Italian Grinder Salad
This Italian Grinder Salad recipe turns a grinder sandwich (aka a hoagie or sub) into salad form! This hearty side dish is loaded with deli meats, cheese, veggies, and a tangy, creamy dressing.
Ingredients
Salad Base
- 1 cup deli ham (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup salami (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup deli turkey (thinly sliced)
- 4 oz sliced provolone cheese (thinly sliced)
- 5 roma tomatoes (seeded & chopped)
- ½ cup red onion (finely diced)
- ½ cup jarred pepperoncini pepper slices
- 8 oz shredded iceberg lettuce
- 5 oz croutons
Salad Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pack Italian salad dressing mix (0.7 ounces)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup canned grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a (really) large bowl, toss together the chopped deli meats, provolone, tomatoes, red onion, and pepperoncini (leave out the iceberg lettuce and croutons for now).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, vinegar, olive oil, Italian dressing mix, seasonings, and parmesan until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the meat-and-veggie mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Spoon the dressed mixture over shredded iceberg lettuce, then top with croutons right before serving (toss everything together or keep it layered - your call).
Notes
- Don’t add the lettuce too early. Keep the iceberg lettuce separate until serving so it stays crisp and doesn’t wilt under the creamy dressing.
- Perfect for meal prep. Store the dressed meat and veggie mixture in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days; add lettuce and croutons just before eating.
- Drain well to avoid sogginess. Make sure tomatoes and pepperoncini are well-drained before mixing into the salad.
- Customize the meats and cheese. Feel free to swap in prosciutto, capicola, roast beef, or different cheeses based on what you have on hand.
- Control the heat. Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to taste, or add a splash of pepperoncini brine for extra zip.
- Low-carb friendly. Skip the croutons for a naturally low-carb grinder (hoagie/sub) salad.
- Great beyond salad form. This mixture is also delicious piled onto toasted hoagie rolls or used as a pasta salad base (see variations above).
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 18gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 1571mgPotassium: 443mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 983IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 192mgIron: 1mg
