Grinder Salad Recipe: This Chopped Grinder Salad is a twist on the beloved Italian Grinder sub! A hearty and satisfying mix of crunchy lettuce, savory cold cuts, pepperoncini peppers, red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and delicious provolone cheese tossed in a homemade, creamy, and tangy dressing! Grinder Salad Recipe: All the flavors, without the bread!

What is an Italian Grinder?

An Italian Grinder sandwich is simply a sub sandwich or hoagie (depending on where you’re from and what you call it!). It is a type of sandwich consisting of a long, crusted bread roll (aka hoagie roll) filled with a variety of ingredients, including Italian deli meats, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, peppers, and various condiments such as mayo, mustard, or olive oil and vinegar.

The sandwich is usually served cold, but toasting is a popular option, too. The combination of savory meats, creamy cheese, fresh veggies, and tangy condiments makes it a popular, beloved sandwich all over the US!

The grinder name itself seems to come from New England, and while there are a few different origin stories, the most common is that the term “grinder” comes from the need to “grind” one’s teeth into the tough Italian bread that the sandwich is served on. Regardless of where it comes from, the only important thing is that it’s absolutely delicious!

What Makes This Grinder Salad Recipe Great

Today, we’re switching things up and making an Italian Grinder Salad version of this beloved sub. All of the same tastes, flavors, and ingredients of an Italian sub, without the bread! A gluten-free, hearty salad with a tangy and delicious creamy dressing! 

I love this salad because it’s a satisfying, filling, and scrumptious blend of all your favorite sandwich ingredients in a lower-carb, salad form. It’s easy to whip up for lunch or dinner, and it makes a great recipe for meal prep.

Also Read: Chopped Italian Sandwich Recipe: Easy, Fresh & Flavorful

Salad Ingredients

Iceberg lettuce: You can substitute Romaine lettuce if desired. 

red onion

chopped pepperoncini peppers or banana peppers

cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

cucumbers

salami

Deli turkey: I used the Applegate Farms brand. 

Deli ham: I used the Applegate Farms brand.

provolone cheese

Grinder Salad Dressing

Mayonnaise: Use regular or vegan mayonnaise, depending on what you have on hand. 

plain non-fat Greek yogurt

red wine vinegar

pepperocini juice

grated parmesan cheese

garlic powder

oregano

salt

black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Combine the lettuce, onion, pepperoncinis, tomatoes, cucumbers, salami, turkey, ham, and provolone in a large mixing bowl. 

Step 2

Add the dressing ingredients to a separate bowl or mason jar with a lid and whisk (or shake) until smooth. 

Step 3

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

Variations and Substitutions: Feel free to customize this salad the way you would your sub sandwich! Add more veggies (bell peppers), different meats (roast beef, chicken, etc.), or spices (Italian seasoning and/or red pepper flakes work well!), or substitute ingredients you don’t prefer. 

Dairy-Free: For a dairy-free version, omit the Greek yogurt and use all mayonnaise, and omit the cheese or use a vegan cheese alternative instead. 

Serving & Storage Tips

Serve as a complete meal for lunch or dinner. Once tossed, the salad should be eaten right away. Stored leftovers can get soggy, but if you want to save them, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. 

To meal prep, store the undressed salad in individual airtight containers and the dressing portioned into small jars with lids. Toss before serving and enjoy!

Also Read: Easy Fried Pickle Dipping Sauce: You Can Make It in Minutes  

Conclusion

Grinder Salad Recipe un logon ke liye perfect hai jo Italian sandwich ka taste bread ke baghair enjoy karna chahte hain. Grinder Salad Recipe Is salad mein fresh sabziyan, meats, cheese aur creamy dressing sab milkar bohot mazaydaar flavor banate hain.

Banana bhi bohot asaan hai aur aap isay apni pasand ke mutabiq badal bhi sakte hain. Lunch, dinner ya meal prep—ye salad har waqt ke liye great choice hai. Grinder Salad Recipe Ek dafa bana kar dekhein, zaroor pasand aayegi!

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