitting money. It was basically pizza toppings on top of iceberg lettuce with a house-made ranch. So good! Pizzeria House Salad has all the tangy flavors, with a yogurt ranch dressing.

This is the lightened up version. It’s still so delicious! Let’s start from the bottom and build our way up.

Pizzeria House Salad Ingredients:

Greens

Iceberg lettuce is crisp and cool, but it doesn’t have the nutritional kick that Romaine does.

Nutritionally speaking, romaine is deemed superior to iceberg. Romaine is packed with nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and good amounts of folic acid and magnesium.

MasterClass.com

Romaine is the green of choice for this salad, but anything would work. Another salad recipe that has romaine is Crunchy Tex Mex Salad. You’ll love it!

Veg

Cherry Tomatoes add a pop of color and a sweet acidic flavor to this Pizzeria Salad.

Protein

Any protein would work in here, but if you are going to choose one, choose the pepperoni!

Pepperoni

Now, pepperoni is fatty and salty (making it delicious). So use moderation with this protein. For an entree salad, 6 pepperonis are all you need.

There are a few healthier (and I use that term lightly here) pepperoni options these days. Turkey Pepperoni is lower in fat than regular pepperoni. However, it’s higher in salt.

Uncured pepperoni is what I look for. Nitrates are not good for our bodies. You can find both regular and turkey pepperoni in uncured.

Hard Boiled Egg

Hard boiled egg wasn’t in the version I had as a kid, but it adds a healthier protein. The egg also brings a richness to the salad. Not an egg fan? Sub 1/2 cup of beans: garbanzo or cannellini.

If you like this recipe, you’ll love my Artichoke Chicken.

Cheese

What’s the most used type of cheese at a pizzeria? Yep, Mozzarella! Thick cut mozzarella is the best. Sometimes grocery stores have the prepacked thick cut variety. If not, grate your own. It tastes better without that powdery anti-caking additive.

Condiments

This adds the tang! Black olives are a must. They are more mild than their green cousin.

Pepperoncinis (banana peppers) add the zip. Buy them in the jar whole or sliced, whichever you prefer. They come in mild, medium, or hot. Choose wisely.

Love the zip of pepperoncinis? You will love this Zippy Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer.

Crunch

In my younger years, at the mall Pizza Shop, I liked to crunch up a packet of club cracker and sprinkle that on top of this salad. This version has sunflower seeds. They are mildly nutty, crunchy, and delicious.

Healthier Ranch Dressing

Typically you would see a nice Italian vinaigrette on this type of salad. But no! We are going with RANCH. Why? Because everyone at some point, or still does, dip their pizza in ranch… Or maybe that’s just a Midwest thing?

Bottled Ranch

There are some really good bottled dressings in the refrigerated section at your local grocery store. Bolthouse brand has a delicious Yogurt Ranch. However, mine tends to expire before I can use it all.

Salads don’t have to be boring. If you like this salad recipe, you’ll love my post on 5 Healthy Salad Dressings.

Make Your Own Ranch

You can make your own easily:

• Plain Greek Yogurt
• Lemon Juice
• Ranch Seasoning (see below)
• Milk to thin it out

Using a ranch packet makes life easier. Hidden Valley is delicious. However, if you’re trying to reduce salt intake or illuminate food additives from your diet, make your own seasoning.

Homemade Ranch Seasoning

• 2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Dill (dried)
• 1/2 tsp. Basil (dried)
• 1 tsp. Chives (dried)
• 1-1/2 Tbs. Parsley (dried)
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/4 tsp. Pepper

Mix all the ingredients into a small, lidded jar, and shake. So easy!

Make it a dip, try this Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip recipe.

What pairs well with Pizzeria House Salad?

Pizzeria House Salad is great as an entree or a side salad! It pairs well with pizza and pasta (of course). It also goes terrific with chicken or steak.

Thanks for reading along. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you would like more healthy recipes like this one sent right to your inbox, sign up for my Recipe Drops. They’re always FREE.

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