Fresh Greek Salad is a must-try and one of the healthiest salad recipes! It comes together fast and is loaded with cucumber, tomato, and avocado, with tangy bites of olives and feta cheese. You will fall in love with the homemade Greek salad dressing. 

I could eat this salad as a stand-alone meal paired with some fluffy and crisp Focaccia Bread. Sometimes we add gyro meat or grilled chicken if serving it as a dinner salad.

Greek Salad Recipe in a bowl with Greek dressing on the side

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One of my readers, Ella Z. shared this recipe with us years ago and I’m so glad she did. Here is her story of how this Greek Salad was born is: “The person that taught us this recipe was here on a visit from Israel, we kept cooking different kinds of dishes and he said “please stop cooking for me and take me to the market” lol He bought all these ingredients and made this salad and we have never been the same since!”

Greek Salad Video Tutorial

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Greek Salad Ingredients

Greek Salad is basically a Mediterranean salad. It’s naturally gluten-free (although I’ve been known to sprinkle in some crunchy croutons) and typically combines fresh ingredients like crisp cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, red onion, kalamata olives (or black olives), and feta cheese.

The simple lemon, olive oil, and garlic dressing make every bite memorable. This salad is a staple not only in Greece but throughout the Mediterranean region.

Ingredients for Greek Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, kalamata olives and feta cheese

Pro Tip: Buy kalamata olives that are already pitted for easier salad prep. Sometimes you can even buy them pre-sliced.

Greek Salad Dressing

The Greek salad dressing is so easy and flavorful – you will want it on all of your salads! You might recognize it from some of our most popular recipes like Chicken Avocado Salad, this Cucumber Avocado Salad, or healthy Tuna Salad. The ingredients for Mediterranean dressing are so simple but each ingredient is important so be sure to use:

  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice (not from concentrate)
  • A good extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh garlic (not powder or pre-chopped garlic)
Greek salad dressing pouring onto Greek salad

How to Make Greek Salad

For gatherings or dinner parties, I arrange all of the salad ingredients on the platter for a beautiful presentation then add dressing and toss it all together just before serving.

  1. Prep Lettuce: Chop, rinse and spin dry lettuce and arrange over the bottom of a salad bowl.
  2. Prep Veggies: Chop and arrange the remaining ingredients (avocado, tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, onion, and cucumbers) over the salad, then sprinkle on Feta Cheese.
  3. Make the Greek Salad Dressing: shake all of the dressing ingredients together in a mason jar. Just before serving, drizzle over the salad to taste and toss to combine.
How to make Greek salad prepared in a mixing bowl with dressing in separate container

Common Questions

What is the best feta cheese for a salad?

You can use just about any feta for this salad and it will be tasty. We prefer block-style feta cheese like the one we used for Feta Pasta. Also, look for feta made of sheep’s milk which is creamier with a lighter taste.

How to crumble feta cheese?

The fastest way is to break it up with your hands into small pieces. It literally takes seconds to crumble feta. If you want to keep your hands clean, you can cut them up with a knife or use a fork.

Can I make this a lettuce-less Greek salad?

Yes, you can omit the lettuce, but we love Greek salad with lettuce because it bulks up the salad to feed a crowd. If omitting lettuce, be sure to add more of the other fresh ingredients.

Make-Ahead Salad Tips

Whether you are assembling this Greek salad for meal prep, to-go lunches, or planning for a party, these tips will keep your green salads vibrant and fresh:

  • For crisp lettuce, rinse your romaine lettuce in cold water, then use a salad spinner to dry completely. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Prep and refrigerate most of your salad 3-5 days in advance except for tomatoes and avocados which are best added fresh.
  • Add dressing just before serving. The salt in the dressing can cause the salad to wilt.
Salad made ahead before adding dressing

Our Favorite Greek Recipes

If you love fresh Mediterranean flavors, these are a must-try!

