This Grinder Salad is all the best parts of an Italian hoagie in salad form. Made in minutes, this delicious salad is full of crisp vegetables, tasty deli meats, and cheese tossed in an easy dressing.
For more hearty salads, try my cheeseburger salad or Mandarin chicken salad.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Grinder Salad
- Flavor: Savory deli meats, tangy pickled peppers, creamy dressing, and crisp vegetables give it classic Italian grinder sub flavor in a salad.
- Prep Note: For easy prep, use bagged lettuce and an Italian deli meat mix. A vegetable chopper can quickly cut the meat, cheese, and vegetables.
- Serving: Prep the ingredients and dressing separately for make-ahead convenience. Serve with our BEST turkey burger recipe and some baked corn on the cob.
Total Time: 10 Mins Servings: 4
Ingredient Notes
- Shredded Lettuce: A bag of chopped or shredded iceberg is the best choice for a crisp, classic deli-style salad. Romaine lettuce or a mixture of both works too.
- Deli Meat: Choose salami, ham, turkey, pepperoni, or an Italian meat blend. A few varieties give the salad a more classic grinder sandwich flavor.
- Cheese: Italian-style cheese blends with provolone cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan or Romano add mild, savory flavor. Cheddar is also a tasty option.
- Croutons: These provide the crunchy, bread-like texture you would get from a grinder roll. Add them just before serving so they stay crunchy.
- Veggies: Cherry or grape tomatoes, red onion, pepperoncini, or banana peppers are the classics that go on an Italian grinder, making them perfect for this salad.
- Dressing: Mayo gives the grinder salad dressing its creamy base, and it’s perfect combined with Italian dressing for herby tang. For some spice, try adding in a dash of red pepper flakes and some oregano.
How to Make a Grinder Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together (full recipe below).
- Add the salad ingredients to the bowl and toss.
- Add the croutons just before serving.
Keep It Fresh
- Store the undressed salad ingredients in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and store the dressing separately in a covered jar or container until you are ready to serve. Keep the croutons in a sealed bag or container at room temperature so they stay crunchy.
- The dressed salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container until the next day, but the lettuce and croutons will not be as crisp. Try tucking it into a sandwich wrap or tortilla.
Easy Deli-Style and Italian Favorites
Did you make this Grinder Salad? Leave a comment and rating below.
Grinder Salad
This recipe turns your favorite deli sandwich ingredients into a fresh, crunchy meal in minutes.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) bag shredded iceberg lettuce or romaine
- 1½ cups chopped deli meat salami, ham, turkey, pepperoni, or an Italian deli mix
- 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend or cheddar
- 1 cup croutons
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced
- ½ cup sliced red onion
- ½ cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers
Dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup bottled Italian dressing
Instructions
- Whisk the mayonnaise and Italian dressing together in a large salad bowl.
- Add the lettuce, chopped deli meat, shredded cheese, croutons, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and banana peppers.
- Toss until everything is coated. Serve immediately so the lettuce stays crisp.
Notes
To make dressing from scratch, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, and pepper to taste.
Use a chopper to cut your meat and veggies quickly. If your meat is a little too soft for the chopper, freeze it for 5-10 minutes first.
If you don’t plan on eating the salad immediately, keep the dressing on the side until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 1430mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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