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    Home » Recipes » Salads and Dressings

    Updated: Mar 26, 2025 · Published: Mar 4, 2022 by Cassie Waltman · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Antipasto Chopped Salad with Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips

    click here to get straight to the recipe

    Antipasto Chopped Salad is a flavor explosion with fresh and roasted vegetables, salami, cheese, olives, and more. This Italian chopped salad gets an extra special addition with Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips that add savory crunch to every bite. A dinner-worthy salad is a treat for busy nights with a quick prep and plenty of toppings to please all palates.

    The mixed salad is served on a black and white plate with a black fork.

    Who doesn’t love a platter of salami, marinated mozzarella, olives, roasted red peppers, artichokes, and more to snack on before a meal? Count me in! With this recipe, you get to take all of your favorite antipasto ingredients and turn them into a satisfying meal. Antipasto chopped salad can be made just the way you like it with your favorite ingredients, but follow the recipe below to get the salad of your dreams started.  Serve this up with a slice of Caprese Focaccia for a special meal.

    A big dinner salad is great all year round for a quick meal that’s got everything you love in one bowl.  Try this Crispy Halloumi Lentil Salad next with its hearty base of lentils and roasted cauliflower.

    Jump to:
    • Antipasto Chopped Salad Ingredients
    • Simple Salad Dressing Ingredients
    • Air Fryer Pepperoni Chip Preparation
    • Oven Pepperoni Chip Preparation
    • Chopped Salad Preparation
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Top Tip
    • Equipment
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make This Recipe Kid Friendly
    • Storage
    • Make Ahead Options
    • FAQ
    • Canned Chickpea Recipes
    • No-Cook Dinner Shortcut Recipes
    • Try It and Share
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Antipasto Chopped Salad Ingredients

    I include ingredient notes here when I think they’ll be helpful, including ways to source, any preparation tips, or why I've chosen a particular ingredient. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!

    Ingredients for the recipe are displayed in various bowls on a black surface and are labeled with withe text boxes including lettuce, marinated mozzarella, canned chickpeas, salami, tomato, olives, basil, pepperoni, roasted red pepper, and artichoke hearts.
    • Pepperoni - Any pepperoni will do, regular or turkey pepperoni have both crisped up perfectly in the air fryer.  I find pepperoni in both the refrigerated section near other cured meats as well as shelf-stable versions near pizza shells.
    • Salami - Choose your favorite salami for this recipe.  We prefer to slice salami on our own rather than use pre-sliced salami so that we can cut ½-inch cubes for added texture.
    • Marinated Mozzarella, Artichoke Hearts, and Roasted Red Peppers - These shortcut processed ingredients bring big flavor to your chopped salad with easy prep.  Marinated fresh mozzarella is found in the refrigerated section while you’ll find jars or cans of artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers in the canned food section of the supermarket.
    • Olives - Choose your favorite pitted olives for the salad, we opt for canned sliced black olives for the easiest prep.  Just drain them and add them to the salad!
    • Tomatoes - Remove the seeds from your tomatoes for the best texture.  You can use a plum or Roma tomato as well as regular slicing tomatoes here.
    • Lettuce - Choose a crisp lettuce for this salad that can hold up to all of the ingredients.  Romaine or iceberg lettuce work well.
    • Canned Chickpeas - Canned chickpeas are a favorite for easy addition to salads, soups, and sautes.  Drain and rinse them well.
    • Basil -  Fresh basil leaves are a terrific addition to the chopped salad, but tear or slice them right before adding them to avoid browned leaves.

    Simple Salad Dressing Ingredients

    Ingredients for the salad dressing are displayed on a black surface in various trays and bowls.
    • Olive Oil - Use a good quality olive oil that you enjoy the flavor of right from the bottle for this easy salad dressing.
    • Red Wine Vinegar - Red wine vinegar balances the olive oil with a subtle acidity.  You can substitute balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar.
    • Dried Oregano - Just a bit of dried oregano will flavor the dressing.  You can also use fresh oregano if that’s available.  You’ll need closer to 1 tablespoon of fresh finely chopped oregano to season the dressing.
    • Salt and Pepper - Use the amounts in the recipe card below as a guide and taste the dressing before adjusting the amounts as needed.