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Greek Salad Recipe with Lemon Dressing

4.98 from 76 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Greek salad ingredients arranged in mixing bowl with greek salad dressing on the side
This Greek Salad is a must-try! It is one of the healthiest Mediterranean salad recipes, naturally gluten-free and full of fresh, raw veggies. You will love the healthy Greek Salad dressing. So delicious and guilt-free! 
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 people as a side salad

Greek Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 romaine lettuce head, chopped
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 bell pepper, (any color), chopped
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (or slice heirlooms when in season)
  • 1 English cucumber, sliced
  • 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced into thirds
  • 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Greek Dressing Ingredients:

Instructions

  • Rinse, chop and spin dry romaine lettuce and transfer to a large salad bowl. 
  • Add remaining salad ingredients to the bowl: sliced red onion, sliced bell peppers, halved tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced avocado, kalamata olives, and feta cheese.
  • Combine all Greek dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake to combine. Just before serving, drizzle dressing over the salad to taste and toss to combine.

Nutrition Per Serving

203kcal Calories9g Carbs4g Protein17g Fat4g Saturated Fat16mg Cholesterol587mg Sodium355mg Potassium3g Fiber3g Sugar1065IU Vitamin A27mg Vitamin C116mg Calcium0.8mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Greek Salad Recipe with Lemon Dressing
Amount per Serving
Calories
203
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
16
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
587
mg
26
%
Potassium
 
355
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
9
g
3
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
1065
IU
21
%
Vitamin C
 
27
mg
33
%
Calcium
 
116
mg
12
%
Iron
 
0.8
mg
4
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Keyword: greek salad, mediterranean salad
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 203

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Lee Andra White
    January 27, 2024

    I haven’t had a recipe of yours I didn’t love, but this is a go-to all the time for me. Delicious!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 27, 2024

      I’m so glad to hear that!

      Reply

  • Diana Koziol
    June 3, 2023

    I added dry oregano and 1 tbls of red wine vinegar. delisious.
    thank you.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 3, 2023

      You’re welcome! So glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Debra
    May 19, 2023

    Hello Natasha, I cannot wait to make this salad. It looks delicious! I will be bringing it to a Church luncheon. It will sit first in fridge for about 1 hour. Then sit out for people to serve themselves. Will the avocado do all right? Not turn brown?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 19, 2023

      Hi Debra! Yes, that should be fine. The lemon juice in the dressing will help with that. You can also keep the avocado out and then cut and add it in before it’s served if it’s going to be several hours from when you made the Salad. I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Donna
    October 26, 2022

    Yummy. Have never had a salad I liked more. I love garlic so did 2 cloves. Not fond of Olives so did not put them in the salad. So very good!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 26, 2022

      Truly the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Donna!

      Reply

  • Connie
    October 9, 2022

    Such a refreshing salad that we liked and enjoyed. The combo of ingredients come together nicely with the lemon dressing. Even if it isn’t authentic Greek, it sure reminded me of the many Greek salads I ate all over Greece last summer. Thanks Natasha for a trip down memory lane!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 9, 2022

      You are very welcome, Connie. It is my pleasure and I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try from us!

      Reply

  • Harriet Tsokanos
    July 22, 2022

    I really love your recipes but sorry, you’re off on this one. There’s never lettuce in a Greek salad and certainly never avocado. Avocados started appearing in some high end super markets in Greece about 10 years ago. The dressing is always just a tiny bit of vinegar, not lemon juice and never garlic.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 23, 2022

      Thank you for your feedback, Harriet! I hope you try our version soon!

      Reply

    • Rene
      April 3, 2023

      She NEVER said it was an authentic one from Greece
      It’s just a version if a Mediterranean salad

      Reply

  • Arlene
    July 17, 2022

    Love this salad. One thing, are your aware that your recipes are blocked by ads on your page. The ads cover up most of the recipe so you can’t read it. Just FYI.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      July 18, 2022

      Hi Arlene, I’m so glad you love the salad recipe and thank you for that wonderful feedback. That should not be the case with ads and I would like to get that fixed asap. What device are you viewing the page on and what browser? i.e. iPhone on safari?

