Grinder Pasta Salad.’

This easy Grinder Pasta Salad is made with tender pasta, a variety of vegetables, melt in your mouth fresh mozzarella balls, pepperoni, and salami, and is covered in a homemade dressing. 

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f you like the simple grinder sub that has been out there for a while, or have seen the one on TikTok with the delicious twist, you’re going to love this Grinder Pasta Salad recipe. It has all your favorite delicious flavors from that classic sandwich, but this time, in pasta salad form! 

Making this Italian Grinder Salad is easy and very fast with only 15 minutes of hands on prep. It’s full of unique flavor and texture, like my Dill Pickle Pasta Salad. My Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad is another unique appetizer or side dish to bring to your next gathering. 

Why This Grinder Pasta Salad Works

Just like other Pasta Salad recipes, this is easy to scale to make more servings and is an ideal dish to bring to summer potlucks, or gatherings like my Deviled Egg Pasta Salad.

A favorite thing for many people who enjoy pasta salads is the fact that they’re easily customizable. It’s a great way to use up leftover vegetables or ingredients that you need to use before they go bad. This combination is delicious on it’s own, but can be dressed up by adding other fresh veggies or seasonings, like Italian seasoning, fresh basil and parsley, and really amp up the flavor with some roasted garlic cloves.  

Ingredients Needed

• Mayonnaise: Use the real stuff.
• Italian dressing: Any brand will work or you can make this homemade version.
• Grated parmesan cheese: I like to use the fresh stuff from the deli.
• Herbs and seasoning: finely minced or grated garlic cloves, salt, and black pepper.
• Rotini pasta: can be subbed with any other small, short pasta choice
• Fresh vegetables: Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, pickled red onions or thinly sliced red onions, and crisp lettuce like romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce.
• Cheese: Mozzarella pearls. If you can’t find them, you can use fresh mozzarella cheese and just cut it into small cubes.
• Deli meats: Salami and pepperoni what I prefer, ham can also be used.

How to make this grinder salad recipe

• Step 1: In a small bowl, add the dressing ingredients and combine. Place in the fridge while you assemble.
• Step 2: Cook the pasta to aldente according to the instructions on the box, drain, rinse and dump into a large bowl. Add other salad ingredients minus lettuce to large mixing bowl.

• Step 3: Start to toss salad and add all of the dressing now if serving soon. Chill until ready to serve. 
• Step 4: When ready to serve, add chopped lettuce and toss to mix and coat it all. 

Recipe Tips

• If you don’t like a touch of heat, omit the red pepper flakes from the dressing. 
• This pasta salad is great for meal prep. You can make this 99% of the way through and then toss with the rest of the dressing and lettuce later. 
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.