Description
Turn your favorite sandwich into a crave-worthy pasta salad with this Italian Grinder Tortellini Salad. It’s loaded with cheesy tortellini, deli meats, provolone, banana peppers, and a creamy Italian dressing for an easy dinner, hearty lunch, or crowd-pleasing potluck dish. This quick and flavorful recipe doubles as a meal prep idea, pasta salad side, or healthy-ish snack packed with protein and tangy goodness. Great for anyone looking for fun dinner ideas, food ideas, or a no-fuss easy recipe.
Ingredients
1 pound cheese tortellini, refrigerated or frozen
4 ounces deli ham, chopped
4 ounces salami, chopped
4 ounces pepperoni, chopped
4 ounces provolone cheese, cubed or shredded
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small cucumber, sliced
1/2 cup banana peppers, drained
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup creamy Italian dressing (plus more if needed)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let it cool completely.
2. Dice ham, salami, pepperoni, and provolone. Halve cherry tomatoes, slice cucumber and red onion, and drain banana peppers.
3. In a large bowl, gently toss cooled tortellini with meats, cheese, and vegetables.
4. Pour in creamy Italian dressing. Start with 1/2 cup and add more if needed. Toss to coat evenly.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra banana peppers or Italian seasoning if desired.
Notes
For best texture, cook tortellini al dente and let it cool fully before mixing.
To prep ahead, assemble everything but the dressing, then toss just before serving.
Want a spicy kick? Use hot banana peppers or add crushed red pepper to the dressing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: pasta salad, grinder salad, tortellini recipe, summer sides, potluck recipes