Italian sub fans will adore this Grinder Salad. Inspired by the viral TikTok recipe, it’s a loaded chopped salad made with deli meats, cheeses, lettuce, fresh veggies, and pepperoncini peppers. A creamy vinaigrette ties it all together!
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If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, chances are you’ve seen a creator tossing this Italian Grinder Salad together. It’s a lot like an Italian Chopped Salad but captures the magic of an Italian sub in one big bowl. One bite and you’ll understand why this is a viral recipe!
Treat yourself to a bowl when you want a light yet flavor-packed and filling main dish or stuff it into a hoagie to make a sub sandwich! No matter how you serve it up, this salad will always hit the spot.
What is a grinder salad?
A grinder is a type of Italian cold cut sub known for its layers of deli meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, and zesty dressing. The name “grinder” refers to the thick Italian bread it’s traditionally served on, which may require some “grinding” with your teeth to chew, especially when it’s fully loaded with fillings.
By swapping the bread for crisp lettuce and tossing everything in a tangy, creamy dressing, the iconic sandwich is transformed into a hearty, flavorful salad—no hoagie roll needed!
Ingredients needed
- Lettuce – Fresh, crisp romaine is my go-to, but iceberg or a mix of chopped greens like butter lettuce and arugula will work just as well.
- Salami – I prefer classic Genoa or Milano salami, but you can use soppressata if you want a little heat.
- Ham – Either use deli ham or the leftover glazed ham in your fridge. Turkey and pepperoni would be delicious substitutions.
- Provolone cheese – Its smooth, slightly sharp bite pairs beautifully with the meats. If you can find smoked provolone, even better!
- Mozzarella – I like mini mozzarella balls best because they’re already bite-sized. Cubed or shredded mozzarella works just as well.
- Red onion
- Cherry tomatoes
- Pepperoncini peppers – A tangy, crunchy, and slightly spicy pepper. Banana peppers work, too!
- Creamy salad dressing – I dressed this chopped salad in a creamy, tangy dressing made from mayo, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, Italian seasoning, honey, salt, and pepper. So simple, yet so tasty! I highly recommend making a double batch to use on this Italian Chopped Salad or a Simple Kale Salad.
How to make an Italian grinder salad
- Add the dressing ingredients to a jar with a lid, seal it closed, and shake it until everything is well combined and emulsified. Alternatively, you can whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad, then toss to coat. Enjoy!
Tips and tricks
- Dry your chopped and washed lettuce really well, either in a salad spinner or by patting the leaves dry with paper towels. Wet lettuce is the fastest way to a soggy salad!
- Pop the chopped lettuce in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes before assembling. Cold lettuce stays crisp longer and makes the salad extra refreshing.
- When assembling, only drizzle half of the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat, then add more as needed. Remember: you can always add more dressing, but you can’t take it away!
- Let the assembled salad sit for 5 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to get even better while keeping everything crisp.
Variations
The great thing about this grinder salad recipe is all the room to change things up. Here are some exciting ways you can put your own twist on it:
- Add more spice: If you love a little heat, mix crushed red pepper flakes or red pepper relish into the dressing.
- Add more veggies: Add sliced black olives, green or red bell peppers, cucumbers, chopped artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Add more crunch: Try topping the salad with croutons, crispy bacon crumbles, strips of crispy prosciutto, or toasted pasta chips for an extra layer of crunch.
- Change the cheeses: Feel free to mix and match the provolone and mozzarella with sharp cheddar, crumbled feta, and/or shaved parmesan.
- Try different meats: Try swapping the ham and/or salami for turkey, roast beef, prosciutto, or pepperoni.
Serving suggestions
This Italian grinder salad is hearty and filling all on its own. If you’d like to stretch it further, stuff the salad into toasted hoagie rolls or a pita pocket for a fun handheld version. You could even stir cooked and cooled short-cut pasta noodles (I recommend using rotini, farfalle, or cavatappi) into the salad when you’re craving an Italian sub-inspired pasta salad!
If you simply love it as-is, then I recommend staying true to its Italian roots and pairing the salad with a side of minestrone or Italian wedding soup. Or, twist things around and enjoy the salad as a side dish next to these main courses:
Storing
Store the leftover grinder salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. The lettuce will eventually soften and wilt over time, so it’s best to eat it as soon as possible.
If you’re planning on saving the leftovers for meal prep, refrigerate the dressing separately and toss it with the assembled salad just before eating. This should help it last longer.
Erin’s wine pairings for a grinder salad
This Italian grinder salad deserves a wine that complements its bold, zesty flavors:
- Try a crisp, refreshing Pinot Gris or Riesling.
- Or, if you prefer red wine, Chianti has just the right amount of fruitiness and acidity to complement the cured meats and sharp cheeses
More hearty salad recipes
Did you make this Italian grinder salad?
If you loved this Italian hoagie-inspired chopped salad recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would leave a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.
Italian Grinder Salad (Chopped Sub Salad)
Equipment
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic (grated or minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Salad
- 8 cups lettuce (chopped, rinsed & dried )
- 4 ounces salami (diced or sliced into matchsticks)
- ¼ pound ham (or turkey (rolled and chopped))
- 4 ounces Provolone cheese (cubed, about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces mini mozzarella balls (drained & cut in half, about 1 cup)
- ½ medium red onion (peeled & thinly sliced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers (sliced)
Instructions
Dressing
- Place all the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake vigorously until all ingredients are combined and the dressing is emulsified. Alternatively, you can add the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
Salad
- To make the salad, place all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine.
Notes
- Dry your chopped and washed lettuce really well, either in a salad spinner or by patting the leaves dry with paper towels. Wet lettuce is the fastest way to a soggy salad!
- Pop the chopped lettuce in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes before assembling. Cold lettuce stays crisp longer and makes the salad extra refreshing.
- When assembling, only drizzle half of the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat, then add more as needed. Remember: you can always add more dressing, but you can’t take it away!
- Let the assembled salad sit for 5 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to get even better while keeping everything crisp.
- Add more spice: If you love a little heat, mix crushed red pepper flakes or red pepper relish into the dressing.
- Add more veggies: Add sliced black olives, green or red bell peppers, cucumbers, chopped artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Add more crunch: Try topping the salad with croutons, crispy bacon crumbles, strips of crispy prosciutto, or toasted pasta chips for an extra layer of crunch.
- Change the cheeses: Feel free to mix and match the provolone and mozzarella with sharp cheddar, crumbled feta, and/or shaved parmesan.
- Try different meats: Try swapping the ham and/or salami for turkey, roast beef, prosciutto, or pepperoni.
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