House Salad Recipe

You can have the classic house salad you love at your favorite steakhouse right at home! Does it ever feel like your salads at home never taste quite like those restaurant side salads? This recipe will give you those tastes and textures you crave. 

What is house salad

A house salad is a simple, commonly found salad often served as an appetizer or side dish in restaurants. 

There is no exact recipe for house salads, but it does typically have the same ingredients across most steakhouses. 

This is a basic salad recipe you can keep in your pocket. It’s great for a quick side dish or top it with some protein for a full meal.

why you’ll love this houses salad recipe 

This easy, simple side salad is perfect alongside any meal. It even pairs well with Italian recipes and Mexican recipes. 

Not only is it easy and quick to make, but you can completely customize it to your preferences. 

what goes in salads

​These house salad ingredients will give you the closest to a side steakhouse salad. But you can always adjust them to your personal preference. 

• fresh romaine lettuce – I recommend stick with romaine or iceberg to give you a house salad like your favorite restaurant. It will also give you the best crunch. This is usually what is used in restaurants. 
• tomatoes – I like using cherry tomatoes, but you can also use grape tomatoes or chopped beefsteak tomatoes
• cucumber – I always use an English cucumber for the taste, texture, lack of seeds, and edible skin. You can also use a standard American cucumber, but I would recommend peeling off the waxy skin and removing the seeds.
• red onion – red onion is the go-to for a classic house salad. Soak the onion in ice water for a few minutes to reduce the strong flavor.
• cheddar cheese – cheddar cheese is the classic choice for restaurants. I like to use sharp cheddar, but you can use whatever cheese you like. 
• croutons – croutons will give you that great crunch! I like to opt for the garlic or parmesan flavors at the grocery store. 
• dressing – you can use whatever dressing you like, but homemade ranch is my go to!

how to make the salad

Once you have the right ingredients, it’s really simple to make this salad. It’s all about the assembly! 

1. ​Divide the ingredients between 4 individual salad bowls. 
2. Top them with your favorite dressing. 
3. Serve and enjoy with your favorite dish! 
4. You can make this salad in a large bowl. Let each person scoop out their portion with the main dish. 
5. You can also make this salad ahead of time. Keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve it. Just pop it in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Add some crunch to a steakhouse salad

​The variety of textures combined with a flavorful dressing are what give you the best results. 

Next time, try adding some extra crunch! You can add more croutons, tortilla strips, nuts, or even crispy onions. 

You can also get some crunch from fresh vegetables like chopped bell pepper.

Salad Dressing

The dressing really does make a difference when it comes to tasting like a restaurant style house salad. Most bottled dressings just don’t measure up to the taste. The dressing can really take it from a good salad to a great salad. 

You have a lot of great options for a quick and easy homemade dressing. 

• Homemade Buttermilk Ranch with Fresh Herbs
• Copycat Wingstop Ranch
• Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette (a combination of extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil) 
• Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing (funky blue cheese tangy dressing you’ll often find on a steakhouse wedge salad)

You could also pulse together some hummus, dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice in a food processor for a quick dressing. 

variations and alterations

You can replace any of the ingredients with your favorites. As written, it’s as close to a restaurant style house salad you can get. But feel free to customize it however you like!

Some options include:

• hearts of palm
• green olives
• goat cheese
• sunflower seeds
• artichoke hearts
• fresh mushrooms
• hard-cooked eggs
• cracked black pepper
• green onions
• crumbled bacon

tips and tricks

I like using chopped romaine to get that authentic house salad crunch and flavor from a restaurant. You could also use a combination of iceberg lettuce and romaine. 

Be sure to slice the red onion very thin so you don’t end up having too strong of an onion flavor. You can also soak the slices in ice water beforehand to remove some of that bite. 

FAQs

house salad vs Caeser salad

There are several differences between these two popular salads. 

Dressing: A house salad normally has a few options for dressings. They are typically ranch, honey mustard, blue cheese, or a vinaigrette. Caesar salads are known for their distinct garlic, anchovy based Caeser dressing. 

Greens: House salads typically have a garden mix, romaine, or iceberg lettuce mix while Caeser salads always have romaine lettuce. 

Toppings: House salads often have tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons, and cheese. Caeser salads are often more limited to croutons and Parmesan cheese.

Protein: A house salad can include protein like grilled chicken, eggs, and bacon bits. Caeser salads usually stick to grilled chicken or shrimp. 

more easy salad recipes

• Autumn Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Chicken Salad
• Rainbow Chopped Salad
• Grilled Peach Salad

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