Bring the taste of Rich and Charlie’s Famous Salad to your kitchen with this easy copycat recipe! This salad includes a combination of fresh greens, veggies, parmesan, and a simple Italian dressing. With a few simple ingredients and a couple of steps, you can recreate this delicious restaurant favorite right at home!
If you love salads, you’ll love trying these ones next: Favorite Pasta Salad, Best Tossed Salad, and Steakhouse Wedge Salad.
Ever since I had my first Rich & Charlie’s Famous Salad, I’ve been obsessed with its refreshing blend of textures and flavors. I love a good chopped salad! The cool, crisp iceberg and romaine lettuce pairs perfectly with the salty pops of artichoke hearts and pimentos, while the addition of the parmesan cheese adds a subtle touch of creaminess and richness to the salad. The real star of the show, though, is the super easy Italian dressing! It’s tangy and addictive and made with just two ingredients: olive oil and red wine vinegar. Isn’t it amazing how something so simple can taste so good?
I knew I had to recreate this salad at home, and I’m excited to finally share this copycat version with you! This copycat recipe tastes just like the original salad from the restaurant, and it’s surprisingly so easy to make. You’ll have this yummy salad whipped up and ready to eat in no time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Restaurant Favorite at Home: Craving a Rich & Charlie’s salad, but don’t feel like spending money on eating out? This copycat recipe brings their iconic house salad right to your kitchen.
- Super Flavorful: Get ready for a salad packed with flavor! This famous salad is full of flavorful ingredients like artichoke hearts, pimentos, and parmesan mixed with a homemade Italian dressing.
- Easy to Make: Don’t be fooled by the restaurant-worthy taste! This copycat recipe is surprisingly simple to make. With a couple of ingredients and straightforward steps, you can create this delicious salad in no time. It’s perfect for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a potluck side dish.
Ingredients Needed
- garlic
- olive oil
- apple cider vinegar
- romaine lettuce
- iceberg lettuce
- artichoke hearts
- hearts of palm
- pimientos
- red onion
How to Make Rich and Charlie’s Famous Salad
- Slice garlic clove in half lengthwise. Rub cut sides of garlic clove over the inside of large salad bowl.
- Lightly whisk oil and vinegar and add garlic clove pieces that you used to rub the salad bowl. Set aside while you assemble the salad
- Place chopped lettuce into a large salad bowl. Layer sliced red onion, chopped artichoke hearts, chopped hearts of palm and chopped pimiento on top of lettuce.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of salad layers. Season with salt and pepper.
- Remove garlic from oil and vinegar mixture. Add dressing to salad to taste. Toss all ingredients and add additional dressing as desired.
Helpful Tips
- For that signature Rich & Charlie’s crunch, use a combination of romaine and iceberg lettuce. Tear or chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces to ensure a good mix of textures in every bite.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese is the way to go! Pre-shredded cheese uses weird fillers that can affect the texture and taste.
- For the best flavor, toss the salad together at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the dressing to meld with the ingredients and creates a better-tasting salad.
Storage Information
Unfortunately, Rich & Charlie’s salad recipe doesn’t keep well in the fridge for longer-term storage. However, we have a couple of steps for preparing the salad in advance.
- You can chop the red onion, pimentos, and parmesan cheese beforehand and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Assemble the salad right before serving. This ensures that the salad will taste fresh and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
This salad pairs well with a variety of different entrees, including sandwiches, soup, pasta, steak, chicken, and more! These are a few of my favorites that I recommend serving it with.
- Red Pesto Pasta
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Crispy Onion Butter Chicken
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Spaghetti Casserole
- Olive Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of lettuce?
Yes! But the combination of romaine and iceberg lettuce provides the closest texture to the original Rich & Charlie’s salad. You can experiment with other lettuces, like green leaf or butter lettuce, but it will change the taste and texture.
Can I add meat to the salad?
Absolutely! The recipe is vegetarian, but feel free to add sliced deli ham, salami, or grilled chicken for a boost of protein.
More Side Dish Recipes to Try
- Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- BBQ Green Beans
- Cheesy Potato Cabbage Casserole
- 5-Bean Baked Beans
- Sweet Potato Casserole