This Italian Grinder Sandwich is one of the best sandwiches EVER! French bread is stuffed with meat and cheese, baked until warm and toasty, and then topped generously with a creamy grinder salad with lettuce, mayo, tangy peppers, and more. The combo is out-of-this-world good!
Have you seen the Italian Grinder Sandwich on TikTok? The viral grinder sandwich has gone crazy over there (and for good reason!) My version of the TikTok Grinder Sandwich has three different types of meat, melty provolone cheese, and the most amazing grinder salad. I’m in love!
I’m a huge fan of Italian grinders. I’ve shared Italian grinder sliders, Italian grinder salad, and Italian grinder pasta salad, but I thought it was time to make a piled-high Italian grinder sub sandwich with all the grinder fixings. And it is so, so good!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy to make – This Italian grinder sandwich recipe uses an entire loaf of French bread to make one giant sandwich. To serve, just slice it into sections. No need to assemble multiple sandwiches – love it!
- Amazing deli-style sandwich at home – This grinder sub sandwich tastes like one you’d get at a popular deli with lines around the block. But instead, you can make it yourself for a fraction of the price – and you don’t even need to leave the house!
- Crowd pleaser – Everyone gets excited when this grinder sandwich is on the menu! It’s family friendly and makes a great lunch or easy dinner, but is also super easy to scale up to feed a larger crew on game day.
- Just, SO delicious! – This Italian grinder has it all. Melted cheese, savory cold cuts, buttery golden bread, and a generous amount of crisp, tangy, creamy grinder salad. This really is the best Italian grinder recipe!
Recipe Notes
This Italian Grinder Sandwich recipe is as simple as promised! Just 10 minutes prep time for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make this Italian Grinder Sandwich to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the sandwich:
- French bread – You’ll need one loaf of French Bread, about 18 inches long, cut in half lengthwise.
- Butter – I use salted butter here, but if you only have unsalted, that’s fine. You may just want to add another small pinch of salt.
- Parmesan – Part of the cheesy butter spread that goes on the sandwich before toasting. You’ll need a couple tablespoons of finely grated Parm.
- Garlic powder – For a touch of garlicky flavor in the cheesy butter spread.
- Salt – Add more or less to taste.
- Ham, Pepperoni, & Salami – You’ll want thinly sliced meats. I like to buy them in bulk from the deli department. Feel free to change up your grinder sandwich ingredients by swapping in your favorite deli cuts such as turkey, roast beef, chicken, and other Italian cured deli meat.
- Provolone cheese – Find provolone in your grocery store deli. They’ll usually slice it for you or will offer it pre-sliced in packages.
Grinder salad topping:
- Lettuce – A crisp lettuce like iceberg or romaine hearts are best here.
- Tomato – You’ll be chopping it up, so any kind of tomato will work here.
- Pepperoncini peppers – Found in the pickle section of most grocery stores, pepperoncini peppers are generally mild and tangy, and add a nice bite that really does make this the best Italian grinder recipe.
- Mayonnaise – For a creamy base.
- Red wine vinegar – A little bit of acid helps to balance out all of the flavors.
- Italian seasoning – Grab a bottle of Italian seasoning at the store, or you can make your own Italian seasoning spice mix at home (it’s easy!)
- Salt & pepper – Add more or less, to taste.
- Garlic powder – An easy way to add garlic flavor.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Grinder Salad Sandwich (Chopped Grinder Sandwich)– For this variation of the grinder sandwich, you’ll chop up the deli meats and cheese and add those to the grinder salad, then pile it all in the toasted bread.
- Italian Sausage Grinder– Swap in browned Italian sausages for the deli meat.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make an Italian Grinder Sandwich.
Cut the French bread horizontally and lay cut-side up on a baking sheet. Spread on the Parm-butter mix. Layer on the meat.
Top the deli meats with the slices of provolone cheese, slightly overlapping them so that they all fit.
Make the grinder salad. Add the lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and dressing ingredients to a bowl.
Toss together until well-mixed. You can give it a quick taste and add more salt and pepper if you like.
Bake the bread, meat, and cheese until the cheese is melted and the garlic butter is bubbly.
Pile the grinder salad over the top of the cheese. Close the sandwich, slice into sections, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Broil for extra browning – After baking your Italian grinder sandwich, switch the oven to broil for the last minute or two to get some nice crispy browned edges. But watch it carefully! It will only take a minute or two; much more than that and your sandwich could burn.
- Dry your lettuce well – After washing the lettuce, use a salad spinner or paper towels to dry it very well. This will help to avoid a soggy sandwich.
- Cut with a large serrated knife – A bread knife is your best bet for slicing this grinder sandwich into sections without squishing it.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Buy pre-shredded lettuce – You can often find lettuce that’s already washed and shredded at the grocery store, saving you that step.
- Prep ahead – Mix up the Parmesan butter in advance and prep the salad ingredients (but don’t combine them yet). Place in separate airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 2 days in advance until you’re ready to make this grinder sandwich recipe.
What to Serve with an Italian Grinder Sandwich
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of Italian-American food, it will pair well with many of your favorite Italian-inspired side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Recipe FAQ’s
What is a grinder sandwich?
A grinder sandwich is a type of sub sandwich that’s served hot. Grinder sandwiches are thought to have first originated in the United States, and often contained meatballs or sausages.
What is the difference between hoagies and grinders?
A hoagie is the same thing as a sub sandwich, which is a sandwich served on a long bun. Hoagies/subs are served cold, while grinders are served hot.
More EASY Sandwich Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy sandwich recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Chicken Tender Subs
- Easy Philly Cheesesteak (with Ground Beef)
- Garlic Bread Chicken Caesar Sandwich
- Brisket Grilled Cheese
Baked Italian Grinder Sandwich
Ingredients
For the sandwich
- 1 french bread loaf, 18 inches long
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces ham, thinly sliced
- 2 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni
- 2 ounces thinly sliced salami
- 4 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
Grinder salad topping
- 8 ounces shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomato
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
- Cut the french bread loaf horizontally. Lay the halves on a baking sheet open side up.
- Combine the butter, parmesan, garlic powder, and salt. Spread over the top half of the french bread loaf.
- Layer the ham, pepperoni, and salami on the bottom half of the bread, then top with provolone cheese. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the garlic butter is melted and bubbly.Optional: Broil for the last 1-2 minutes of the cook time to get extra browned crispy edges.
- While the grinder sandwich bakes, make the grinder salad topping by whisking together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to form a dressing.Toss the lettuce, tomatoes, and peperoncini peppers together with the dressing.
- Once the sandwich is done, add the grinder salad on top of the provolone and top with the garlic butter bread top. Cut into 4 large or 8 small, finger sized, sandwiches. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Sliced ham – If you prefer a different deli meat, you can substitute it with turkey, roast beef, or even chicken.
- Provolone cheese – If you’re not a fan of provolone, you can use Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, or mozzarella as a substitution.
- Pepperoni or Salami – Other Italian cold cuts like sliced pastrami, corned beef, or any other cured deli meat will work as well.
- Butter – You can use olive oil or a non-dairy butter substitute
- Parmesan cheese – You can also use grated Pecorino Romano or a blend of Italian cheeses if you don’t have parmesan.
Leave a Reply