A chopped salad is a salad which includes ingredients which have been chopped to be uniform and then either composed or tossed, depending on the style of the salad. Many people associate the concept of the chopped salad with American interpretations of Mediterranean cuisine, where salads often include an assortment of fresh chopped vegetables on a bed of greens. Many restaurants offer chopped salad, and it is also a common offering at salad bars; as you might imagine, it's a cinch to make at home, as well.

Common ingredients in a chopped salad include onions, bell peppers, olives, carrots, tomatoes, celery, cold meats like grilled chicken, pickled peppers, cooked legumes, pickled beets, greens such as romaine or spinach, and cheeses. Depending on the stylistic choice of the person who makes the salad, all of the ingredients may be chopped to create a very uniform look and texture, or some of the ingredients may be chopped while others are left larger; classically, for example, chopped veggies can be served on a bed of whole lettuce leaves.

A chopped salad may be garnished with things like shredded or crumbled cheese, fresh herbs, or sprouts. The salad is typically drizzled with dressing before it is served, and it may be tossed to integrate all of the ingredients or left in a composed form, in which case the ingredients may be carefully arrange to create stripes or other patterns of blocky color.

The crucial thing about a chopped salad is that it must contain fresh produce. It may also include preserved ingredients, cold grilled meats, and cheeses, but the bulk of the salad typically consists of fresh fruits and vegetables. The flavor can be adjusted with the addition of things like chopped pears or persimmons to make the salad more complex and interesting, and a wide variety of dressings may be used on a chopped salad to bring out ideal flavors.

The chopped salad is particularly popular in Los Angeles, California, where it is often on offer at restaurants. Chopped salads are also offered at many chain restaurants, perhaps because the ingredients are easy to prepare ahead of time in large amounts, and people can assemble their own at salad bars. If you want to make chopped salad at home, feel free to use whichever ingredients you like, and don't feel obligated to chop everything; you add more texture and visual interest by including things like crumbled fried noodles, whole leaves of greens, entire cherry tomatoes, and so forth.