Description
This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is a deli-inspired twist on the viral grinder sandwich, tossed with a creamy, tangy dressing and packed with all the bold, salty flavors you love
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 ounces ditalini pasta
- 1/4 cup diced mortadella
- 1/4 cup diced hard salami
- 1/4 cup diced sopressata
- 1/4 cup diced ham
- 1/3 cup diced provolone cheese
- 2 tablespoons red onion, diced
- 1/8 cup diced pepperoncini
- 1/8 cup diced banana peppers
- 6–8 fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for garnish
- Cracked black pepper, for garnish
For the Dressing:
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons submarine dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt. Add ditalini pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- While the pasta cooks, dice the meats, cheese, onion, pepperoncini, and banana peppers into a fine chop.
- In a bowl or jar, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, submarine dressing, and black pepper.
- Add the slightly cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add a few spoonfuls of dressing and toss to coat.
- Stir in the diced meats, provolone, red onion, peppers, and fresh basil. Toss well.
- Dress the salad to taste. Toss and garnish with more fresh basil and cracked black pepper.
- Chill before serving, or serve slightly warm for extra creaminess.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it holds up after mixing with the dressing.
- Dice all meats, cheese, and veggies into small, uniform pieces for easy bites.
- Start with a few spoonfuls of dressing and add more as needed — don’t overdress!
- This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad gets better after chilling for a few hours or overnight.
- Save extra dressing to freshen up leftovers the next day.
- Easily customizable — use your favorite deli meats or cheese combos.
- Perfect for meal prep, BBQs, picnics, or holiday potlucks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Salad, Lunch, Dinner, Meal Prep
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: American