Description
A hearty, vibrant pasta salad inspired by the classic Italian grinder sandwich, this dish combines pasta, crisp vegetables, savory meats, cheese, and a zesty dressing. Perfect for cold salads for BBQ, summer dinner meal prep, or as a chopped Italian pasta salad side dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
1 pound rotini pasta (or preferred shape) 1/2 cup diced salami 1/2 cup quartered pepperoni 1/2 cup cubed provolone cheese 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion 1/4 cup sliced banana peppers 1/4 cup sliced black olives 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce 3/4 cup Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought) Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely. 2. While pasta cooks, prepare and chop all other ingredients: salami, pepperoni, provolone, tomatoes, onion, banana peppers, olives. 3. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta with meats, cheese, vegetables, and shredded lettuce. 4. Pour Italian dressing over the salad and toss well to coat all ingredients evenly. 5. Season with salt and pepper to taste, garnish with fresh parsley, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
• For best flavor, chill salad for 30–60 minutes before serving. • Keep lettuce separate and add just before serving if making ahead. • Start with less dressing and add more just before serving if needed. • Use gluten-free pasta for a GF version, and omit meats for vegetarian.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Summer
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Italian American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Italian Grinder Pasta Salad, Chopped Italian Pasta Salad, Cold Salads for BBQ, Summer Salad Recipes Pasta, Easy Dinner Recipes Italian, Summer Dinner Meal Prep