Red Robin House Salad: Price, Calories, Taste Review & Copycat Recipe (2026)
The Red Robin House Salad is the simplest item on the salad menu, and that is exactly why it works so well. It is a small plate of fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumber, cheddar cheese, and croutons. No fancy add-ons, no long list of steps. Just a clean side that fits next to almost anything on the menu. In this guide, I break down the price, the calories, how it tastes, and whether it earns a spot on your table. I also share a copycat recipe so you can make it at home tonight.
Quick Facts
What Is the Red Robin House Salad?
The House Salad is Red Robin's basic garden salad. It sits on the lighter end of the menu, right next to bigger options like the Avo-Cobb-O Salad and the Everything Chicken Caesar Salad. Servers often bring it out as a starter, a side swap for fries, or a small meal on its own.
It is built on a bed of mixed greens, then topped with diced tomato, cucumber slices, shredded cheddar cheese, and crunchy croutons. You pick your own dressing from the list at the table. Because the base is so plain, it plays well with almost every dressing on the menu.
Ingredients Breakdown
- Mixed greens – a blend of lettuce varieties for crunch and color.
- Diced tomatoes – add a juicy, slightly sweet bite.
- Cucumber – cool, crisp, and light on the palate.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – the only real protein and fat in the base salad.
- Croutons – toasted bread cubes for crunch (this is where the gluten comes from).
- Dressing of choice – served on the side or tossed in, depending on how you order it.
You can swap or drop any of these. Ask for no croutons if you need it gluten-free, or ask for extra cheese if you want more staying power.
Red Robin House Salad Price (2026)
The House Salad is one of the cheapest items on the whole Red Robin menu. Prices move a bit by state and by whether you order in-store, through a delivery app, or as a side swap on a burger combo.
| Order Type | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| In-restaurant, dine-in | $7.29 – $7.99 |
| Delivery app (DoorDash, Uber Eats) | $8.29 – $8.79 |
| Side swap on a burger combo | +$1.50 – $2.50 |
Prices are not fixed across every location, so treat these as a close estimate rather than the exact number your receipt will show.
Calories & Nutrition Facts
On its own, without any dressing, the House Salad sits at just 80 calories. That makes it the lightest item across the entire salad menu. Once you add a dressing, the number climbs, so pick wisely if you are watching your intake.
| Nutrient | Amount (no dressing) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 80 kcal |
| Total Fat | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
Dressing calories vary a lot. Balsamic Vinaigrette adds around 130 calories per 2-ounce serving, while Caesar dressing can add up to 280 calories in the same size portion. If you want to keep the whole plate light, ask for dressing on the side and use half.
Dressing Options
Red Robin keeps a solid lineup of dressings, and you can request any of them on the House Salad:
- Ranch
- Bleu Cheese
- Caesar
- Balsamic Vinaigrette (the lightest choice)
- Honey Mustard
- Salsa-Ranch
If you are ordering the salad as a side to a heavier burger, a lighter dressing like Balsamic Vinaigrette keeps the whole meal from feeling too rich.
Taste Review
I ordered the House Salad on the side of a Tavern Burger, and it did exactly what a side salad should do. The greens were crisp, not wilted, and the cucumber added a nice cool crunch against the warm burger next to it. The cheddar is shredded fine, so it spreads through every bite instead of clumping in one spot.
The croutons stayed crunchy even after a few minutes, which is not always a given with side salads. I went with Balsamic Vinaigrette, and it worked well without drowning the greens. On its own, without dressing, it is a bit plain, which is expected for a salad this simple. It is not trying to be the star of the meal, and it does not need to be.
Burger Extras & Perfect Pairings
The House Salad shines brightest as a companion, not a headliner. Here is how it pairs across the menu:
- Swap it in for fries with any Gourmet Burger for a lighter combo.
- Pair it with a Tavern Burger to balance out a smaller, simpler patty.
- Order it next to a wrap from the wraps and chicken sandwiches menu for a lunch that stays under 700 calories total.
- Start the table with an item from the appetizer menu, then use the House Salad to balance out heavier shared plates.
- If your table ordered a batch of chicken wings, the salad adds a fresh, cool contrast on the same order.
- Pair it with a bigger dinner plate from the entrees menu when you want a starter course before the main event.
Because the base salad has so little fat and sodium, it also works as a way to stretch a bigger order further without adding much to the calorie count.
How to Customize Your House Salad
Add Protein
Ask for grilled chicken, crispy chicken strips, or a scoop of veggie patty crumbles on top to turn this side into a full meal. Adding grilled chicken usually adds around 120-150 calories and roughly 25 grams of protein.
Make It Gluten-Free
Ask your server to leave off the croutons or swap them for a gluten-free crouton if the location carries them. Every other ingredient in the base salad is naturally gluten-free.
Make It Vegan
Drop the cheddar cheese and choose a vinaigrette-style dressing instead of a creamy one. What is left is a fully plant-based side.
Is the Red Robin House Salad Worth Ordering?
For the price, yes. At under $8 in most locations, it is one of the better value items on the whole menu when you consider portion size against calories. It will not fill you up as a standalone dinner unless you add protein, but that is not really its job.
Where it earns its spot is as a side. Swapping fries for the House Salad on a burger combo is one of the easiest ways to cut calories from your meal without losing flavor or feeling like you are missing out. If you are ordering solo and want something filling, look at the Avo-Cobb-O Salad instead. But as a simple, fresh, low-cost side, the House Salad delivers.
Copycat Red Robin House Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, iceberg, spinach blend)
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced thin
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup croutons
- Dressing of choice (Balsamic Vinaigrette recommended)
Instructions
- Wash and dry the mixed greens well. Extra water will water down your dressing later.
- Split the greens between two plates or bowls, building a light, even base.
- Scatter the diced tomato and cucumber slices evenly over the greens.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese across the top of each salad.
- Add the croutons last so they stay crunchy instead of soaking up moisture.
- Drizzle your dressing on top right before serving, or serve it in a small dish on the side.
- Toss gently at the table and serve right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
The House Salad has 80 calories without dressing. Adding a dressing can push the total up by 100 to 280 calories depending on which one you pick.
It typically runs between $7.29 and $8.79, depending on your location and whether you order in-store or through a delivery app.
It comes with mixed greens, diced tomato, cucumber, shredded cheddar cheese, and croutons, served with a dressing of your choice.
Yes. Ask your server to skip the croutons or request a gluten-free crouton if your location offers one.
Yes. You can add grilled chicken or crispy chicken strips for an extra charge, turning it into a fuller meal.
Yes, the base salad is vegetarian. For a vegan version, skip the cheddar cheese and choose a vinaigrette-style dressing.