Panera Greek Salad & Dressing {Copycat}
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Make the famous Panera Greek Salad and dressing at home for a fraction of the cost. Packed with Mediterranean flavors and ingredients like feta cheese, pepperoncini and kalamata olives it has the same great taste as the original version.
In my opinion Panera Bread has some of the best salads around, like the Panera Thai Chicken Salad. The ingredients are always fresh and I’m pretty sure they make their dressings from scratch.
And their broccoli cheddar mac and cheese is always a winner. But if you’ve ever eaten there you know their menu can be a little pricey.
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We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
So I decided to make the copycat Greek Salad at home along with the homemade dressing. And if I say so myself, it tastes just as good as the Panera version. If you like a creamy salad dressing use my Greek yogurt dressing recipe.
The next time the craving strikes for one of their fresh salads, make it home instead. You don’t need to leave the house and your wallet will thank you! And if you’re a fan of the Greek flavors, try this easy Mediterranean wedge salad.
Since the warmer weather is setting in, salads are some of my favorite go-tos. Be sure to try my Quinoa Chickpea Salad, Zesty Italian Pasta Salad, Chicken Cobb Salad {with Homemade Vinaigrette}, Caesar Dressing without Anchovies and 12 No Cook Dinner Ideas.
I’m also obsessed with vintage salads like Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip and this Easy Creamy Grape Salad Recipe.
More Hearty Salad Recipes: Try our Homemade Taco Salad, Chicken Harvest Salad and Bok Choy Salad recipes for easy dinners.
Copycat Greek Salad Ingredients
For Panera Greek Dressing
- red wine vinegar
- olive oil
- dried basil
- dried oregano
- ground mustard powder
- sugar
- minced garlic
- salt and pepper
For the salad
- romaine lettuce – use a salad spinner to rinse & dry, then tear into bite-sized pieces
- grape tomatoes – cut these in half
- red onion – sliced thin
- pitted kalamata olives
- crumbled feta cheese
- pepperoncini peppers
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Panera Greek Salad Recipe
Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
Place the salad ingredients in a large bowl, then toss in the desired amount of dressing. Garnish with whole pepperoncini peppers before serving.
Tips for Making Greek-Style Salad
- If you are planning to have leftovers only add the dressing to single servings.
- Keep the remaining salad in the fridge for 1 to 2 days.
- The Greek salad dressing will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge. Shake before using.
- If you like a creamy dressing, use this easy homemade tzatziki sauce in place of the Greek vinaigrette.
- Add chicken, shrimp, or steak for protein and an easy main course meal.
- If you don’t like feta, replace it with shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese.
What To Serve Greek Salad With?
This salad goes great with any pasta recipe or stand alone protein. And it’s the perfect complement to a Greek burger with feta. Here are a few more of our favorite main dishes to serve with this copycat salad.
- Easy Cheesy Penne Pasta Bake Recipe
- Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
- Easy Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken
- Italian Grilled Chicken
Common FAQs
Yes, simply prep all of your veggies and the dressing. Store salad ingredients separately until you are ready to serve.
You can use any dressing you like. You can also purchase Panera dressings in grocery stores.
The salad is full of veggies, and the only downside is the sodium you may find in the olives. You can also mix in other greens like spinach to up the nutritional value. When it comes to the dressing, keep it a little lighter by dipping your salad fork in the dressing before spearing a bite of salad.
MORE FAMILY Favorite
Copycat Recipes
Panera Greek Salad & Dressing {Copycat}
Equipment
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Salad:
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 6-8 whole pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add dressing ingredients and whisk together. Set aside.
- Toss lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, olives and feta cheese in a large bowl. Add preferred amount of dressing and toss to evenly coat salad.
- Garnish with pepperoncini peppers before serving.
Notes
- Makes 4 side salads or 2 main dish salads.
- Add cooked chicken, steak or shrimp to make this a main dish salad.
- Store leftover undressed salad in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- The dressing will keep for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. Shake to reincorporate ingredients before using.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