    Air Fryer Pepperoni Chip Preparation

    Air fryer pepperoni is a treat all on its own, but if you want the speediest, no-cook dinner feel free to skip the pepperoni chips.  You can dice up the pepperoni and add it to the salad right from the package!

    Pepperoni are placed on the air fryer basket in a single layer.

    Place the sliced pepperoni on the air fryer basket in a single layer.  Air fry at 425°F for 7 minutes.

    The air fried pepperoni reduce in size and are drained on a crumpled paper bag.

    When the pepperoni is done it gets smaller, darker, and the surface is bubbly with rendered oil.  Transfer it to a paper towel, paper bag, or a clean kitchen towel to drain.  It will get crisper as it cools.

    Oven Pepperoni Chip Preparation

    No air fryer? No problem!  You can also prepare crisp pepperoni chips in an oven preheated to 350°F.

    Pepperoni is be baked in the oven on a foil-lined baking pan.

    Line a baking sheet with foil and place the pepperoni on it in a single layer. Bake the pepperoni for 10 minutes.  Take the pan out of the oven and flip the pepperoni.  Bake for an additional 3-4 minutes.

    Pepperoni baked in the oven shrink in size and render out some fat on the foil-lined baking pan.

    The baked pepperoni shrinks a bit and the oil has rendered out.  Remove the slices from the pan and drain them on paper towels, a paper bag, or a clean kitchen towel.  They will get crisper as they cool.

    Chopped Salad Preparation

    The salad dressing is shaken in a lidded jar to combine the oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.

    Add the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper to a small jar and shake the ingredients to combine.  Alternatively, whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.

    marinated mozzarella and artichoke hearts are diced into pieced on a wooden chopping board.

    Drain both the marinated mozzarella (save that oil!) and the artichokes and chop them into ½-inch pieces.

    Salami, tomato, and roasted red pepper are diced on a wooden cutting board.

    Slice the salami into ½-inch rounds and dice those into cubes.  Chop the tomatoes into similarly sized pieces.  Slice the drained roasted red pepper into strips and then into squares.

    A white platter contains all of the salad components for serving DIY-style and it sits next to bowls of pepperoni chips and chopped lettuce on a black surface.

    Arrange all of the salad components on a platter alongside the dressing, pepperoni chips, and shredded or chopped lettuce and serve, allowing diners to mix their own salad.

    A close up photo of the salad served on a black and white plate next to a white platter of the prepared ingredients.

    Alternatively, mix all salad components together in a large bowl and plate individual servings.

    Substitutions and Variations

    The substitutions listed below have been tested in this recipe and work well. If you successfully make any other ingredient substitutions, let us know in the comments!

    • Use Italian Seasoning - Swap Italian seasoning or any blend of dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary in place of the oregano in the dressing.
    • Change the Cheese - Use shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, romano, or plain fresh mozzarella in place of the marinated mozzarella called for in the recipe. 
    • Chopped Salad Additions - Add even more flavor with chopped giardiniera, pepperoncini, thinly sliced red onion, diced ham, radicchio, cucumber, and more.
    • Use Roasted Chickpeas - Roast your drained and rinsed chickpeas with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, and salt at 375°F for 20-25 minutes for crispy chickpeas to add flavor and crunch to your chopped salad.

    Top Tip

    Use the oil from your marinated ingredients in your vinaigrette and in other recipes.  The oil pictured below was from the marinated mozzarella and contains herbs, spices, and seasonings that will all add flavor to the vinaigrette.  You can also use it as a marinade for chicken, beef, or fish, or as a finishing oil for grilled or roasted vegetables.

    The oil from the marinated mozzarella is flecked with herbs and spices.

