Italian Grinder Salad
This Italian Grinder Salad with pasta is a fun and delicious twist on the viral TikTok grinder sandwich recipe.
Loaded with al dente Delallo Food’s tortiglioni pasta, hard salami, pepperoni, ham, vegetables, and freshly grated provolone cheese this recipe is hard to resist. Perfect for picnics or any gathering, you’re going to love this delicious recipe.
If you love this recipe, give my Chicken BLT Pasta Salad or my Italian Pasta Salad recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tender pasta. The tortiglioni pasta shape is like a slightly thinner and longer version of rigatoni. It’s perfect for pasta salad.
- Italian flavors. Load with classic Italian flavors, this pasta salad recipe delivers big time on flavor.
- Easy to make. This easy to make Italian grinder pasta salad recipe is perfect for parties, gatherings or as a meal prep item throughout the week.
This post was sponsored by Delallo Foods. While I was compensated for my time, all opinions are my own.
Recipe Ingredients
- Pasta – For this recipe, I used Delallo Food’s tortiglioni pasta. I love this cut because it’s easy to eat and tastes amazing with the other ingredients. Plus, it holds onto the dressing, so you get a little taste with every bite. Be sure to cook the pasta al dente as it will continue to soften once it soaks up the dressing.
- Vegetables / Herbs – You’ll need diced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, and half of a small head of iceberg lettuce. Roughly chop the lettuce so it isn’t too small but is still easy to eat. You’ll also need to chop some fresh Italian parsley for this recipe. Finally, you’ll drain a ¼ cup of Delallo’s mild Chicago style giardiniera and give it a fine dice.
- Meats – You’ll need to cut Delallo’s sliced hard salami and Delallo’s sliced pepperoni into quarters or wedges. Repeat for the sliced deli ham as well.
- Cheese – Grab your box grater and freshly grate ¾ cup of Delallo’s provolone cheese wedge. This cheese is smooth and creamy which tastes amazing with the other ingredients.
- Dressing – Combine Delallo’s private reserve extra virgin olive oil, Delallo’s red wine vinegar, honey, dried oregano, kosher salt, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and cracked black pepper. Mix well.
How to Make Italian Grinder Salad with Pasta
Mix the Dressing
Mix the dressing in a small mixing bowl and set it aside.
Boil the Pasta
Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta according to the package. Al dente is best. Drain the water and drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking while it cools.
Assemble
Once the pasta has cooled, add it to a large mixing bowl. Add the diced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes and finely diced giardiniera to the bowl.
Next, add the sliced hard salami, pepperoni, and ham wedges to the bowl as well. Then, add the chopped fresh parsley, and grated provolone cheese. Top with the dressing and toss everything together.
As a final step, gently fold in the chopped iceberg lettuce. Finish it with a few turns of cracked black pepper and enjoy.
Storage
Dressed salad is best enjoyed immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Reserve the homemade dressing in an separate container until you are ready to eat the salad. You do not want the dressing to sit on the salad for too long, as it could wilt the lettuce over time.
I like when my pasta has a slight chew to it. Plus, it will absorb the dressing as it sits, so this prevents the pasta from getting too soft and soggy.
Other Pasta Salad Recipes to Consider Trying
Italian Grinder Salad
Equipment
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 pasta pot with colander
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 8 ounces tortiglioni, al dente, Delallo Foods
- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ⅓- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup mild Chicago style giardiniera, drained and finely diced, Delallo Foods
- 8 slices sliced hard salami, cut into wedges, Delallo Foods
- 8 slices sliced ham, cut into wedges
- 8 slices sliced pepperoni, cut into wedges, Delallo Foods
- ¾ cup provolone cheese, freshly grated, Delallo Foods
- ½ small head iceberg lettuce , roughly chopped
- 2-3 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped small
Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, Delallo Foods
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, Delallo Foods
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1.5 teaspoons dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
How to Make Italian Grinder Salad with Pasta
Mix the Dressing
- Combine extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, kosher salt, garlic powder, cracked black pepper, dried oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Whisk until well combined.
Boil the Pasta
- Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta according to the package. Al dente is best. Drain the water and drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking while it cools.
Assemble
- Once the pasta has cooled, add it to a large mixing bowl. Add the diced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes and finely diced giardiniera to the bowl.Next, add the sliced hard salami, pepperoni, and ham wedges to the bowl as well. Then, add the chopped fresh parsley, and grated provolone cheese. Top with the dressing and toss everything together.As a final step, gently fold in the chopped iceberg lettuce. Finish it with a few turns of cracked black pepper and enjoy.
7 Comments on “Italian Grinder Salad”
LOADED with flavor!
This is a good salad. Missed the mark for me for a couple of reasons. I made as described but without brand matching. I think the size of pasta is too large if you include the lettuce, which threw me off a little too. If I made it again, I would skip the lettuce and consider a pasta that fits in the fork a little better. The flavor is great, just wasn’t my favorite. 1 miss out of many truly delicious recipes.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy it!
I made this tonight to take to a party tomorrow and of course I had to try some. Now I just hope it makes it to the party. I followed all the directions just as they are and it’s so good!
I don’t know how you do it, but every meal you post on your blog becomes a new house fave.
You made my day, Emma! Thank you so much!
I took this to a friend’s house for a little get together. Everyone raved about it! Will definitely make again!