Recreate the Legendary Taste: The Ultimate Ruth’s Chris Chopped Salad Copycat Recipe

There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes with mastering a beloved restaurant dish in your own kitchen. For many food enthusiasts, “copycat recipes” are the holy grail – a chance to unlock the culinary secrets of their favorite eateries and bring those iconic flavors home. While I’ve only ventured into the world of copycat recipes a couple of times, my experiences have been nothing short of amazing. The first triumph was recreating KFC’s famous coleslaw, which turned out to be an exact match for the original. And now, I’m thrilled to share my latest success: a spot-on copycat recipe for the truly legendary Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Chopped Salad. I confess, I’m usually a skeptic when it comes to claims of perfect duplicates, but with these two recipes, I’m batting a thousand!

If you’ve had the pleasure of dining at a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, you’ll understand why their chopped salad holds such a special place in the hearts of many. For my family, it’s unequivocally our top choice for a steakhouse experience. We’ve enjoyed countless flawless meals at their Greenville, South Carolina location, and without fail, alongside a perfectly cooked steak, we always order the Ruth’s Chris Chopped Salad. Its vibrant colors, incredible textures, and unforgettable dressing make it an essential part of the meal. I’ve yearned to prepare this exquisite salad myself for ages, and today, that dream became a delicious reality.

This Salad is Beyond Delicious! A Must-Share Culinary Gem! ♡

I can confidently say that if this isn’t the precise secret recipe for the Ruth’s Chris Chopped Salad, it’s remarkably close – so close, in fact, that my taste buds are utterly convinced. It’s truly a delight, capturing the essence and complexity of the original with stunning accuracy. Every bite delivers a symphony of flavors and textures, making it an incredibly satisfying dish.

Unveiling the Exquisite Ingredients in the Ruth’s Chris Chopped Salad Copycat Recipe:

The magic of this chopped salad lies in its carefully curated combination of fresh, high-quality ingredients, each playing a vital role in creating its renowned flavor profile. The foundation is a trio of crisp lettuces: vibrant spinach, slightly bitter radicchio, and refreshing iceberg lettuce, all finely chopped to ensure a perfect mix in every forkful. This verdant base is then enhanced with a delightful assortment of chopped elements that bring both flavor and texture.

Imagine tender artichoke hearts, adding a subtle tang and earthiness, mingling with briny green olives that provide a delightful pop of flavor. Hard-cooked eggs contribute a rich, creamy element, while hearts of palm introduce a unique, delicate sweetness and a tender bite. But the star savory components don’t stop there: generous amounts of thick, crispy bacon infuse the salad with its irresistible smoky, salty crunch. Finely sliced red onion offers a sharp, pungent contrast, and crumbles of robust blue cheese (or Italian gorgonzola) deliver a tangy, piquant kick that elevates the entire dish. Finally, for an unexpected yet utterly addictive textural sensation, crispy dried onion rings are sprinkled throughout, providing that satisfying crunch that makes this salad truly stand out.

No great salad is complete without an exceptional dressing, and this Lemon Basil Dressing is nothing short of perfection. It’s wonderfully creamy yet refreshingly light, boasting a delicate tang from fresh lemon juice and an aromatic brightness from freshly chopped basil. A touch of salt and pepper balances the flavors, and for an added layer of savory depth, I always include a hint of garlic powder. The combination of these elements creates a dressing that perfectly complements every ingredient without overpowering the salad’s natural freshness.

One of the most appealing aspects of this salad, beyond its incredible taste, is the fantastic textural experience it offers. My husband and I are avid fans of “crunch” in our salads, and this recipe delivers in spades, particularly with the crispy dried onion rings and the substantial bits of thick, flavorful bacon. These elements create a delightful contrast to the softer ingredients, making each bite an adventure. In fact, I’m already envisioning adding some slivered almonds the next time I prepare it for an extra nutty dimension to that beloved crunch. Now that I have this incredible recipe, I guarantee it will be a recurring favorite on our menu, made again and again!

The beauty of a properly chopped salad is that every single ingredient, including the dressing, is distributed evenly. This means that with each bite, you get a harmonious blend of all the flavors and textures simultaneously, creating a truly unified and exceptional culinary experience.

