Easy Panzanella Bread Salad Recipe

Jump to Recipe

Whether you are looking for a simple meal or a side salad, this Panzanella Bread Salad is the perfect recipe. This salad is the perfect way to use up stale bread. Cubes of bread are tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and fresh herbs. The dressing is a simple mixture of olive oil, vinegar, and salt.

bread salad in large glass bowl with red pepper mill behind bowl

Jump to:

Panzanella Bread Salad
What Should I Serve with Panzanella?
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Fresh Panzanella
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Salad Recipes
📖 Recipe

Panzanella Bread Salad

A unique and classic Italian dish, the Panzanella salad is a traditional choice for the summer months. It can be served year-round, but we love the freshness of vine-ripened tomatoes and a crisp cucumber from the garden for better flavor in this dish.

Typically used as a starter salad, it can be a meal for you with a bit of chicken or pasta on the side. It has a delicious flavor using fresh ingredients that everyone will love.

This is one of those recipes that once you try it, you won’t be able to resist this salad – it’s that good. The combination of flavors and textures makes it the perfect dish for any occasion. And it’s so easy to make, you can have it ready in no time at all.

white oval bowl of salad on white wood board with white napkin in background

What Should I Serve with Panzanella?

One question I see often is what you should serve this salad alongside. Of course, I find it very satisfying by itself, and since it is vegetarian, it's a popular main dish for some.

That said, it's a great side to many Italian dishes. Serve as a starter to this chicken parmesan recipe, these chicken piccata meatballs, or even alongside this Italian wedding soup recipe.

It can also be served along with a side of baked chicken or your favorite protein as a light meal.

large glass bowl of cucumber and croutons on light wood table

Ingredients

2 slices stale bread
1 large cucumber
1 large tomato
⅓ cup shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 clove garlic
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Note: You can season the bread with herbs or garlic while it is cooking for more flavor. You can also use a variety of fresh herbs including parsley or basil for this, but basil is the most traditional.

oval white bowl of panzanella on brown table

Handy Kitchen Tools

view looking down at bowl of panzanella on gray table

How to Make Fresh Panzanella

Slice your bread into small cubes. I like to keep them a similar size to the vegetables, so around ½" to 1" squares.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Then, toss in the bread crumbs and half of the olive oil.

olive oil being poured over bread in skillet

Toss them in the pan to coat with oil, and toast, stirring regularly until the bread is nice and browned and toasted well. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Wash and dry your cucumber and tomato, remove the stems, and then cut into small pieces, similar size to the bread pieces.

Chop your fresh basil (or parsley) and then toss it into a large bowl alongside the vegetables and cheese.

Add the minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat well.

Then the bread and remaining olive oil and toss to combine before serving.

This is best served fresh with an additional sprinkle of fresh cracked black pepper on top.

fork of salad hovering above black bowl on gray table

Frequently Asked Questions

What Bread Is Best For Making This Salad?

Typically this Panzanella bread salad is made with sourdough or Italian bread. However, you can use any type of slightly stale bread. You can also use fresh breadsticks, which can add an amazing flavor. If you decide to use fresh bread, you may want to let it sit out a bit before toasting so it is a little staler and gets that nice crunch you want.

Can I Make Panzanella with Croutons?

You can absolutely make this bread salad with croutons. Croutons have that stale texture that is great for making this salad. They are typically used with dressing, so the croutons will absorb the dressing and not get mushy, which is something you want to avoid. The croutons are already seasoned perfectly which means that this salad will taste even more amazing. Using croutons, you can choose different flavors, from basic garlic or Italian flavored to rosemary or thyme.

What Cheese Goes in Bread Salad?

Typically bread salad is made with mozzarella cheese but it can also be made with parmesan. While not traditional, you can also use cheddar in this salad. White cheddar is a great choice but sharp cheddar will also taste good.

Is Panzanella Good The Next Day?

This is one of those salads that taste best when it is eaten fresh. The bread does not hold up well when it is left for more than a short time. If you want to make this Panzanella salad ahead of time, you can prepare everything the night before. Do not combine the salad until shortly before you are ready to serve for the best results.

Is Panzanella a Main Dish Recipe?

Typically, Panzanella is not considered a main dish. While it could be served as a light lunch, it is usually served as a side dish for a larger meal, like a mid-day meal, a large lunch, or a hearty dinner.

glass bowl of panzanella next to salt shaker on grey table

More Easy Salad Recipes

If you want a nice salad recipe for your menu, we have tons of great ideas. From side salads to main dishes, below are some of my personal favorite ideas to add to your menu. Make sure that you bookmark the recipes, print them out, or pint them to Pinterest to make soon.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 2

Easy Panzanella Bread Salad Recipe

A fresh and simple Panzanella bread salad recipe is the perfect solution to your lunchtime menu!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes

Total Time 4 minutes

Ingredients

2 slices stale bread, cubed
1 large cucumber, sliced
1 large tomato, sliced
⅓ cup shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

Instructions

Slice stale bread into ½"-1" cubes.
In a large skillet over medium heat, toss the bread and drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over them. Cook, stirring regularly until toasted nicely then remove from the heat.
Slice the cucumber and tomato into bite-sized pieces.
Combine the tomato, cucumber, salt, black pepper, garlic, basil, and remaining olive oil together in a large bowl.
Stir in the bread and cheese until combined and all coated nicely in the dressing.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Add additional fresh herbs if desired. You can also add a richer flavor by roasting the tomatoes and garlic before tossing with the remaining ingredients.