Italian Grinder Pasta Salad
This Grinder Pasta Salad combines pasta, deli meats, fresh vegetables, and Parmesan in a creamy pepperoncini dressing. It's an easy make-ahead recipe perfect for meal prep, BBQs, or a quick lunch.
Servings 6
Calories 682kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz box of pasta (any small noodle shape works here)
- 1 cup finely chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup banana peppers or pepperoncini, sliced
- 1 cup cucumber, chopped
- 4-6 oz deli ham
- 4-6 oz salami
- 4-6 oz pepperoni
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
For the grinder dressing
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1-2 tbsp pepperoncini juice
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down, then set aside to fully drain.
- While the pasta cooks, prep your add-ins: chop the lettuce, halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the red onion, slice the banana peppers or pepperoncini, and chop the cucumber. Roughly chop or slice the deli ham, salami, and pepperoni into bite-sized pieces.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, red wine vinegar, pepperoncini juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta along with the lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, peppers, cucumber, deli meats, and grated parmesan. Pour the dressing over the top and toss until everything is well coated.
- Taste and adjust with additional salt, pepper, or Parmesan cheese.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let all the flavors come together. Give it a quick toss before serving and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 682kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 36g | Fiber: 4g