Easy Grinder Salad 

This easy grinder salad uses less mayo than the traditional viral recipe which makes it slightly tangier and more delicious. It’s a perfect summer salad that’s full of delicious Italian flavors. 

Jump to:

• What is Easy Grinder Salad
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make it
• What goes with a Grinder Salad
• Frequently asked questions
• Save this recipe for later
• Recipe

What is Easy Grinder Salad

If you're on tiktok, you probably already know what a grinder salad is! But if not, quite simply, it's a salad made with the same ingredients as a grinder sandwich, minus the bread. Obvs.

These super tasty, totally loaded Italian sandwiches are typically made with a long, crusty roll, filled with meats, cheeses, vegetables, and a creamy salad dressing.

My version of this trend is a salad that's made with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, salami, ham, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and all the pickly things.

Then it's dressed with my favorite garlicky salad vinaigrette and a little bit of Kewpie mayo to make it just barely creamy .

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Iceberg lettuce - This can be swapped for a green of your choice. My second choice would be romaine lettuce followed by arugula.
• Salami - You could also use any italian cold cut of your choice. I like one salty (like salami, soppressata, or finocchiona) and one slightly sweet - see below.
• Ham - If you don't like ham, you could also use honey roasted turkey or chicken breast. As long as it's slightly sweet compared to the other meat, you're set!
• Fresh Mozzarella - You could also swap it for provolone, asiago, manchego, or another delicious cheese.
• Cherry Tomatoes - Any sort of tomato will work just fine!
• Banana Peppers - If you don't like banana peppers, you could also use marinated roasted red peppers.
• Pickled Pink Onions - My pickled pink onions are so good but you could also use regular red onions.
• Pickled Jalapenos - If you're not into heat, leave these off. I don't recommend fresh jalapenos.
• Garlic Expressions - Feel free to use your favorite italian salad dressing, Bonus points if it's as garlicky as Garlic Expressions.
• Red Wine Vinegar - This ingredient is totally adaptable. You could use any sort of vinegar that you love or think would work.
• Kewpie Mayo - Any mayo will work - i just like that you can drizzle kewpie which makes it easier to combine into the salad dressing.
• Parmigiano - Another hard aged cheese like pecorino romano or grana padano would also work.

How to make it

Honestly, there's nothing to it!

First, you'll just wash and chop all of your ingredients.

Then add them all ingredients to a large bowl and toss together. 

I always recommend giving it a taste then then adding more dressing, salt and pepper if needed. 

This salad is best when served right away. 

What goes with a Grinder Salad

Since it's so versatile, I love pairing my Easy Grinder Salad with almost any recipe!

If I were making it for lunch, I'd pair it with my easy ciabatta caprese sandwiches, this tasty honey grilled cheese or even some rustic tortellini soup.

For dinner, I'd pair it with some creamy pesto pasta, trader joe's sweet corn ravioli with lemon basil cream sauce, cheesy orzo with broccoli, baked feta spaghetti squash.

For dessert, I would suggest my Mango Croffles or my Cool Whip Key Lime Pie.

Frequently asked questions

Can I customize my grinder salad?

100% -- Absolutely! One of the best things about this grinder salad trend is how versatile it is! You can make it your own by adding or omitting ingredients based on your preferences. Feel free to experiment with different meats, cheeses, vegetables, or even dressings to create a unique flavor combination that suits your taste buds.

Can I make a vegetarian or vegan grinder salad?

For a vegetarian grinder salad, you can replace the meat with plant-based alternatives like marinated tofu, tempeh, or seitan. Or try adding in more veggies like chick peas or marinated white beans or artichoke hearts.

If you're a vegan, you can swap out the cheese for your favorite dairy-free cheeses. The key is to get creative and select ingredients that align with your dietary needs and preferences!

Can I prepare grinder salads in advance?

The grinder salad can be made in advance but I don't recommend tossint it altogether until you're ready to eat it. This means you can chop the vegetables, meats, and make the dressing ahead of time but keep them in seperate containers. Store them in your fridge and when you're ready to eat, simply toss everything together and dig in. This way, you can have a fresh and delicious grinder salad without the last-minute hassle.

Save this recipe for later

Want to save this Easy Grinder Salad for another time? I got you!

You can pin any image on this page or use the pretty ones I made below specifically for your summer salad pinterest boards.

And if you don't already, feel free to follow me on pinterest, instagram, youtube, facebook, and tiktok for tasty inspiration shared daily!

And if pinterest isn't really your thing, you can always scroll down to the bottom of this post and print the printable recipe card. 

Recipe