      Reply

  • Carrie
    June 21, 2022

    This is a great recipe, I’ve made it several times. We make a meal out of it by adding grilled salmon. So delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 21, 2022

      I bet this is so good with salmon! Great idea, Carrie! I’m glad you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Anita
    June 10, 2022

    I have never reviewed a food recipe blog post till today because…Natahsa!! I’ve never been one to like salads until recently, and I’d much rather make mine than pay for it at a restaurant. I hosted my first dinner today featuring ground turkey meatballs as appetizers, Nigerian Jollof rice and oven baked suya chicken as the main dish, and chocolate chip banana bread as the dessert. I wanted to make a salad but didn’t know which so when my sister recommended Greek, I started looking up recipes and stumbled on Natasha’s. I’ve tried a few of her salad recipes in the past and they were a HIT! So, naturally, I was drawn towards hers. I made this salad rushed and presented it beautifully to my guests as designed. From the presentation to the taste, they were in awe!!! The dressing was the icing on the cake for real! I added dried oregano leaves to my mix. Some of my guests enjoyed the salad even without! I had 2 helpings because it was just that good! And that lemon! I have never liked citrus in my salad till today! Everyone had second salad helpings. It paired beautifully with the meal and was so filling! The Avocado kept it moist and creamy too! I wish I could add photos/ videos to this review. It looked and tasted delicious!!!

    Thank you Natasha!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 11, 2022

      Hi Anita! That is wonderful to hear. Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad that it was enjoyed. In the future, you can tag me in a picture on Facebook or Instagram at #natashaskitchen. I would love to see a picture!

      Reply

  • Tracey
    May 28, 2022

    Not only is delicious, it’s so pretty! Had it for dinner last night with some grilled chicken with enough left for lunch today without the chicken. And the dressing couldn’t be any easier – I was surprised at how much flavor it had! Thanks for another winner!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 28, 2022

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Tracey!

      Reply

  • Shelly Zbar
    May 27, 2022

    made your banana bread recipe yesterday adding chopped walnuts and raisins. My husband hates banana bread and ate 3 pieces already. Thank you.
    I love and use a lot of your tips.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 27, 2022

      I’m so happy you both enjoyed that, Shelly! Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Silvia Lyons
    May 25, 2022

    I have loved and used your recipes for a long, long time. I like to print favorites for easy access (old school!); however, when did it become necessary to download OneLaunch to print your recipes? I’m afraid you are going to lose me on this one.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 25, 2022

      Hi Silvia, you should not need to download anything to print my recipes. I recommend clearing your cookies and check your printer settings. The print friendly recipe is at the bottom of each post. Once you scroll there, click on the print icon in that recipe card which will open a print screen, then you would need to click file —> print. I hope that helps! If not, please let me know exactly what steps you are taking and where you are navigating to print our recipes.

      Reply

  • Linda Bowen
    May 11, 2022

    I don’t care for Feta Cheese- what could I use instead? The rest of the salad sounds great.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 11, 2022

      Hi Linda, another crumbly texture cheese would be best but feel free to experiment with different cheeses.

      Reply

  • Beverly
    March 1, 2022

    I am not a big vegetable eater, but I’m trying to add more to my diet. I absolutely love this salad. Made it with everything but the feta cheese, I will try that next time. This dressing is great. Thank you Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 1, 2022

      Thank you for sharing your feedback with us, Beverly. Yes, please try this salad with feta cheese next time. We usually love it that way!

      Reply

  • Ursula Simpson
    October 4, 2021

    I didn’t think lettuce was in a Greek salad?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 4, 2021

      Hi Ursula, it really rounds out the salad and it’s so satisfying with lettuce. It becomes a chopped Greek Salad.

      Reply

  • Patricia Celis
    September 3, 2021

    This salad was a hit!, my kids love it. Thanks

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 3, 2021

      That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Susie Forbis
    August 29, 2021

    I will have to try this! It looks amazing! What brand of feta cheese do you use?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      August 29, 2021

      I think it was Athenos, but I also love the organic one at Costco sold in blocks that I crumble by hand.

      Reply

  • Nancy
    July 25, 2021

    This hit another home run with my family. We make it a meal by adding chicken breast sprinkled and cooked on the grill with Cavender’s all purpose Greek seasoning- such a great healthy meal for the whole family

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 25, 2021

      Hello Nancy, that’s wonderful to know! Thank you so much for your review and for sharing your feedback.

      Reply

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