    Equipment

    This recipe comes down to two tasks: lots of chopping and air frying (or baking!) to get that crisp pepperoni chip crunch.  Here are some notes:

    • Chef’s Knife - An 8- or 10-inch chef’s knife is an essential tool in any kitchen.  I use it for chopping, of course, but also for crushing garlic cloves on the broad side of the blade, preparing fruit, finely chopping herbs, and more.  I have some pretty expensive knives in my collection, but the one I’m reaching for most often right now is a plastic handled one from Gordon Food Service that is lightweight and fits comfortably in my hand.  It sharpens easily, too, which keeps it in constant use.
    • Air Fryer - This recipe was tested with a toaster oven style air fryer.  These have a wide mesh tray that accommodates all of the pepperoni at once.  Cooking times will vary from model-to-model, but if you have a smaller, basket style air fryer you’ll need to prepare the pepperoni in two batches to get truly crisp chips.

    Serving Suggestions

    You can toss all of the ingredients together and bring a big beautiful chopped salad to the table as a centerpiece or you can serve this antipasto chopped salad DIY style and let everyone build their own salad at the table.  Either way, round out the meal with some crusty bread or serve this salad as a side to grilled meats.

    A white platter of the salad components is placed alongside a bowl of pepperoni chip and plate of mixed salad.

    Make This Recipe Kid Friendly

    This salad is a perfect example of a DIY dinner that will be perfect for the whole family, even your pickiest eaters.  Bring the platter with all of the ingredients to the table and allow everyone to build their own plate.  You can add a few safe foods to the platter like chopped apples, a familiar cheese, or small crackers to help keep things familiar.  Check out this post on Keeping Peace with Picky Eaters for more ideas!

    Storage

    Once the salad is tossed with dressing, there’s not much you can do to save it for later without everything getting soggy.  To save a portion of antipasto chopped salad for the next day’s lunch, add the ingredients to a large airtight storage container in a specific order.  Place the dressing on the very bottom of the container.  Layer over the dressing the chickpeas, olives, cheese, meats, tomatoes, and peppers.  Sprinkle the lettuce over the top and just before eating toss (or shake) all of the ingredients together.

    Make Ahead Options

    Once you've chopped up all of the different components to this salad, you can add them to a platter and cover it with plastic wrap.  Chill it for up to a day to save time on prep when you need it.  The salad dressing can be stored in an airtight jar.  The only part of the recipe that should be prepared right before eating is the chopped lettuce and torn basil leaves to avoid any browning.

    FAQ

    Do the pepperoni need to be in a single layer in the air fryer?

    Yes, the pepperoni will cook up into a crisp chip best in a single layer in your air fryer.  If you don't have room for all of the pepperoni to be in a single layer in your model, cook the pepperoni in two batches.

    Can you use bottled salad dressing for the antipasto chopped salad?

    Absolutely use whichever Italian-style salad dressing you prefer in this recipe.  You can even toss your salad with a simple combination of oil and vinegar.

    What other ingredients can you add to the antipasto chopped salad?

    The sky is the limit when building your salad, just keep the ingredients you add in a similar size so that all the flavors can be captured in a hearty bite.  Add ham, pepperoncini, red onion, radicchio, cucumber, and more to make this salad your own.

    Canned Chickpea Recipes

    Canned chickpeas are ideal pantry ingredients that can add flavor, protein, and fiber to so many meals in minutes.  Here are a few recipes to try next that use canned chickpeas:

    • Shrimp, chickpeas, and diced red pepper sitting atop a bed of cous cous garnished with cilantro leaves and lemon.
      Garlic Paprika Shrimp Bowls with Chickpeas and Lemon
    • A shallow bowl of grains and carrots sits on a gray towel.
      Roasted Carrot and Chickpea Grain Bowls
    • A detail image of the chickpea stew shows the beans in an orange broth flecked with basil leaves, drizzled with olive oil, and garnished with fresh basil.
      Simple Speedy Chickpea Stew with Lemon and Basil
    • A close up photo of the texture of Greek Salad Dip in a white bowl.
      Greek Salad Dip

