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Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

Italian grinder pasta salad loaded with rotini, Italian deli meats, provolone, banana peppers, and a tangy Italian dressing. Chilled to let the flavors meld, then finished with crisp shredded iceberg lettuce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

pasta salad base
  • 1 lb rotini pasta
  • 8 oz salami sliced and quartered
  • 8 oz pepperoni quartered
  • 8 oz ham diced
  • 8 oz provolone cheese cubed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup banana peppers sliced
  • 0.5 cup red onion diced
  • 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 1 cup Italian dressing
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
  2. Let the rinsed pasta drain briefly so it won’t dilute the dressing later.
Assemble the grinder pasta salad
  1. Add the pasta, salami, pepperoni, ham, provolone cheese, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers, and red onion to a large bowl.
  2. Pour in the Italian dressing, then add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.
  3. Toss until everything is evenly coated in the dressing for a deli-style mix.
Chill to meld flavors
  1. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours so the flavors meld.
Finish and serve
  1. Just before serving, add the shredded iceberg lettuce and toss to keep it crisp.
  2. Taste and adjust the dressing if needed, then serve.

Notes

Pro tip: rinse the pasta with cold water so it’s cool before chilling—this helps the dressing cling instead of pooling. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; add lettuce right before serving for best crunch. Freezing is not recommended because the deli meats and lettuce texture will change. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat provolone and a lower-sugar Italian dressing while keeping the same chilling time.