If you love a loaded Italian grinder sandwich, this Grinder Tortellini Salad is about to become your new obsession. Packed with cheese-filled tortellini, savory deli meats, crisp vegetables, and a creamy grinder-style dressing, this salad delivers everything you love about a hoagie—without the bread.

This recipe takes the viral grinder salad concept and upgrades it with tender cheese tortellini, transforming it into a hearty, satisfying pasta salad perfect for potlucks, barbecues, lunches, and meal prep. It’s bold, creamy, tangy, and unapologetically indulgent while still feeling fresh and balanced.

Why Grinder Tortellini Salad Is So Popular

Grinder salads exploded in popularity because they capture the essence of an Italian deli sandwich in a lighter, fork-friendly format. Adding tortellini takes things a step further, making it more filling and perfect as a standalone meal.

Here’s why people can’t get enough of it:

All the flavors of a grinder—no bread required
Perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and savory
Hearty enough for a main dish
Excellent for make-ahead meals
Crowd-pleasing and customizable

This salad hits the sweet spot between comfort food and fresh deli flavors.

What Makes This Salad Special

Unlike traditional pasta salads that rely on bottled dressing, Grinder Tortellini Salad uses a homemade creamy grinder dressing inspired by classic sub shop flavors. Red wine vinegar adds tang, mayo brings creaminess, and Italian seasoning ties everything together.

The cheese tortellini acts as the perfect base, soaking up the dressing while still holding its shape. Every bite delivers pasta, meat, cheese, crunch, and zing—exactly what you want.

Ingredients for Grinder Tortellini Salad

Simple deli staples and pantry ingredients come together to create this flavor-packed dish.

Ingredients

Cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated)
Salami, sliced or chopped
Pepperoni slices
Provolone cheese, cubed
Romaine lettuce, shredded
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Red onion, thinly sliced
Banana pepper rings
Mayonnaise
Red wine vinegar
Olive oil
Italian seasoning
Garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper

Optional additions include olives, roasted red peppers, or pepperoncini for extra bite.

How to Make Grinder Tortellini Salad

This recipe is straightforward and comes together quickly once the tortellini is cooked.

Instructions

Cook the tortellini
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly with cool water. Set aside to cool completely.
Prepare the vegetables and meats
Slice the salami and pepperoni, cube the provolone, halve the tomatoes, shred the lettuce, and thinly slice the red onion.
Make the grinder dressing
In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
Assemble the salad
In a large bowl, combine cooled tortellini, meats, cheese, tomatoes, onion, and banana peppers.
Dress and toss
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
Add lettuce last
Fold in the shredded romaine just before serving to keep it crisp.
Chill or serve
Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Grinder Tortellini Salad

A hearty pasta salad made with cheese tortellini, deli meats, provolone, crisp vegetables, and creamy grinder-style dressing.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 420

Ingredients

20 oz cheese tortellini cooked and cooled
4 oz salami sliced
4 oz pepperoni sliced
1 cup provolone cheese cubed
2 cups romaine lettuce shredded
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
0.5 cup red onion thinly sliced
0.5 cup banana peppers
0.75 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
0.5 tsp garlic powder
0.5 tsp salt
0.25 tsp black pepper

Equipment

Large pot
Mixing bowls
Whisk

Method

Cook tortellini according to package instructions, drain, and cool completely.
In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
In a large bowl, combine tortellini, salami, pepperoni, provolone, tomatoes, onion, and banana peppers.
Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat.
Fold in romaine lettuce just before serving.

Notes

Add lettuce right before serving to maintain crunch. Adjust vinegar for desired tanginess.

Pro Tips for the Best Grinder Tortellini Salad

Cool the pasta completely before dressing to avoid sogginess
Add lettuce last for maximum crunch
Use high-quality deli meats for authentic flavor
Taste and adjust acidity with more vinegar if needed
Don’t overdress—add gradually and toss gently

Delicious Variations

Spicy Grinder Salad
Add crushed red pepper flakes or spicy salami.

Chicken Grinder Tortellini Salad
Swap cured meats for grilled chicken breast.

Lighter Version
Use half mayo and half Greek yogurt for the dressing.

Antipasto-Style
Add olives, artichokes, and roasted red peppers.

Serving Suggestions

Grinder Tortellini Salad works beautifully as:

A main dish salad
A potluck or picnic favorite
A BBQ side dish
A meal-prep lunch
A game-day crowd pleaser

Serve with crusty bread, fresh fruit, or a simple soup for a complete meal.

Make-Ahead & Storage

Make ahead: Yes, up to 24 hours
Store: Refrigerate up to 3 days
Best texture: Add lettuce just before serving
Not freezer-friendly

Italian-American Deli Inspiration

This salad is inspired by classic Italian-American grinder sandwiches found in delis across the U.S. These sandwiches are known for bold meats, tangy vinegar, creamy dressing, and crisp lettuce—all elements perfectly captured in this pasta salad.

Final Thoughts

Grinder Tortellini Salad is everything you love about an Italian sub, transformed into a hearty, shareable dish that’s easy to make and impossible to resist. It’s creamy, tangy, meaty, and fresh all at once—exactly the kind of recipe that disappears fast and gets requested again.

Once you make it, it’s guaranteed to earn a permanent place in your recipe rotation.

Grinder Tortellini Salad: A Bold Twist on the Classic Italian Sub