Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

Crispy pesto-coated orecchiette tossed with Italian meats, cheeses, and a zesty creamy grinder dressing for the ultimate viral pasta salad.

Course Salad, Sides

Cuisine Italian-Inspired

Keyword Pasta Salad

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings - 6 as a side

Calories 494kcal

3-4 slices prosciutto, cut into small pieces. crisped in the air fryer
1 cup (about 135 grams) cubed mozzarella or provolone cheese, ½ inch cubes
¾ cup DeLallo Whole Mild Pepperoncini Peppers, stems removed and chopped into rounds (about 12 pepperoncini)
1 ½ cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
⅓ cup cubed salami
½ cup muffaletta spread (or olive salad)
⅓ cup DeLallo Sun-Dried Tomatoes, drained from their oil and chopped
⅓ cup diced red onions
⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
1 ½ cups shaved iceberg lettuce (or sub with same amount of thinly sliced romaine lettuce or shaved brussels sprouts)

Make the dressing: To a small bowl or glass jar add the pepperoncini brine, mayonnaise, olive oil, kosher salt, ground pepper, worcestershire (or soy sauce), pressed garlic, grated parmesan cheese and lemon juice. Whisk well to combine. Set aside in the fridge.
Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package instructions and then drain well.
Air fry the pasta: After the pasta is well-drained, add the pasta to a mixing bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of pesto. Add the seasoned pasta to the air fryer and air fry at 390F for 10-15 minutes, tossing every few minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Set aside on a baking sheet in a single layer.
Air fry the prosciutto: To make the prosciutto crispy, air fry the small pieces of prosciutto at 450F for 2 minutes. Set aside.
Assemble the pasta salad: To a large bowl add the cubed cheese, chopped pepperoncini, halved tomatoes, cubed salami, crispy prosciutto, muffaletta spread (or olive salad), chopped sundried tomatoes and diced red onions. If serving right away, add the iceberg lettuce; if not, leave out and toss in the salad before serving.
Drizzle the dressing all over the salad, toss to combine and garnish with the torn fresh basil leaves.

Muffaletta spread or olive salad can generally be found in jars in specialty Italian stores or in the pickle section of the grocery store. If you cannot find this ingredient, jarred giardiniera (chopped into bite-sized pieces) is a great alternative.
This is a great salad to accompany grilled protein like our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers