Italian Mill Pasta Salad

By Roger Rizzo 10 May, 2026 4 mins read 9 Views

This Italian grinder pasta salad brings all the bold deli-style flavor of your favorite sub into one amazing bowl! Think salty meats, creamy cheese, crisp veggies, and a tangy dressing tossed with pasta. It’s hearty, fresh, and always a hit!

Why You Need This Pasta Salad In Your Life!

All the grinder flavor, in pasta form: You get everything you love about a classic grinder (and my grinder salad!) mixed with pasta for a hearty twist.So many textures in every bite: This salad has tender pasta, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a nice crunch from onions and peppers. Perfect for any gathering: It’s quick to make and always goes fast at potlucks and BBQs!

Ingredients for Grinder Pasta Salad

Pasta: Use any pasta you like. Gluten-free or protein pasta both work well.Deli Meat: Turkey is my go-to, but ham works just as well.Cheese: Provolone is classic for grinder flavor. You can also use mozzarella, cheddar, or pepper jack.Salami & Pepperoni: I like both for extra flavor, but you can use just one if you prefer.Add-Ins: Mix in your favorites like pickles, peppers, olives, or banana peppers for more crunch and tang.

Italian Mill Pasta Salad

How to Make Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is ready to serve in just 20 minutes! While the pasta cooks, you can chop the veggies and mix the dressing. It all comes together fast for a bold, fresh, and filling salad.

Cook: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain it, rinse with cold water, and let it drain and cool well.Combine: In a large bowl, add the pasta, lettuce, tomatoes, salami, pepperoni, deli meat, provolone, red onion, and pepperoncini.Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, parmesan, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and pepperoncini liquid until smooth.Toss: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Top with red pepper flakes if you like, and serve.

Italian Mill Pasta Salad

Must Have Tools For This Recipe

Pot: For boiling pasta to the perfect al denta.Colander: Rinsing the cooked pasta under cold water helps prevent it from sticking and cools it down quickly.Whisk: Great for mixing all of the dressing ingredients perfectly. Large Bowl: For mixing and serving grinder pasta salad

Italian Mill Pasta Salad

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Grinder Pasta Salad

#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #343434; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #343434; }This Italian grinder pasta salad is packed with bold deli-style flavor. Loaded with meats, cheese, crisp veggies, and a tangy dressing, it’s hearty, fresh, and always a crowd favorite!Course entree, Salad, Side DishCuisine AmericanKeyword grinder pasta salad, grinder pasta salad recipe, Italian grinder pasta salad recipePrep Time 20 minutesminutesTotal Time 20 minutesminutesServings 8ServingsCalories 601kcalAuthor Alyssa Rivers

Equipment

Pot for boiling pastaStrainerKnifeCutting BoardWhiskLarge bowl for mixing pasta salad

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

12ouncesuncooked rotini pastaor pasta of choice1½cupschopped romaine lettuceor iceberg1cuphalved grape tomatoes1cupchopped salami1cupchopped pepperoni1cupchopped deli turkeyor ham1cupchopped provolone cheesecupsliced red onioncupsliced pepperoncini peppersred pepper flakesoptional for garnish

Dressing

1cupmayonnaise1tablespoonred wine vinegar1teaspoonkosher saltteaspoonfreshly cracked black pepper1tablespoonItalian seasoning2teaspoonsminced garlic3tablespoonspepperoncini liquidcupgrated parmesan cheese

Instructions

Pasta Salad

Cook 12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain the pasta in a strainer, then rinse the pasta under cold water. Drain well and set aside.In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, 1½ cups chopped romaine lettuce1 cup halved grape tomatoes1 cup chopped salami1 cup chopped pepperoni1 cup chopped deli turkey1 cup chopped provolone cheese½ cup sliced red onion, and ½ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers

Dressing

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together 1 cup mayonnaise½ cup grated parmesan cheese1 tablespoon red wine vinegar1 teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper1 tablespoon Italian seasoning2 teaspoons minced garlic, and 3 tablespoons pepperoncini liquid until combined.Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss to coat the ingredients well. Garnish with red pepper flakes if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Leftover and Make Ahead InstructionsRefrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 2–3 days. For best results, reserve a little dressing and toss it in right before serving to freshen it up.Freezer: Not recommended, as the texture will not hold up well after thawing.Make-Ahead: You can prep the ingredients ahead of time, just wait to toss the salad with the dressing until right before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 601kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 23gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 1599mgPotassium: 403mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1179IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 220mgIron: 2mg

More Flavorful Pasta Salad Recipes to Try

If you try this pasta salad, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and let me know how it turned out for you! And if you’re looking for more easy crowd-pleasers, I’ve got plenty of pasta salad recipes you’ll want to try next.