A Thoughtful Tip from Julie, a Valued Reader of LBVC: Julie, one of our insightful readers, suggests a helpful adjustment for those who prefer a more subtle lemon flavor or less tartness in their dressing. Her advice is to decrease the initial amounts of lemon juice and sour cream in the dressing. The key is to add these two ingredients slowly, tasting as you go, until you achieve your personal preferred balance of creaminess and citrus tang. Julie also wisely recommends considering the addition of a little bit of honey. A touch of honey can beautifully counter the acidity of the lemon juice, bringing a gentle sweetness that rounds out the dressing’s profile. This customization ensures the dressing is perfectly tailored to your palate.

A Big Thank You, Julie, for Your Wonderful Insight!

The Perfect Chopped Salad for Effortless Entertaining!

If you’re searching for an impressive, incredibly flavorful salad that can be prepared in advance, look no further – this Ruth’s Chris Chopped Salad copycat recipe is an absolute winner and a definite keeper for your recipe collection! It truly shines as a fantastic option for entertaining, especially because its components can be prepped ahead of time, significantly reducing stress on the day of your event. Imagine having all your ingredients chopped, your dressing mixed, and your bacon cooked, ready to go. Then, just before your guests arrive, simply toss everything together. This ensures the lettuces remain perfectly crisp, the crunchy elements maintain their delightful texture, and the bacon bits don’t lose their savory bite. This make-ahead capability means you can enjoy your time with guests without being tethered to the kitchen.

With holidays and special gatherings just around the corner, this salad is guaranteed to be a showstopper. It has a way of making a lot of people incredibly happy, leaving them craving for more! I know for a fact that I’d happily enjoy a second (or even third!) helping of this famous chopped salad, easily forgetting about some of the other tempting holiday food options on the table. Its freshness and vibrant flavors offer a welcome contrast to heavier festive dishes, making it an ideal addition to any celebration.

I would absolutely love to hear from you if you decide to make this incredible Ruth’s Chris Chopped Salad copycat recipe! Please let me know your thoughts and how it turned out!

And as always, feel free to send me a photo of your culinary creation! I’d be delighted to share it here on the blog for our wonderful community to admire and get inspired by!

Essential Cooking Tips for Crafting the Perfect Chopped Salad:

Creating an exceptional chopped salad goes beyond simply throwing ingredients into a bowl. It’s an art that combines thoughtful selection, meticulous preparation, and a keen understanding of flavor and texture balance. Follow these cooking tips to elevate your homemade chopped salads to restaurant-quality status:

