In a fun, 50's diner-inspired fast food chain, you will find it. The famous Portillo's Chopped Salad. Famous for a reason, this salad is made chopped romaine, hunks of chicken, crumbled blue cheese, bacon, and bits of pasta all tossed in a slightly sweet, slightly tangy house dressing. This recipe shows you how to make this fan-favorite at home.
Why You'll Love this Portillo's Chopped Salad:
- Savory, sweet, crunchy, creamy. This salad has it all.
- It's a full meal on it's own. And it makes a great lunch or dinner.
- Super customizable, to fit your dietary needs and taste preferences.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients:
- Cooked Chicken & Bacon: For savory protein and crunch.
- Romaine Lettuce: The base of this salad. Chopped into small bite sized pieces.
- Ditalini Pasta: A small chewy pasta and what is used in the original recipe. If you are unable to find it, you can also use orzo.
- Gorgonzola Cheese: Creamy, tangy, type of blue cheese.
- House Dressing: A slightly sweet vinaigrette made of fridge and pantry staples.
Dietary Swaps:
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free small pasta, such as shells or elbows. For this recipe I used Gluten-Free Ditalini (made from corn) that I found on Amazon.
- Vegetairan: Omit the bacon and chicken or use plant-based versions. You can also add some bulk back into this salad with white beans, marinated mushrooms, or roasted red peppers.
- Dairy-Free: Omit the Gorgonzola cheese or use a dairy-free 'blue cheese'. For the dressing, use a dairy-free mayo such as Veganaise, and omit the Parmesan.
- Low-Carb/Keto: Skip the pasta to keep this salad keto-friendly.
Recipe Variations:
- Add Avocado: For some extra creaminess.
- Use Ranch Dressing: To make this salad more like a traditional Cobb salad.
- Add Some Spice: With a generous pinch of red pepper flakes or a few chopped pepperoncinis.
- Not a fan of blue cheese? Crumbled goat cheese or feta also work well.
How to Make Portillo's Chopped Salad:
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and let cool slightly.
- Whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a large bowl, combine chopped bacon, cooked pasta, romaine, green onions, tomatoes, red cabbage, Gorgonzola, and chicken.
- Drizzle with dressing and toss until well combined.
- Serve immediately or chill until ready to enjoy.
Tips & Notes:
- Let pasta, bacon, and chicken cool slightly before adding to the other ingredients to prevent wilting.
- For a true chopped salad, chop all ingredients quite small.
Storage:
- Without dressing, store salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Once dressed, finish the salad within 24 hours. Otherwise it will get too soggy.
More Salad Recipes You Will Love:
- Crunchy Romaine Salad
- Caesar Pasta Salad with Bacon
- Mediterranean Pasta & Kale Salad with Garlic Basil Dressing
- Columbia Restaurant's 1905 Salad
Recipe
Portillo's Chopped Salad
Made with chopped romaine, hunks of chicken, crumbled blue cheese, bacon, and bits of pasta all tossed in a slightly sweet, slightly tangy house dressing.
Ingredients
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon cooked and chopped
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- 3 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup red cabbage or coleslaw mix, chopped
- ½ cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbled
- 1 cup cooked chicken chopped
House Dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2-3 cloves
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Boil salted water and cook ditalini pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside to cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth. Chill until ready to use.
- In a large bowl, combine bacon, cooled pasta, romaine, green onions, tomatoes, red cabbage, Gorgonzola, and chicken.
- Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Let pasta, bacon, and chicken cool slightly before adding to the other ingredients to prevent wilting.
- Once dressed, finish the salad within 24 hours. Otherwise it will get too soggy.
- Nutrition information is an estimate only.
Nutrition
Calories: 375kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 19gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 3g
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Tried This Portillos Chopped Salad? I'd love to hear how it turned out! ⭐ Please leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others discover this super flavorful salad. Enjoy, and happy cooking! Follow me on Instagram and Subscribe to my newsletter more delicious recipes, travel inspiration, and behind-the-scenes content.
Must Love Garlic says
With the blend of blue cheese, bacon, and pasta, this is one of my favorite salads to make.