If you've ever wanted to enjoy all the flavors of a classic Italian grinder sandwich in a lighter, meal-prep friendly way, then I think you'll love my Favorite Grinder Pasta Salad. Think crisp lettuce, tangy pepperoncini, salty meats, creamy mozzarella, and a tangy vinaigrette, all tossed with pasta for the ultimate hearty, high-protein salad. When made with protein pasta, it packs around 35g of protein per serving, making it as filling as it is delicious.
Equipment
- Meal Prep Containers My Zwilling Fresh and Save containers are my favorite for meal prep!
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 8 Ounces Pasta of Choice I used rotini
- 1 ½ Cups Iceberg Lettuce
- ¾ Cup Mini Mozzarella Balls
- ½ Cup Pepperoncini
- ¾ Cup Pepperoni chopped
- ¾ Cup Salami chopped
- ¾ Cups Red Bell Pepper in a jar/can, chopped
- 1 Can Garbanzo Beans drained & rinsed
- ⅓ Cup Red Onion thinly sliced
- ¾ Cups Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese freshly grated
For the Dressing
- ⅓ Cup Olive Oil
- ¼ Cup Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Oregano
- 2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- To make this pasta salad, start by preparing the dressing. Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, oregano, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper to a small mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until the dressing is smooth and fully combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed, then set aside.
- Next, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Chop the iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces, chop the pepperoni and salami, chop the red bell peppers, thinly slice the red onions, and drain and rinse the garbanzo beans.
- Once all the ingredients are prepped, place the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over everything and toss everything together until all the toppings are evenly coated.
- Enjoy!
Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1360mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 789IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 250mg | Iron: 5mg
Did you make this recipe?
I’d love to see what you made - tag @kalejunkie
in your posts and I’ll re-share!
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