Italian Grinder Chopped Salad (Dairy Free)

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Italian grinder salad is the classic Italian sub sandwich in salad form. It’s topped with a lightly creamy, tangy homemade dressing and is loaded with vegetables and protein. This salad recipe is dairy free and gluten free.

Looking for more Italian recipes? Try my dairy free mozzarella sticks, pasta al salmone, or Mediterranean pizza.

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

Simple ingredients – The salad is made with a mixture of fresh ingredients and pantry staples.
Easy – This recipe comes together easily making a great quick lunch or dinner.
Filling – This hearty salad is made with lots of protein and fiber to help keep you full and satiated.

Ingredients

Here’s what I used to make this grinder sub salad:

Crunchy lettuce – iceberg or romaine
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh veggies – bell peppers and cucumber.
Pepperoncini peppers – also called banana peppers
Deli meats – turkey, pepperoni, and salami.
Tangy dressing – olive oil, red wine vinegar, pepperoncini juice, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, honey, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. This isn’t as creamy as what’s typically on an Italian grinder sandwich. It’s more of a creamy Italian vinaigrette dressing, which I prefer for a salad like this, otherwise, it kind of drowns in the dressing.

How to Make Italian Grinder Salad: Step By Step

Make dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Season to taste with more kosher salt or honey as needed.
Assemble salad. Add the salad ingredients to a large bowl.
Combine (if serving right away). Pour the dressing over the top of the salad and use tongs to thoroughly mix until well combined. Enjoy!

Helpful Tips

If you prefer a creamier dressing, you can either increase the amount of mayo to olive oil or use all mayo instead.

Quick Tip: If not eating the salad right away, I highly recommend waiting to dress it until right before serving. Otherwise, it gets a little soggy.

Storage

Store the salad and the dressing in a separate airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Once the salad is dressed, it does get a little soggy so it’s best to consume within 2 days.

Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations

Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.

How can you make this Italian grinder salad recipe using what you already have? Here are some ideas…

No iceberg or romaine lettuce? – you can also use green cabbage or napa cabbage.
Use different deli meats – such as ham, roast beef, pastrami, prosciutto, etc.
Add-ins – red pepper flakes, cheddar cheese, sliced red onion, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I meal prep this Italian grinder salad?

Yes, but as I mentioned above, it’s best to store the salad and the dressing in separate containers so the dressing doesn’t get soggy. Add the dressing just before serving!

More Salad Recipes

I hope you love this Italian Grinder Salad! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!