Grinder Pasta Salad
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Whether you call it a hoagie, grinder, torpedo, or sub, this Hoagie Salad is the “hero” of any party. This simple Grinder salad recipe takes all the flavors of everyone’s favorite deli sandwich and transforms them into a fresh and fun summer salad that’s perfect for potlucks, lunches, or easy weeknight dinners.
This Grinder Salad brings together all the flavors of a hoagie or grinder sandwich – chopped salami and ham, provolone cheese, briny green olives, and juicy cherry tomatoes all tossed in a tangy dressing in one bowl of tasty, colorful salad.
The bowtie pasta also gives this salad some heartiness, making it a great option for a light summer dinner. Whether you’re hosting a brunch, heading to a picnic, or just want a fun way to brighten up your day, this hearty salad delivers big flavor with very little effort. You can even prep this salad ahead of time and put it together when you are ready.
Why You’ll Love This Grinder Salad
Delicious – all the flavors of everyone’s favorite deli sandwich in a fresh and fun summer salad
Easy – this fun and flavorful twist on a pasta salad delivers big flavor with very little effort.
Make Ahead Option – You can prep this salad ahead of time and put it together when you are ready.
Ingredients for a Hoagie Salad
Use fresh ingredients for best-tasting results. You can also use a wide variety of subs or additional ingredients to personalize your grinder sandwich salad. Check out the Substitution and Variations section for lots of helpful tips.
For the Salad
- Rotini or bowtie pasta – cooked, cooled, and drained
- Iceberg lettuce – shredded
- Cherry tomatoes – halved or sliced
- Pepperoncini – sliced, from a jar is fine
- Sliced green olives – from a can, don’t sit there and slice hundreds of olives by hand
- Provolone or mozzarella cheese – cubed
- Sliced salami – chopped
- Sliced ham or turkey – chopped
For the Dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Dijon mustard
- Italian seasoning – or an equal mix of basil and oregano
- Garlic powder
- Salt & black pepper – to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Equipment Needed To Make
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Large pot
- strainer
- Large bowl
- Small bowl
Substitutions & Variations
- You can sub other cheeses or deli meats for the listed ingredients.
- You can use another small pasta of your choice.
- Add sliced red onions, cucumbers, or croutons for more texture and crunch
- You can serve in individual mason jars or plastic parfait cups for grab-and-go servings
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How to Make an Italian Hoagie Salad
Follow the full instructions found in the recipe card section for specific, step-by-step instructions.
Step 1 – Cook pasta and drain. In a medium or small bowl, prepare dressing.
Step 2 -Mix until blended.
Step 3 – In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, green olives, cheese, salami, ham, and lettuce.
Step 4 – Mix salad.
Step 5 – Add dressing and blend.
Step 6 – Chill before serving.
Raquel’s Time-Saving Tips & Tricks
- Cook the pasta and chop the meats, cheese, and veggies in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator until you’re ready to toss everything together. Use deli counter meats for best texture and flavor.
- Make sure the pasta is fully cooled before adding other ingredients.
- Save time with a store-bought Italian or vinaigrette dressing.
- Use jarred sliced olives and pepperoncini
- This salad is best served cold. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
How to Serve Hoagie Salad
Serve this salad cold. If you are serving a smaller crowd, put the salad out in portions so it stays fresh.
This salad also goes great with all the traditional summer party or BBQ favorites!
- Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, or Brats
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Grilled Kebob Skewers
- Easy Potato Salad
- Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Picnic-perfect: Pack into individual mason jars for grab-and-go servings.
How to Store Leftover Salad
Store leftover salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Eat within 3 days.
What to Make Next
Try this delicious spaghetti noodle pasta salad for another tasty cold salad.
More Picnic Salad Recipes
Grinder Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- small bowl or mason jar
Ingredients
For the Grinder Salad
- 12 oz rotini or bowtie pasta cooked and cooled
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved or sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini
- 1/2 cup sliced green olives
- 1/2 cup cubed provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 lb sliced salami chopped
- 1/4 lb sliced ham or turkey chopped
Grinder Salad Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water until cool, and let drain of water completely. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, green olives, cheese, salami, ham, and lettuce.
- Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use deli counter meats for best texture and flavor.
- Make sure the pasta is fully cooled before adding other ingredients.
- For an extra zing, add a splash of pepperoncini juice to the dressing.
- This salad is best served cold — perfect for prepping ahead! Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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OH, Raquel, I have done this as a chopped salad but not as a pasta salad! New favorite summer meal loading….Thanks for sharing! Creatively, Beth
This salad was so good and perfect for a potluck. Super easy too!