Who doesn’t love a classic grinder sub sandwich? Sometimes though, you want all that amazing filling without the bread. Enter – the Grinder Salad! I love salad recipes, and this one is no exception.
I am a huge fan of a big crisp salad! I know not everyone is, so I appreciate that “salad” covers a lot of different foods. The ham is great in this grinder salad, but if you prefer less lettuce I’d recommend a classic diner ham salad.
If you’re big on the Italian flavors here, then an Italian Chopped Salad is also the perfect idea! You could make both and serve them up at a potluck. Adding pasta to your salad is a great way to stretch both salad AND pasta – so I recommend a Caesar chicken pasta salad as the best of both worlds.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Comes together quickly: This salad tastes amazing right when you mix it, no need to wait.
- Customizable: I tend to a creamy Italian dressing, but you can swap in your best vinaigrette!
- Get kids cooking: There aren’t any “hard” ingredients here, so it’s perfect to let kids practice with a knife or even kitchen scissors.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Italian grinder salad.
- Lettuce – Use iceberg or romaine, whichever you prefer. I think romaine has a bit more flavor, but iceberg has that classic crunch. You can generally find already chopped Romaine, too, to save even more time!
- Meat – Deli ham and salami are the classic Italian meats, but you can adjust this however you like! Prefer turkey – I say, why not? Try pepperoni in place of salami.
- Cheese – Provolone is a mild cheese but not boring. And fresh Parmesan has a “bite” to it. Use Swiss and Asiago for fun swaps! You could also small dice a block of cheese instead of using slices.
- Pepperoncini – These mild peppers just scream Italian cuisine, so don’t skip them! Banana peppers are also tasty here.
- Salad Dressing – I made my own by adding lots of seasoning and spices to mayo. Feel free to use your own family recipe or grab a bottle of creamy Italian dressing at the store. You can also use a regular Italian or vinaigrette of choice.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
How to Make a Chopped Grinder Salad
Cut, mix, toss, and serve!
STEP 1. Make dressing. If you are making your own dressing, do that first so the flavors marry while you continue.
STEP 2. Chop everything. Get going on practicing your knife skills! Cut everything into similar bite-sized pieces so that you can easily get many flavors on the fork at once.
Tip: Prefer less mayo? Use less mayo and drizzle in some olive oil to thin things out and make it less of a creamy dressing.
STEP 3. Grab a bowl. Add the chopped ingredients to your biggest salad bowl.
STEP 4. Dress and toss. Spread the dressing over the salad and give it a great big toss!
Recipe Pro Tips
- Use a new bowl. Use your biggest bowl so you have room to evenly toss the ingredients without making a mess. Then, transfer the tossed salad to a clean bowl that fits the salad juuuust right. This gives you a beautiful presentation that is worth the extra dirty dish!
- Keep cold. For food safety, don’t let this salad sit out too long. Depending on fridge space, it might be easier to keep the salad and dressing separate in smaller containers, and then toss right before serving.
Recipe FAQs
For less fat and more protein, try swapping out half or all of the mayo for plain Greek yogurt! It is slightly thicker than mayo, so you may need to play around a bit with your ratios. Also try adding a touch of olive oil to thin things out if necessary.
For optimal freshness, it is recommended to enjoy this salad immediately. If storing for later, add the dressing separately and store the salad in an airtight container. This way, the salad should last for a couple of days, and you can add the dressing when ready to eat.
Feel free to use various salad dressings as alternatives. Regular Italian dressing or vinaigrette are both suitable choices. Experiment with different dressings to find the flavor that suits your preference.
Storage for Meal Prep
Look at this cute idea! These little containers are perfect for meal prepping. Add your salad ingredients in a couple of these and put the dressing separately in little cups. Then you are all set with packed lunches for the week!
What to Serve with Grinder Salad
I personally love a big hunk of French bread or Italian bread with butter next to my salad. Yes, I know we are making a salad without the bread – but if you’re still craving bread then go for it! You can also add croutons to the salad if you prefer.
More Salad Recipes You’ll Love
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Grinder Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 head iceberg lettuce or Romaine lettuce shredded
- ½ red onion chopped
- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup pepperoncini sliced
- 6 ounces deli ham sliced
- 4 ounces salami sliced
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Salad dressing homemade or a bottle
- Croutons optional
Salad Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Dressing:
- In a bowl whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cover and place in the refrigerator. This can be done up to two days in advance.
Salad:
- Prep all the ingredients by making sure everything is cut into bit-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl add the shredded lettuce.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, ham, salami, provolone cheese, and parmesan on top of the lettuce.
- Drizzle dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss the salad ingredients together with the dressing.
- Serve and enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Use the included homemade dressing, or about 1 cup from a bottle of ready made dressing. Regular Italian or a vinaigrette both work nicely.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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