This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is a take on the viral Tiktok grinder sandwiches. All the flavors and textures you love in a grinder sandwich in pasta salad form!

I truly love a good pasta salad and this recipe is so flavorful and packed with salami, mozzarella, all the pickled things. The creamy Italian dressing absolutely makes this pasta salad. Italian grinder pasta salad is perfect for all your summer backyard BBQs and parties!

Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

This recipe is another side dish recipe that’s part of my Summer Sides Series! No summer BBQ or party is complete without an incredible pasta salad recipe.

I am very into Italian sandwiches and subs (as is evidenced by my Giant Italian Picnic Sub) and so using those flavors in a pasta salad recipe was a no brainer!

A cool and creamy mayo-based dressing with pepperoncini and oregano is just like the grinder salad sandwich dressing. Then, you’ve got red onions, salami, pepperoncini, tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil paired with twisty vesuvio pasta which is perfect for catching all that dressing.

Italian grinder pasta salad needs a place at your next party or gathering! It’s the pasta salad recipe that always has my guests begging for the recipe–perfect for all occasions.

If you love pasta salad as much as I do, try my Hawaiian-style Mac Salad or my Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad.

What’s Italian Grinder Pasta Salad?

If you’ve been hanging around Tiktok at all, you probably saw the viral Italian grinder sandwich trend. ‘Grinder’ salad refers to the dressed iceberg salad made with onion, oregano, pepperoncini, and a creamy mayo dressing that tops a classic Italian sub.

The combination of the meat, cheese, bread, and dressed salad makes for an incredible sandwich!

Instead of making a sandwich, we’ve taken all those flavors and ingredients and put them into a pasta salad! All the same delicious flavors and textures in pasta salad form.

How to Make Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

This recipe is so easy to make and only gets better as it sits. If you plan to make it ahead, I would leave out the lettuce and add it just before serving.

Tools Needed

• Pasta Pot
• Mixing Bowl
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Colander

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Pasta. I used vesuvio pasta here (also known as trottole) because I love the twisty shape. It’s perfect for holding dressing! You can swap in a different pasta shape if desired.
• Creamy dressing. Mayo, dijon, red wine vinegar, oregano, olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper make the delicious and easy dressing for this Italian grinder pasta salad recipe.
• Roasted red peppers. I love the flavor that roasted red peppers add. I used jarred peppers, but you can roast your own.
• Pickled peppers. A combination of chopped pepperoncini and pickled teardrop peppers (Peruvian peppers) add the perfect balance of acidity and a bit of spice.
• Onion. I love using very thinly sliced red onion that I soak in cold water for 5 minutes to remove any hot onion flavor. You can use any onion here.
• Salami. I like using a couple of different varieties here like soppressata and a peppery salami.
• Mozzarella. I use mini mozzarella like ciliegini, but you can use fresh mozzarella and dice it up.
• Tomatoes. I like using cherry tomatoes here, but any diced tomato will do. Fresh is best!
• Fresh basil. Fresh basil adds so much flavor here, don’t skip it!

The Process

1. Boil the pasta. Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil and add the pasta. Cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water.
2. Mix the dressing. Whisk together the mayonnaise, dijon, red wine vinegar, oregano, sugar, salt, pepper, and olive oil together until smooth.
3. Mix the pasta salad. Mix the onion, salami, red peppers, pepperoncini, pickled peppers, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella into the dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the pasta and fresh basil and toss well to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Best Pasta Shapes for Pasta Salad

Italian grinder pasta salad can really be made with any pasta shape, but if for best results you want a shape that can hold onto the sauce! Here are my favorite pasta shapes for pasta salad:

Vesuvio/trottole: I am absolutely obsessed with this shape (pictures in the recipe images). It’s perfectly twisty, fun to eat, and the little nooks and crannies are perfect for hanging onto the dressing.

Cavatappi: Another twisty and delicious shape that’s really easy to find. I also use it in my creamy pesto pasta salad recipe.

Lumache or shellbows: This is a great shape that’s somewhere between a shell and a macaroni elbow. It’s perfect for pasta salad because it holds sauce really well.

Fusilli: This is a classic shape and works great here! It’s not my favorite, but it’s readily available and works in all kinds of pasta salad recipes.

At the end of the day, you can really use most short format pasta shapes, so pick your favorite!

What to Serve with Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

This Italian grinder pasta salad recipe makes THE perfect side for just about every gathering or cook out. But what should you serve alongside it? Here are my favorite recipes for serving with pasta salad:

• Steakhouse Burgers
• Banh Mi Hot Dogs
• Grilled Tri-Tip
• Beer Can Chicken
• Grilled Chicken Wings
• Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Storage Instructions

This recipe is actually best made at least a couple of hours ahead of time so the flavors have a chance to meld.

If you have leftover Italian grinder pasta salad, it’s easy to keep and store. Store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. If the pasta seems a little dry, stir in a bit more mayo, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.

Italian Grinder Pasta Salad FAQs

Should I rinse pasta for pasta salad?

This is just about the only occasion that pasta should be rinsed! In any hot dish, pasta should not be rinsed so that the sauce clings to the pasta. However, in pasta salad, rinsing the pasta cools it down and keeps it from being sticky which could result in clumpy pasta salad.

Can I make Italian grinder pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes! This recipe is actually best if you make it ahead of time because the flavors have a chance to really meld. I like making it several hours, up to overnight, before serving.

What are some dietary variations I can make to this recipe?

You can easily make this recipe vegetarian by skipping the salami and swapping in other veggies like chopped artichoke hearts or grilled mushrooms. Make this recipe dairy free by skipping the cheese. You can also make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free pasta.

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This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is everything you love about an Italian sub in pasta salad form!  It’s perfect for any backyard bbq and pairs perfectly with so many different foods. If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Summer Side Dish Recipes to Try

Mom’s Classic Potato Salad Recipe
Dressed Up Baked Beans
Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
Cucumber Yogurt Salad

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