• **Start with a Diverse Blend of Fresh Greens:** The foundation of any great salad is its greens. Begin by selecting a delightful mix of your favorite lettuces. If you crave a satisfying crunch, include your go-to iceberg lettuce. Then, consider adding other varieties like crisp romaine, nutrient-rich spinach, tender red leaf lettuce, finely shredded red cabbage for color and texture, and/or a delicate mesclun mix. Each type of lettuce contributes a unique flavor profile – some are earthier, while others offer a brighter, zingier taste. The goal is to achieve a balanced blend that provides both a range of flavors and varied textures. Remember, the careful choosing and prepping of high-quality greens is truly the first and most crucial step toward salad excellence.
• **Inspect Your Greens for Quality:** When purchasing lettuce, always examine it closely. Avoid any greens that show signs of browning, bruising, or yellowed edges, especially common in spinach or mesclun. While we generally prefer fresh, whole heads of lettuce, if convenience dictates using pre-packaged, pre-washed greens, be sure to check for condensation inside the bag. Excessive moisture indicates that the greens will wilt quickly and won’t hold up as well in your salad. Freshness is paramount for a vibrant salad.
• **Thoroughly Wash and Dry Your Lettuce:** This step cannot be overstated. For the dressing or vinaigrette to properly cling to and coat the lettuce leaves, they must be completely dry. Start by giving your lettuces a refreshing bath to remove any grit or soil from their growth. Fill a large bowl with cold water, gently tear the leaves apart, and swish them around for a few minutes. Allow them to rest, letting any loosened dirt settle to the bottom. Carefully lift the clean greens out of the water.
• **Utilize a Salad Spinner for Optimal Dryness:** To ensure your washed lettuce is perfectly dry, a salad spinner is an indispensable tool. Give the lettuce a good whirl – you might even need to do this twice for thicker greens. For an extra boost in moisture absorption, throw a clean paper towel in with the leaves before spinning. This attention to detail is critical because for proper chopping, and to prevent a watery dressing, your lettuce must be absolutely bone-dry. I’ve personally relied on the same durable salad spinner for decades, a testament to its effectiveness.
• **Incorporate a Wide Variety of Chopped Vegetables:** Don’t limit yourself to the usual suspects. While carrots, avocados, and tomatoes are great, get creative! Add a delightful array of chopped red and green peppers for color and sweetness, crisp radishes for a peppery bite, crunchy cucumbers, or nutrient-packed broccoli florets. Beets can also introduce a beautiful burst of color and a healthy dose of nutrition to your salad, making it even more appealing and wholesome.
• **Introduce Fresh or Dried Fruits for Sweetness and Tang:** Fruits can add a wonderful dimension to any chopped salad. Fresh fruits like berries, apple pieces, or citrus segments contribute a welcome natural sweetness and juiciness. For a different texture and flavor profile, consider dried fruits such as cranberries, cherries, or apricots, which offer a delightful chewiness and a concentrated tang that complements savory ingredients beautifully.
• **Elevate with a Selection of Cheeses:** Cheese is a fantastic addition that brings depth and flavor to any salad. Explore various options beyond common cheddar. Think about the nutty notes of Manchego, the sharp tang of Asiago, the salty bite of Pecorino, the creamy saltiness of Feta, or the robust richness of Parmesan. For an extra “zing,” crumbled blue cheese or Gorgonzola can add a distinctive piquant flavor that truly makes your chopped salad extraordinary. Just remember to use cheese in moderation to ensure it enhances rather than overpowers the other ingredients.
• **Anchor Your Salad with High-Quality Protein:** To make your chopped salad a more substantial and satisfying meal, incorporate good quality protein. We particularly love using generous amounts of thick-cut, crispy, crumbled, smoky bacon in our salads. Its rich flavor and delightful crunch are unmatched. Other excellent protein choices include grilled chicken, shrimp, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian option.
• **Add Hard-Boiled Eggs for Richness and Texture:** Hard-boiled eggs are a simple yet impactful addition. Their creamy yolks and firm whites provide a wonderful richness and texture that truly makes a salad sing. Chopped or quartered, they add both substance and visual appeal.
• **Boost the Crunch Factor with Varied Toppings:** Beyond bacon, create a symphony of crunch by adding different crispy elements. Consider dried onion rings for an unexpected savory crispness, crispy wonton noodles, classic croutons, crushed tortilla chips, or a variety of nuts like slivered almonds, cashews, or peanuts. These additions provide satisfying texture and a burst of flavor.
• **Achieve Uniformity with Proper Chopping Tools:** The hallmark of a chopped salad is its uniformly sized ingredients. Use a large, sharp chef’s knife or, for a more traditional and efficient method, a mezzaluna. Always chop your ingredients on a sturdy wooden cutting board. The key is to chop all components to your preferred, consistent size, ensuring that every spoonful delivers a perfect mix of all the delicious elements.
• **Dress Your Salad Lightly and Gradually:** When it comes to dressing a chopped salad, less is often more. Start by drizzling or spooning just a few tablespoons of dressing into the mixed ingredients. Toss the salad gently but thoroughly, ensuring that the dressing lightly coats everything without making it soggy or “bogging it down.” Taste as you go, and add a little more dressing only if needed. Finish with a generous grind of freshly cracked black pepper and a sprinkle of sea salt to taste, which will awaken all the flavors.
• **Serve Immediately for Peak Freshness:** Chopped salads are at their absolute best when served right after tossing. This preserves the crispness of the greens, the integrity of the crunchy elements, and the vibrant freshness of all the ingredients, ensuring the most enjoyable eating experience.

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Originally posted in 2018 and updated in 2020