Description
Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is a bright, protein‑rich side dish featuring al dente pasta tossed with smoked beef, provolone cheese, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini and a creamy grape‑juice mayo dressing. Perfect for summer picnics, BBQs, or quick lunches, this easy recipe serves six, takes only 30 minutes total, and stays fresh chilled for a satisfying, flavorful experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (rotini, fusilli, or penne)
- 1 cup smoked beef, diced
- 1 cup provolone cheese, cubed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup grape juice
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente.
- Drain and rinse pasta under cold water to cool.
- In a bowl, whisk mayonnaise, grape juice, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl combine cooled pasta, smoked beef, provolone, tomatoes, and pepperoncini.
- Pour dressing over the mixture and toss to coat evenly.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra zest, add a pinch of red‑pepper flakes to the dressing. The salad holds up well for make‑ahead meals
- keep dressing separate until just before serving to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Italian Grinder Pasta Salad, easy pasta salad, summer side dish, Italian pasta salad, smoked beef salad, quick pasta recipes, picnic recipes, how to make pasta salad, best pasta salad