Grinder Salad

This fresh and crunchy grinder salad recipe is a deconstructed version of the classic Italian sub sandwich! With crisp lettuce, savory deli meat, provolone, and veggies tossed in an irresistibly creamy dressing.

 

The Tik-Tok Famous Grinder Salad is everything you love about the classic Italian sandwich, deconstructed into a fresh, easy bowlful. This recipe has crispy lettuce, grape tomatoes, onions, a savory combination of deli meats, mild cheese, and sweet and spicy pepperoncini peppers tossed in a tangy dressing. If you love the idea of turning your favorite sandwiches into salads (like this crispy BLT salad), you’re going to want to try this grinder salad ASAP!

Why You’ll Love This Italian Grinder Salad Recipe

• Fresh ingredients. You’ll love the combination of meaty and fresh ingredients in this easy salad recipe. Crisp iceberg lettuce, ripe veggies, and savory deli meat work some serious magic in the zesty homemade dressing.
• Packed with flavor. All the incredible flavors you love in an Italian grinder shine through in this salad. The dressing is a creamy combination of mayo, Italian seasoning, fresh garlic, and grated parmesan.
• Easy to make. Whip up the dressing in one bowl, combine your salad ingredients in another, and then give everything a good toss. Super simple, and so satisfying!

Salad Ingredients

The dressing and salad ingredients are easy to come by in your local deli or supermarket. You’ll find some quick notes below, and remember to scroll to the recipe card for a printable ingredients list.

• Lettuce – Crisp iceberg lettuce or Romaine. 
• Deli Meat – This salad combines all the meats you’ll find in a classic Italian grinder, including chopped salami, deli ham, and pepperoni. Together they bring tons of flavor.
• Cheese – Chopped provolone cheese. Another mild cheese, like cheddar, also works, as does Monterey Jack.
• Tomatoes – I like to use sweet grape tomatoes, but any variety tastes great in this salad. 
• Onion – Thinly sliced red onion. You can also use white or yellow onion.
• Pepperoncini Peppers – These are sweet Italian chili peppers that are usually sold pickled. Pepperoncini can be mild or spicy, so choose the variety that you prefer.

Dressing

• Mayonnaise – Mayo forms the creamy base of the salad dressing. For a lighter option, you can replace some or all of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. The flavor will be a bit different.
• Parmesan Cheese – I recommend freshly grated parmesan or pecorino cheese, but the pre-grated kind is fine here, too.
• Vinegar – Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar give the dressing a tangy kick. Plain ol’ white vinegar also works.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic. You can adapt the number of cloves to taste.
• Sugar – White granulated sugar or light brown sugar, whichever you have on hand.
• Seasoning – Italian seasoning (either store-bought or homemade), salt, and black pepper. If you’re a fan of spice, go ahead and sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the salad when serving.

How to Make a Grinder Salad

Salads are some of the easiest recipes! This grinder salad comes together in 3 short steps. Have a scroll down to the recipe card for printable instructions.

• Make the dressing. First, you’ll whisk together the dressing ingredients. Cover and refrigerate the dressing until you’re ready to use it.
• Prepare the salad. Combine all of your salad ingredients in a large serving bowl.
• Combine. Drizzle the dressing all over the salad and toss to coat. Serve this grinder salad as a light lunch or as a side with your favorite mains, see below for ideas.

Tips and Variation Ideas

Try these tips and easy variations to make this grinder salad even more to your liking:

• Replace the seasonings in the dressing. The parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in the salad dressing can be replaced with my pre-mixed Italian dressing mix.
• Dress the salad before serving. Leave off the dressing until you’re ready to serve. This way, the lettuce and ingredients stay fresh and crisp, and not soggy.
• Try a different dressing. Adapt this creamy dressing to taste by adding more vinegar and seasonings. You can also try a lighter option, like apple cider vinaigrette.
• Change up the deli meats. In place of salami, ham, and pepperoni, try sliced turkey, roast beef, or any meat you’d like. Feel free to mix and match your favorites!
• More add-ins. Add pitted olives, sliced bell peppers, capers, or crispy homemade croutons. Creamy avocado is another tasty add-on to an Italian grinder salad.
• More protein. Top your grinder salad with sliced or diced grilled chicken (like this grilled chicken antipasto salad). Steak bites also taste great.

What to Serve With a Grinder Salad

Turn this salad into a main topped with grilled or smoked chicken, with a side of homemade garlic bread for a delicious, Italian-inspired meal. A fresh and crunchy grinder salad is also tasty served as is, washed down with a glass of sangria in the summertime. For a cozy meal in the colder months, enjoy this savory salad as a side to Italian sausage soup or bright and lemony avgolemono soup.

Storing Leftovers

This salad is best enjoyed right away, since the lettuce becomes soggy the longer it sits. Try to store the salad separately from the dressing. If you have leftovers, store them airtight in the fridge for up to 2 days.

More Easy Salad Recipes

• Pea Salad
• Big Mac Salad
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Simple Tossed Salad
• Chicken Fajita Salad

Continue to Content

Yield: 4 servings

Grinder Salad

Print

This fresh and crunchy grinder salad recipe is packed with all the savory flavors of an Italian sub sandwich! With crisp lettuce, deli meat, and cheese tossed in a creamy dressing.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
• 8 oz salami, chopped
• 8 oz deli ham, chopped
• 8 oz pepperoni, chopped
• 8 oz provolone cheese, chopped
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
• ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
• ½ cup pepperoncini peppers

Dressing

• ½ cup mayo
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. In a small bowl mix together all of the ingredients for the dressing. Mix until well combined. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to use. 
2. In a large bowl add all of the salad ingredients. 
3. Pour the dressing over the top and mix until everything is well coated. 
4. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 1063Total Fat 86gSaturated Fat 32gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 50gCholesterol 203mgSodium 3788mgCarbohydrates 19gFiber 4gSugar 9gProtein 51g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a picture on social media!

I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can
share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and
tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS
recipes YOU make!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you
never miss a post!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Did you know there is a Dinners,
Dishes, and Desserts SHOP? Lots of different E-Books for sale. Or you can buy me a
coffee to say thanks!

.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Follow me

Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

Follow me

Latest posts by Erin S (see all)

• BBQ Beef - May 17, 2024
• Strawberry Fluff - May 15, 2024
• Cowboy Caviar - May 14, 2024