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A vibrant Grinder Tortellini Salad filled with colorful ingredients.

Classic Italian Deli Grinder Tortellini Salad

This delightful Classic Italian Deli Grinder Tortellini Salad combines the best of a deli sandwich with a refreshing pasta salad. Featuring savory cured meats, cheeses, crisp vegetables, and a zesty Italian dressing, it's perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a delicious weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 550 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • colander
  • large mixing bowl
  • small bowl

Ingredients
  

Pasta

  • 16 ounces cheese tortellini refrigerated

Meats & Cheeses

  • 4 ounces sliced salami diced
  • 4 ounces pepperoni diced
  • 4 ounces provolone cheese cubed
  • 4 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved

Vegetables & Olives

  • 1 cup romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini sliced
  • 1/2 cup black olives sliced

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • red pepper flakes (optional), Pinch of

Garnish (Optional)

  • Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
  • Grated Parmesan for serving

Instructions
 

Cooking Tortellini

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the tortellini according to package directions until al dente.
  • Drain the cooked tortellini, rinse under cold water to cool, and set aside to drain completely.

Preparing Ingredients

  • Dice salami, pepperoni, and provolone; halve mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes; thinly slice red onion, pepperoncini, and black olives.
  • Just before assembling, chop the romaine lettuce.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes until emulsified.

Assembly & Serving

  • In a large bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, diced salami, pepperoni, provolone, mozzarella, red onion, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, black olives, and chopped romaine.
  • Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or ideally 1-2 hours, to allow flavors to meld.
  • Toss again before serving; optionally garnish with fresh parsley, basil, or grated Parmesan.

Notes

For an extra kick, add more red pepper flakes to the dressing. You can also customize by adding other deli meats like ham or turkey, or different cheeses. This salad tastes even better the next day!