This pizza salad is packed with fresh ingredients and crunchy textures, and is a new favorite way to enjoy the nostalgic flavors of pizza while keeping it light and fresh. It's super easy to make, delicious, and you won't even miss the pizza crust.
I love a good bowl that brings all the flavors of favorite foods into easy salads. Like my Spring Roll Salad With Peanut Butter Dressing (inspired by the fresh flavors of Vietnamese spring rolls), this homemade pizza salad brings a slice of Italy to your table, but in a much easier and healthier way.
No kneading pizza dough here, and we're keeping it also low-carb. Instead, a delicious homemade Italian dressing flavors a crisp lettuce-based dish that is tossed with briny black olives, juicy cherry tomatoes, vegan sausage, and some of your other favorite vegan pizza toppings. Crunchy croutons are added for that craveable bread element. It's perfect as a main course or a hearty side salad, and makes a great addition to your weeknight dinner rotation. Plus, it's definitely a crowd-pleaser for outdoor pizza parties!
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Ingredients To Make This Salad Pizza:
To make this salad pizza bowl, you'll need the following ingredients.
- Romaine Lettuce: Crisp lettuce is the base. Chop it finely for the best texture, similar to my Vegan Crispy Rice Salad.
- Green Bell Peppers: They add a colorful and crunchy addition that adds brightness.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Juicy and sweet, they're a must for any pizza salad.
- Red Onion: Finely chopped to add a sharp bite and vibrant color.
- Black Olives: For that briny flavor that reminds you of classic Italian salads.
- Mushrooms: Slice thinly to blend easily with the other salad ingredients. They add a meaty texture and savory flavor, like in my One Pot Vegan Lasagna Soup.
- Banana Peppers: For a bit of tang and zip.
- Vegan Mozzarella: It adds creaminess. You can use shredded or cubed.
- Fresh Basil: This herb adds a fragrant touch that ties the whole thing together.
- Vegan Sausages: They're sliced and pan-seared until golden brown.
- Croutons: Use your favorite crunchy croutons or make homemade ones with breadcrumbs.
- Dressing Ingredients: Olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic make the whole salad pop!
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make It:
Everything is so easy to make, and it's a great recipe for when you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen but crave something fresh yet delicious.
- Cook the Vegan Sausage: Slice into rounds and cook over medium-low heat with a drizzle of olive oil until golden. Set aside to come to room temperature.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, black olives, banana peppers, vegan mozzarella, and fresh basil. Toss in the cooled sausage and crunchy croutons.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl or separate container, whisk together the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Gently shake or stir to emulsify.
- Dress and Serve: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat every bite. Serve immediately to keep the lettuce crisp!
Top Tips:
- Meal Prep: You can easily make this pizza salad in advance, but store the salad and dressing separately in an airtight container until ready to serve to avoid a soggy texture.
- Chop Everything Evenly: Try to dice your veggies and vegan sausage into uniform, bite-sized pieces. It helps distribute flavor in every bite.
- Cool the Sausage Before Tossing: Let the sausage come to room temperature before adding it to the salad. It keeps the lettuce crisp and prevents the other ingredients from wilting.
- Dry Your Greens Well: After washing the romaine lettuce, make sure it's fully dry (a salad spinner helps) to prevent a soggy salad.
- Use Room-Temperature Dressing: Let your dressing sit at room temperature for a few minutes before tossing to help everything coat more evenly and allow the flavors to meld. You can also use other homemade dressings, like the one I make for my Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad. It's similar in flavor, and you might already have the ingredients on hand.
- Season to Taste: Don't be afraid to add an extra pinch of black pepper, garlic salt, or a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving to brighten up the salad even more.
- Make it More Filling: Bulk it up with an extra sausage or toss in some cooked pasta or chickpeas for a heartier version. Or serve it along a thin-crust pizza on pizza nights.
Variations And Substitutions:
Just like with a regular pizza, you can always customize it by adding your favorite pizza ingredients and toppings. Here are a few of my suggestions.
- Peppers: Swap banana peppers for pepperoncini peppers. Instead of green peppers, opt for red peppers or yellow bell peppers for a sweeter flavor.
- For a Classic Pizza Finish: Sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese or a dash of garlic salt.
- Additional Toppings: Add artichoke hearts, cannellini beans, or garbanzo beans for extra fiber.
- Add Some Heat or Bold Flavors: Infuse the salad dressing with garlic powder, black pepper, Dijon mustard, or red pepper flakes for a next-level flavor.
- Instead of White Balsamic Vinegar: Use what you have on hand. White wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or some lemon juice can all work.
Storage:
- Store the salad and dressing separately in airtight containers.
- Keep the salad in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Note that the lettuce and croutons may lose some of their crunch.
- The dressing can be stored in a jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Give it a good shake before using.
- For best results, add the croutons and dressing just before serving.
Equipment Needed:
- Sharp Knife and Cutting Board: To chop the veggies.
- Large Mixing Bowl: To toss the salad.
- Medium Skillet: For cooking the sausage.
- Small Bowl or Jar: To make and store the dressing.
- Salad Tongs or Two Large Spoons: For tossing and serving.
- Large Salad Bowl: For serving.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! While romaine lettuce gives the best crisp texture, you can use a mix of spring mix or iceberg if preferred.
Absolutely. For meal prep, keep the salad ingredients, croutons, and dressing in separate containers and combine just before serving.
Try pepperoncini peppers, red peppers, or even chopped pickled jalapeños if you like a little heat!
Yes, cooking brings out more flavor and gives the sausage a slightly crispy texture that adds so much to the pizza salad.
More Amazing Vegan Salad Recipes To Try Next:
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you try this Delicious Chopped Pizza Salad Recipe, I'd really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!
Delicious Chopped Pizza Salad
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
Salad:
- 3 heads romaine lettuce chopped
- 1-2 green bell peppers diced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ red onion finely chopped
- ⅓ cup vegan mozzarella shredded or cubed
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 cup croutons of choice
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- 1 cup mushrooms thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup banana peppers
- 4 vegan sausages sliced into rounds
Dressing:
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
Instructions
Cook the sausage:
- Slice the vegan sausages into rounds and cook them in a skillet over medium heat until golden and heated through. Set aside to cool slightly.
Chop and combine:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, green bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, red onion, black olives, mushrooms, banana peppers, vegan mozzarella, and fresh basil.
Add sausage and croutons:
- Toss in the cooked, sliced sausage and your croutons of choice.
Make the dressing:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic until emulsified.
Toss and serve:
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well coated. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and crunch.
Related Vegan Italian Recipes:
Make sure to check out some of the other vegan Italian recipes on my website!
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