    No-Cook Dinner Shortcut Recipes

    Skip the air fryer and use the pepperoni right out of the package for a quick no-cook antipasto chopped salad dinner!  Try any of these other dinners that can be quick no-cook meals with a shortcut ingredient:

    • Baja Shrimp Cocktail
    • Chicken and Cabbage Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette
    • A shallow gray bowl is packed with a chopped salad with chunks of chicken, corn, tomato, and jicama visible.
      Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad + BBQ Ranch Dressing
    • Easy Chicken Pecan Salad piled in a wooden bowl with chunks of pecans and celery.
      Easy Chicken Pecan Salad (With 5 Variations!)

    Try It and Share

    I hope you try this Antipasto Chopped Salad with Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips and enjoy the recipe as much as I do. I want to see your results! Tag your photo with #planeatpostrepeat and mention me @planeatpostrepeat on Instagram or Facebook. I can give you a virtual high five and thank you for cooking one of my recipes! Comment below with any questions and please leave a review so others can find this recipe more easily.

    Recipe

    The mixed salad is plated on a black and white plate and has pieces of crispy pepperoni, chickpeas, olives, mozzarella, basil, pepper, and tomato visible.

    Antipasto Chopped Salad with Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips

    Cassie Waltman
    Antipasto Chopped Salad with Air Fryer Pepperoni has your Italian chopped salad favorites, an easy vinaigrette, and crisp pepperoni chips!
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Lunch, Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 614 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 air fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 oz. pepperoni
    • 7.5 oz. marinated mozzarella (drained, about 1 cup)
    • 3.5 oz. marinated artichoke hearts (drained, about ½ cup)
    • 4 oz. salami
    • 1 jarred roasted red pepper
    • 1 medium tomato
    • 6 oz. garbanzo beans (canned, drained and rinsed, about 1 cup)
    • ½ cup black olives (sliced)
    • 4 cups lettuce (chopped or shredded)
    • ¼ cup basil leaves

    Dressing

    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (ground)
    • ¾ teaspoon oregano leaves (dried)

    Instructions
     

    Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips

    • Lay pepperoni out on the air fryer basket in a single layer.
    • Air fry at 425°F for 7 minutes. Repeat if your air fryer doesn't have the capacity to lay out the pepperoni in a single layer.
    • Transfer the pepperoni to a paper bag, paper towels, or a clean kitchen towel. As they cool they will crisp up. Set aside.

    Antipasto Chopped Salad

    • Shake the dressing ingredients in a small jar or whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
    • Drain the mozzarella (save the oil!) and artichoke hearts. Quarter the balls of mozzarella and chop the artichokes into ½-inch pieces.
    • Slice the salami into ½-inch rounds and then dice it into cubes.
    • Drain the red pepper and cut it into ½-inch strips. Chop those into squares. Seed and dice the tomato into ½-inch pieces.
    • Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans and drain the olives.
    • Shred or tear the basil leaves into small pieces.
    • Arrange all of the salad components on a large tray alongside the pepperoni chips, salad dressing, and shredded or chopped lettuce. Serve the platter so each guest can prepare their own custom mix of ingredients.
    • Alternatively, toss all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl to distribute them evenly. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition facts are sometimes provided below and are calculated using an online calculator. With specific brands of ingredients and additions, omissions, or substitutions the nutrition facts may change. We encourage you to use your own nutrition facts caculator to obtain the most accurate nutrition facts for your meal.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 614kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 25gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 1657mgPotassium: 494mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1077IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 261mgIron: 3mg
    Share your results on Instagram!Mention @planeatpostrepeat or tag #planeatpostrepeat !

    More Salad and Dressing Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cassie Waltman says

      March 26, 2025 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      We love this salad all year round, but it makes a great addition to grilled chicken in summer!

      Reply

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    The salad is served on a black and white plate next to a white platter of the prepared ingredients. A white text box at the top of the image contains the words, " antipasto chopped salad with air fryer pepperoni chips" and "plan. eat. post. repeat."

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