This Italian Grinder Salad is the salad version of the viral Tik Tok sandwich! It’s basically all the ingredients of an Italian sub made into a creamy and delicious salad.

I knew I had a winner with this recipe when Pat took one bite and said “we need to make this every week”. And I agree … this might have to be a weekly staple.
I’m sure you’ve seen the viral Italian grinder sandwich on TikTok right now. It’s an Italian sandwich that’s all about the lettuce mixture you put on top.
The dressing for this salad is just a few simple ingredients you probably already have: mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and some spices. The secret ingredient that makes it special are the banana peppers or peperoncini. They add just the right about of tanginess to complement the creaminess of the dressing. YUM!

The salad itself is hugely customizable. It’s super similar to the Sub in a Tub you can get from Jersey Mike’s. Basically just throw all your favorite sandwich ingredients into a salad.
I used lettuce, tomato, onion, peperoncini, turkey, salami and cheese. But this would really be good with any deli meat or cheese or vegetables you love.

Tips for Making the Perfect Italian Grinder Salad
- Choose the right mayonnaise. My favorites are Hellman’s or Primal Kitchen. If you’re not a huge mayonnaise fan, this would also be good with plain Greek yogurt.
- Mix up your deli meat. I used turkey and salami, but this would also be amazing with capicola, prosciutto, ham … whatever you have!
- Add in the toppings. Basically whatever you would put on a sub sandwich would be great in this salad. I used peperoncini, red onion and tomatoes but I think this would be amazing with the addition of olives, bell peppers and pickles.
- Don’t forget the cheese. I had a block of smoked cheddar that was amazing, but mozzarella, provolone, parmesan or any type of cheddar would be great.
- Top it with something crunchy. I love croutons or toasted panko bread crumbs.

I didn’t earn the reputation of the salad queen for nothing! This salad is another amazing addition to my list of salads that are actually satisfying. (My other favorites are Antipasto Salad, Buffalo Chicken Salad, and Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.
I hope you love this Italian Grinder Salad as much as we did. Which Tik Tok food trend are you trying next?!

Italian Grinder Salad
This Italian Grinder Salad is all the ingredients of an Italian sandwich in a delicious salad.
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 teaspoon oregano
For the Salad
- 1/2 head of iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1/4 red onion, sliced or chopped
- 1/3 cup banana peppers or peperoncini, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped deli meat of choice (I used salami and turkey)
- 1/2 cup cheese of choice (parmesan, smoked cheddar, mozzarella pearls, or provolone work well)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine dressing ingredients.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix to combine.
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Michael
Saturday 3rd of May 2025
Never, never, never use mayo with an Italian recipe. It is disgusting!
Laura D
Friday 25th of April 2025
My husband and I eat a LOT of salads and this one has been added to our rotation. It is absolutely delicious and perfect as a main course! The only changes I made was to add some banana pepper juice to the dressing as I wanted a slightly thinner dressing and used rice vinegar instead of the red wine vinegar. The flavor was spot on! I am making it again today to share with guests. Thank you for sharing.
Shell
Saturday 2nd of December 2023
I make this ALL THE time! I LOVE IT! Thank you.
Tammy
Sunday 22nd of October 2023
Can you put that salad on a sub?
Kelli
Thursday 11th of July 2024
@Tammy, I sometimes do. I like it better this way than the traditional Italian sub sandwich.
Ashley
Friday 8th of September 2023
How many servings does this make?