Discover the classic Italian dish of Panzanella Salad (aka Tuscan Bread Salad), a refreshing summer salad made with juicy tomatoes, crusty bread, and a simple vinaigrette. The dressing is light, tangy, and flavorful, complementing the juicy tomatoes and fresh vegetables in the salad. Enjoy this delicious and easy-to-make salad all summer long.

Why I love this salad
Tuscan bread salad, also known as panzanella salad, is a delicious and refreshing dish that is a staple of Italian cuisine. There are several reasons why I love this salad:
- Flavorful: The combination of juicy tomatoes, crunchy bread, and a tangy vinaigrette creates a harmonious blend of flavors that is both satisfying and delicious.
- Versatile: The salad can be adapted to include your favorite ingredients or what you have on hand, making it a great option for using up leftovers or incorporating seasonal produce.
- Easy to make: Panzanella salad is a simple dish that requires minimal preparation and cooking. It is a great option for a quick and satisfying meal on a hot summer day.
- Nutritious: The salad is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals from the vegetables and bread, making it a healthy and satisfying meal option.
- Perfect for summer: With its light, fresh flavors and crisp textures, panzanella salad is the perfect dish to enjoy on a warm summer day. It is a great option for picnics, barbecues, or as a side dish for a main meal.
RELATED: Gluten Free Italian Asparagus Recipe

The main ingredients needed to make panzanella salad are:
- Bread: Traditionally, a crusty bread such as ciabatta or country bread is used. The bread should be at least a day old, so it will have a firm texture that can absorb the dressing without falling apart.
- Tomatoes: Juicy, ripe tomatoes are a key component of the salad. Any variety of tomato can be used, but roma, beefsteak tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes are especially good.
- Fresh herbs: Fresh basil is added for extra flavor.
- Onions: Red onion adds a sharp, pungent flavor to the salad.
- Cucumber: English cucumber adds a cool, crisp texture to the salad.
- Dressing: A simple vinaigrette made from olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper is traditionally used to dress the salad.
- Cheese: A soft cheese such as mozzarella, feta, or bocconcini can be added for extra creaminess.
- Optional ingredients: You can add other ingredients to the salad, such as avocado, grilled vegetables, or cured meats, to make it a complete meal.

For the full list of ingredients, and the printable recipe, be sure to check out the recipe card below.
How do I make Tuscan Bread Salad?
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large bowl, pour olive oil over the bread cubes. Toss to coat. Season with salt and black pepper. Toss again.

Step 3: Transfer the bread to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until toasted and crunchy.

Step 4: In a large bowl, toss together the bread, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, and basil.


In a bowl or small jar, add the ingredients for the dressing and whisk or shake until blended.

Prior to serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Make this Tuscan Bread Salad, then check out my Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad, Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad, and Classic Waldorf Salad and more of my summer salad recipes.
TIPS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Read on for tips and substitution ideas on how to make this recipe, such as what type of bread is best to use.

Other classic salad recipes to try
- Classic Cobb Salad – the perfect hearty salad for dinner because it’s loaded with so much more than just lettuce – it’s got blue cheese, bacon, avocado, eggs, chicken, and onion. With a traditional cobb salad dressing, I love this classic cobb salad recipe, and you will too!
- Classic Waldorf Salad – full of fresh, crispy, apples, celery, grapes and walnuts with a creamy mayonnaise dressing served over a bed of lettuce. Serve it as a side dish or appetizer at Christmas or Thanksgiving.
- Classic Marinated Carrot Salad (Copper Pennies) – This classic make-ahead salad can be served as either a side dish or a salad and is perfect for any occasion. This salad is a Christmas dinner tradition of ours, made with love every year by my mother-in-law.

Panzanella Salad Recipe
Also known as Tuscan Bread Salad, this is a refreshing summer salad made with juicy tomatoes, crusty bread, and a simple vinaigrette. The dressing is light, tangy, and flavorful, complementing the juicy tomatoes and fresh vegetables in the salad. Enjoy this delicious and easy-to-make salad all summer long.
Ingredients
For the salad
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 6 cups cubed Italian or French bread
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 roma tomatoes, cut into quarters and sliced
- 1 English cucumber, unpeeled, halved, and sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, coarsely chopped
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, pour olive oil over the bread cubes. Toss to coat. Season with salt and black pepper. Toss again.
- Transfer the bread to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until toasted and crunchy.
- In a large bowl, toss together the bread, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, and basil.
- In a bowl or small jar, add the ingredients for the dressing and whisk or shake until blended.
- Prior to serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 190Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 576mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
The provided nutrition information is an estimate and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information.
