Go Back

Grinder Pasta Salad

Grinder pasta salad brings the flavors of an Italian sub into a chilled, toss-and-eat pasta salad. Rotini is mixed with salami, ham, turkey, provolone, tomatoes, banana peppers, and a tangy Italian dressing, then rested until the flavors meld.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Rotini pasta
  • 1 lb rotini pasta
Italian deli meats and cheese
  • 8 oz salami Quartered.
  • 8 oz ham Diced.
  • 8 oz turkey Diced.
  • 8 oz provolone cheese Cubed.
Vegetables and banana peppers
  • 2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes Halved.
  • 1 cup banana peppers Sliced.
  • 0.5 cup red onion Thinly sliced.
Dressing
  • 1 cup Italian dressing
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • salt To taste.
  • pepper To taste.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water to cool it quickly and prevent sticking.
Build the salad base
  1. Combine the pasta, salami, ham, turkey, provolone cheese, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers, and red onion in a large bowl.
Mix and dress
  1. Mix the Italian dressing, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning until well combined.
  2. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat so the pasta and meats are evenly covered.
Chill
  1. Refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours so the flavors meld; keep it covered to retain freshness.
Finish and serve
  1. Just before serving, add the shredded iceberg lettuce and toss again so it stays crisp.

Notes

Pro tip: chill the pasta base without the iceberg lettuce, then add lettuce right before serving for the crunch. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 days; it can be frozen only for best texture if you don’t mind softer lettuce after thawing (not recommended). For a lighter option, use low-fat Italian dressing and reduced-fat provolone to cut calories without changing the grinder vibe.