What Makes This a Loaded Greek Salad?
I took some liberties and enhanced a traditional Greek salad. This loaded version is loaded with extra goodies. Namely, the addition of artichoke hearts, garbanzo beans, and creamy avocado gives it a leg up on classic Greek salads. I wouldn’t want to have a Greek salad any other way from now on. This salad has so many awesome and amazing textures and flavors in every bite. Crunchy red onions and cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, chewy artichokes, buttery garbanzo beans, creamy avocado, and salty olives and feta. The Greek salad dressing adds so much tangy, sharp flavor and really is a big time flavor powerhouse. When you look at the big bowl of ingredients and the relatively small quantity of vinaigrette, you’ll wonder how it can flavor everything in that bowl, but it can and does. It’s such a filling and flavorful salad that you never feel like you are ‘missing’ a thing.
What’s in a Greek Salad?
For this loaded Greek salad, you’ll need:
Red onion Cucumber Tomatoes Black Kalamata olives Artichoke hearts (I used Trader Joe’s frozen that I allowed to thaw) Garbanzo beans Feta cheese Avocado
For the Greek salad dressing, which is actually much more along the lines of a vinaigrette, you’ll need:
Olive oil Red wine or balsamic vinegar Lemon juice Dijon mustard Dried oregano Salt and pepper Sugar (optional)
This isn’t sponsored in any way, but every single item I used above is from Trader Joe’s. Just pointing that out for easy one-stop-shopping if you have one in your area.
How to Make Greek Salad
For the salad itself, simply chop up the veggies and toss them together in a bowl. For the dressing, add all ingredients except the sugar to a small bowl and whisk vigorously to combine. Taste, and optionally add the sugar. If desired, add a final drizzle of olive oil over the salad, and serve immediately.
What to Serve with Greek Salad
You can enjoy this Greek salad recipe on its own or alongside a heartier main. Here are a few ideas for what to serve with this Greek salad:
20-Minute Oven Baked Chicken Breasts Grilled Lemon Chicken Honey Dijon Salmon Sweet Chili Grilled Chicken Grilled Steak Kabobs Baked Chicken Nuggets with Honey Mustard Kicked Up Cornflake Chicken
Greek Salad Variations to Try
Most salad and vinaigrette recipes are pretty flexible and these are no exceptions. Ideas and suggestions:
Add red or green bell peppers Add green onions Use cherry, grape, or another favorite tomato Use marinated feta cubes Use another kind of olive such as fancier ‘olive bar’ olives Adjust the olive oil-to-vinegar ratio to your liking, such as more oil and less vinegar Swap grainy mustard for Dijon Use a champagne vinegar Add garlic to the vinaigrette
Tips for the Best Greek Salad
The salad is naturally gluten-free and vegetarian. If you could find a vegan swap for the feta cheese and omit the Dijon mustard and use a grainy mustard instead, this would become a vegan recipe. I indicated that the salad serves 8 and if you’re serving it with other things, that’s totally reasonable. However, if you’re just having this salad, I would say it serves four. Of course, appetites vary, so your mileage may vary with the yield. After being dressed, I suggest consuming the salad as soon as possible. However, it will keep airtight for up to 3 days in the fridge noting that it will become more watery as the vegetables release their juices and the avocado oxidizes.
More Healthy Salad Recipes:
30 Best Easy Healthy Salads — Looking for easy salad recipes that are both filling and flavorful? The 30 healthy salads on this list are the BEST salads you’ll ever eat!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Mediterranean Cobb Salad — This Mediterranean salad easy, healthy, accidentally vegetarian, ready in 10 minutes, and you can easily size the recipe up if you’re making it for a larger group!
Chicken Gyro Salad with Tzatziki Sauce — Chicken gyros transformed into a healthy salad with an easy homemade tzatziki sauce that’s loaded with tangy dill flavor! Ready in 20 minutes!
Greek Pita Chip Salad — Greek salad just got a makeover! Still uses classic ingredients like red peppers, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta but now there are pita chips for extra crunch and texture! Easy, healthy, ready in 10 minutes!
Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo – EASY, ready in 25 minutes, and feeds a crowd!! Juicy lemon chicken with orzo, fresh spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes make this a dinnertime WINNER! Great for parties, picnics, and potlucks!!
Lemon Basil Orzo and Vegetables – An EASY vegan recipe ready in 30 minutes that makes it easy to eat your veggies while enjoying the comforts of pasta, too!! The lemon and basil make the dish taste fresh and light!!
Chicken Orzo Salad – Juicy chicken tossed with orzo, tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and a super flavorful lemon vinaigrette! Easy, healthy, ready in 30 minutes, and a perfect way to use your garden fresh veggies!
Balsamic Chicken Caprese Salad – Juicy chicken coated in balsamic along with plump tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil! Easy, healthy, ready in 15 minutes! The caprese salad you’ll make again and again!
