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Italian Grinder Tortellini Salad

This Italian grinder tortellini salad is packed with all the flavors of an Italian sub but in an easy-to-serve, shareable pasta salad format. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or meal prep, it’s loaded with cheese tortellini, pepperoni, salami, ham, and a zesty dressing that gets better as it sits!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup Mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • ½ tsp Black pepper
  • ½ tsp Dried oregano
  • ½ tsp Red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • 19 oz Cheese tortellini (1 package)
  • 1 cup Pepperoni, chopped
  • 1 cup Salami, chopped
  • 1 cup Deli ham, chopped
  • cup Pepperoncini, chopped
  • 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ small Red onion, diced
  • cup Grated Parmesan cheese
  • optional Black olives, sliced
  • optional Roasted red peppers
  • optional Fresh mozzarella pearls
  • optional Banana peppers
  • optional Fresh basil, torn

Method
 

  1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions (7-9 minutes for refrigerated, a bit longer for frozen). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Let it drain completely.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt.
  3. Chop your pepperoni, salami, ham, and pepperoncini. Halve your cherry tomatoes and dice the red onion.
  4. Add the cooled tortellini to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat everything evenly.
  5. Add the chopped meats, pepperoncini, tomatoes, red onion, and Parmesan cheese. Gently fold everything together to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour, but preferably 2-4 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
  7. Before serving, give the salad a good stir. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Notes

This salad combines bold Italian sub flavors with the satisfying texture of cheese tortellini. It’s the ideal crowd-pleaser that can be prepped ahead and served chilled.

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