This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is a TikTok viral recipe that came from the Grinder Sub & Salad. It's packed with deli meats and cheeses, and this is the first pasta salad I've ever made that got the "Man Approved" stamp. Plus, ready in under 30 minutes and made all in one bowl.
I've been testing this recipe all week and finally fed the completed version to the family last night. My husband hates pasta salad, but decided to try this version. I guess he was really hungry.
His words exactly, "I Iike this because of the meat and dressing. It tastes like a sub." He EVEN took the leftovers to work today. Now I'm calling this Man Approved Pasta Salad.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Full of Flavor. From the variety of ingredients to the tangy Grinder salad dressing, the taste is incredible.
- Packed with Protein. This pasta salad is like a full meal packed with protein from the meats and cheeses.
- A good switch up. Pasta salads can get boring and this version really stands out.
- Versatile. Prep this ahead for lunches during the week, or bring it to a picnic or family bbq.
- Easy to Make. This recipe is so simple and the dressing and ingredients are all thrown into one bowl for minimal clean up.
For more unique pasta salad recipes, try this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad, Protein Pasta Salad, and Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad.
Ingredients:
Pasta: I like using a medium sized noodle like gemelli, fusilli or rotini for this recipe.
Deli Meats: I highly recommend Boar's Head because it's one of the deli meats that don't get slimy. Typically, I'll get flavors like oven gold turkey or honey or Deluxe ham, because they're not over seasoned.
Pepperoncini: Try to save the juices from the pepperoncini when dicing or add in a teaspoon or so right from the jar into the pasta salad for added flavor and spice.
Lettuce: You want the lettuce really crisp. Iceberg or Romaine hearts work best and make sure they are really dried off after rinsing.
*Full recipe ingredients and quantities are listed in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations:
- The pepperoni can be substituted with deli style or use salami instead.
- Monterrey jack and mozzarella can be substituted with provolone cheese.
- Looking for the original version? Here's the Grinder Salad without Pasta.
Pair this Summer Side Dish with a Turkey Bacon Melt, Blackstone Smash Burger, or Oven Baked Bratwurst.
How to Make Grinder Pasta Salad:
Step 1: Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add in the pasta and cook until al dente, firm when bitten into, according to the instructions on the package. Once the pasta is cooked, transfer to a colander and rinse the pasta for a few minutes under cold water, tossing frequently. Shake the pasta in the colander repeatedly to remove any excess water.
Step 2: In a large serving bowl, make the dressing, by combining mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, garlic powder, oregano and pepper. Whisk until combined and creamy. Stir in the pepperoncini with juices.
Step 3: Right over the dressing, add in the drained cooled pasta, lettuce, deli meats and pepperoni, onion, banana peppers, and cheese.
Step 4: Toss to combine. I recommend placing in the fridge for 30 minutes before eating. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- The pasta should be room temperature or cold when added to the bowl to avoid melting the cheese.
- Dry everything, except for the banana peppers and pepperoncini really well. The juices from the peppers add flavor, but watered down pasta and lettuce do not.
For more Summer Salad ideas, check out this Broccoli Crunch Salad, Pickle Chicken Salad, and Cucumber Carrot Salad with Peanut Sauce.
Recipe FAQs:
Store the pasta salad in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I like it best within the first 24 hours.
Yes, but I would do it the same day for the freshest taste. Give it a good toss up right before serving and it will still be delish!
More Salad Recipes You'll Love:
If you tried this Grinder Pasta Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Grinder Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 5-6 cups 1x
Description
This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is a TikTok viral recipe that came from the Grinder Sub & Salad. It's packed with deli meats and cheeses, and this is the first pasta salad I've ever made that got the "Man Approved" stamp. Plus, ready in under 30 minutes and made all in one bowl.
Ingredients
Grinder Dressing:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta Salad:
- 8 ounces dried pasta, like fusilli, gemelli, or rotini
- 4 jarred pepperoncini with reserved juice
- ¼ cup mild banana peppers from jar
- ½ cup finely chopped lettuce, iceberg or romaine hearts
- ½ cup yellow or red onion, diced
- ¼ cup Monterey Jack cheese cubes
- ¼ cup Mozzarella cheese cubes
- 4 slices of deli ham, chopped into bite sized squares
- 4 slices of deli turkey, chopped into bite sized squares
- 15 pepperonis, each sliced into 3 or 4 pieces
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add in the pasta and cook until al dente, firm when bitten into, according to the instructions on the package. Once the pasta is cooked, transfer to a colander and rinse the pasta for a few minutes under cold water, tossing frequently. Shake the pasta in the colander repeatedly to remove any excess water.
- In a large serving bowl, make the dressing, by combining mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, garlic powder, oregano and pepper. Whisk until combined and creamy. Stir in the pepperoncini with juices.
- Right over the dressing, add in the drained cooled pasta, lettuce, deli meats and pepperoni, onion, banana peppers, and cheese.
- Toss to combine. I recommend placing in the fridge for 30 minutes before eating. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The pasta should be room temperature or cold when added to the bowl to avoid melting the cheese.
- Dry everything, except for the banana peppers and pepperoncini really well. The juices from the peppers add flavor, but watered down pasta and lettuce do not.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Robert says
This was so good! It tastes like a sub!