Made with olives, feta, tomatoes, lettuce, and a simple Greek Dressing, this Greek Salad is a copycat version of Panera Bread's Greek Salad that is easy to make and absolutely delicious.

Pair this Greek Salad with Homemade Lasagna or Easy Baked Rotini for a fabulous dinner or turn this salad into a simple healthy entree by topping it with Greek Chicken.

Bowl of Greek Salad next to cutting board with veggies.

A classic Greek salad is made with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, olives, feta, and onions dressed in olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano. That's right--not even lettuce is traditional in Greek salads.

But Panera's Greek Salad, and most Greek Salads sold at pizzerias and delis, are made with the addition of lettuce. And it is my personal favorite way to enjoy this salad.

My recipe for Tossed Greek Salad is made with lettuce, feta, tomatoes, and olives, a homemade Greek Vinaigrette, and mimics Panera's Greek Salad without the high price tag!

It is a simple, cost-effective recipe that brings Panera's Greek Salad to you!

Notes on Ingredients

Lettuce: I love to use a spring mix for vibrant, healthy greens, but chopped romaine or iceberg works, and is what you will find in Panera's Greek Salad.
Kalamative Olives: Use jarred, pitted Kalamative olives for the best flavor. This is not the time to use canned black olives.
Feta Cheese: Use a fresh block of feta and crumble it over salad or use pre-crumbled feta. Or omit the feta if dairy-free.
Tomatoes: I love to use cherry or grape tomatoes because they are bite-size and can be found ripe year-round, ensuring great flavor.
Shallots: Red onions are more traditional in Greek salads, but I love the mild garlic flavor of shallots. Feel free to use red onions in place of shallots--just soak red onion slices in cold water for 15 minutes to remove some of their sharpness.
Cucumbers: Choose an English cucumber or a garden cucumber. If using a garden variety, be sure to peel and seed the cucumber before dicing.
Croutons (optional): Homemade croutons add texture and bulk to this salad, but of course, are optional.
Pepperoncini Peppers (optional): For a burst of briny flavor and a bit of spiciness, add sliced pepperoncini peppers to this Greek Salad.
Homemade Greek Dressing: This recipe for homemade Greek Dressing is made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, garlic, and oregano. It is so easy to make and adds the perfect flavor to this tossed Greek Salad.

How to Prepare Tossed Greek Salad

Step One: Prepare Greek Dressing

In a medium bowl or large jar, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Using a Microplane, finely grate the clove of garlic over the vinegar mixture, then whisk to combine. Grating the garlic will help it to not overpower the dressing.
Slowly whisk in olive oil until combined.

Step Two: Assemble Salad

Wash, spin dry, and chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
Dice the cucumbers and slice the tomatoes, shallots, and olives.
To assemble this salad, combine the lettuce, tomatoes, shallots, olives, cucumbers, and pepperoncini in a large serving bowl.
Drizzle the greens and veggies with ¼ a cup of the salad dressing and toss to combine. Serve the remaining dressing to the side for people to add more as desired. This will keep this salad from being overly dressed and soggy.
Dish out the salad and top with feta and croutons and serve immediately.

Bowl of tossed Greek Salad with lettuce.

Prep-Ahead Instructions

Just like most salads, this Greek salad is best served immediately once assembled.

However, you can opt to get a jump start on preparation, by preparing the greens and Greek dressing in advance.

Wash and cut the vegetables as directed. Toss together and store the prepared greens and vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Prepare the salad dressing and store it in an airtight container. It will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Kristen's Tip

If you have leftover Greek dressing, store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It is delicious not only on salads but also as a marinade for meat or vegetables

Dietary Modifications

If serving anyone with food restrictions or sensitivities, I recommend leaving the croutons, feta, and pepperoncini peppers on the side of the Greek Salad for people to add as desired.

Without the feta, this salad is Dairy-Free and Vegan Friendly.
Without the croutons, this salad is Gluten-Free and Low-Carb.
The pepperoncini peppers add delicious flavor, but those with sensitive palates toward spice, may not enjoy them in their salad.

More Panera Copycat Recipes

If you enjoyed this Copycat version of Panera's Greek Salad, I would love for you to leave a comment and rating below.

Copycat Panera Greek Salad