The classic Italian Sub sandwich recipe is an easy and affordable sandwich to make yourself. Layered with meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and spicy peppers, it’s a one-handed meal that you’ll want to come back to again and again.
While it’s true you can grab a hero, grinder, or Italian sub at a shop, chances are you’ll wait longer in line than the 15 minutes it takes to make your own at home. Plus, you’ll enjoy a great lunch or dinner at a price that can’t be beat!
Jump to:
There are sandwiches. And then there are sandwiches.
The former are those slap together, boring things, bread and meat, and maybe some cheese, that serve their purposes just fine, but aren’t all that interesting.
The latter, the sandwiches, are something else. There’s still that bread and meat and bit of cheese, but there are veggies and strong flavors like pesto or pepperoncini or herbed mayo.
These sandwiches are what make lunchtime interesting. They have you eager to brown bag it. They make your mouth water just thinking about them. These Italian Sub Sandwiches are those kind of sandwiches.
Why Make This
They are quick and easy to make. A bulk batch of these sandwiches takes only 15 minutes to assemble. I know because making them en masse was one of my first college jobs.
They taste delicious. The combination of savory meats, tangy cheese, creamy herb mayo, crispy lettuce, and juicy tomato just cannot be beat.
They are easily packable. Why pay extra for a sandwich shop hero when you can make a better one for less at home. These pack well so that you can brown bag it in style.
Ingredients
The ingredients in an Italian Sub are pretty straightforward. Here’s what you’ll need:
sub or grinder roll – You can buy these at the grocery store bakery or bake your own Homemade Sub Rolls.
sliced ham and salami – This combo of meats is on point. See the variations below for some favorite restaurant copycat versions.
sliced provolone – This cheese adds a bit of tang without overpowering the meat.
sandwich veggies like shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced onion, pepperoncini – These vegetables offer just the right contrast of textures and tastes to make this sandwich really pop.
dressing – I once got in a heated debate with one of my cookbook editors over the mayo v. vinaigrette option. She held that vinaigrette is a must addition to an Italian sub, while I believe it’s the herbed mayonnaise that takes this sandwich over the top. Choose the one you prefer or you can do as my husband does and add both.
Variations
While I think this is the best Italian sub sandwich on the planet, there are lots of ways to mix things up to suit your fancy.
Change the meats: You can change the combinations of the Italian cold cuts to suit your preferences or to copycat your favorite Subway or Jersey Mike’s sandwich:
- For an Italian BMT: add sliced pepperoni.
- For a Cold Cut Combo: add bologna.
- For a Jersey Shore’s Favorite: sub capicola for the salami.
- For a Super Sub: sub capicola for the salami and add prosciutto.
Add more veggies: you can add avocado slices, coleslaw, other lettuce or spinach, sliced cucumbers, roasted vegetables, jalapenos, olives, Dill Pickles or banana peppers.
Try other condiments: If Herbed Mayonnaise isn’t your style, you can try a Homemade Chipotle Mayo for a little heat or just keep it simple with this Foolproof Homemade Mayonnaise.
Alternatively, you can also use a mustard or relish! Maybe try adding a spread of pesto or add a drizzle of Italian dressing or Balsamic Salad Dressing.
Step-by-Step Instructions
These subs are super simple to make. If you’re making more than one, make the process even easier, by laying them all out at one time and prepping them assembly-line style.
- Slice the roll lengthwise, leaving a hinge on one side. Spread the mayo on both sides of the roll.
- Layer two slices of provolone.
- Add two slices of ham and four slices of salami.
- Add a layer of tomatoes. And then a layer of onion. Add a few handfuls of shredded lettuce. Garnish with a few slices of pepperoncini.
- Carefully fold the sandwich, keeping the filling inside. Serve immediately, or wrap well and store in the fridge until serving.
Make-ahead Instructions
These Italian Sub sandwiches are perfect for packing to school, work, picnics, or road trips. Prepare the sandwiches, wrap well in plastic or a beeswax wrapper and store in the fridge or in a cooler until serving.
When I made hundreds of these sandwiches every day, we prepared them at 6 in the morning to be served until closing time that night.
The mayonnaise is needed to keep the sandwich from being dry, but it will make the sandwich soggy if prepped too far in advance. If you’re going to make these sandwiches a day in advance, I’d leave off the mayo and add it before serving.
FAQs
The ingredients in an Italian Sub are pretty straightforward: sub or grinder roll, sliced provolone, sliced ham and salami, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced onion, pepperoncini.
Bread, meats, and cheeses all freeze and thaw well, however, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes do not. If you’d like to freeze an Italian sub, assemble it with just the bread, meat, and cheese, wrap well with foil, and store in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator a few hours before serving. Consider heating it in the foil or toasting it open faced prior to serving to eliminate any excess moisture. Then you can add mayo, dressing, lettuce, and tomatoes if you wish.
Recipe Costs
Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.
- sub rolls – $2.00
- herbed mayo – $0.26
- provolone – $2.66
- ham – $2.99
- salami – $1.57
- tomato – $0.60
- onion – $0.20
- lettuce – $1.50
- pepperoncini – $0.50
Shopped at a mid-range grocery store at non-sale prices, the ingredients for this recipe end up costing $12.28 for 4 sandwiches. This works out to $3.07 per sandwich!
Comparatively speaking, here’s what you’d pay for similar sandwiches in the same neighborhood:
- pre-made at the grocery store – $6.99
- Jersey Mike’s – $7.95
- Subway – $7.19
Clearly homemade is better as well as cheaper!
Save even more:
Everything you find here on Good Cheap Eats is that: tasty and affordable. But, here are some strategies you can use to make this recipe more economical:
- Meal plan around what’s on sale. Don’t decide to make this when the cold cuts are full pop. Wait for sales.
- Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. For instance, when I see a great price on deli cold cuts, I buy a lot. The same goes for provolone cheese, which is the priciest ingredient on the list.
- Do a price comparison. I know that ALDI is the best place to buy ingredients like cheese or cold cuts when there isn’t a great sale elsewhere. I keep track of prices so that I know who has the best deal where.
- Make your own dressing. It tastes better and it’s cheaper!
- Bake your own rolls. These Homemade White Whole Wheat Sub Rolls or these 5-Ingredient Italian Sandwich Rolls are simple to make and absolutely delicious.
More Great Sandwiches & Sandwich Fillings
Italian Sub Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Italian sub rolls
- 1/2 cup herbed mayonnaise
- 8 provolone cheese slices
- 8 oz sliced ham
- 4 oz salami slices
- 2 tomato sliced
- 1/2 red onion sliced
- 6 oz shredded lettuce
- 8 pepperoncini sliced
Instructions
- Slice the Italian roll lengthwise, but not completely through; leave a hinge.
- Spread 1-2 tablespoons of herbed mayo on the roll.
- Layer the cheese, ham, salami, tomato, onion, shredded lettuce, and pepperoncini. Close the sandwich tightly.
- Wrap securely in saran wrap. Chill until serving.
Notes
- For an Italian BMT: add sliced pepperoni.
- For a Cold Cut Combo: add bologna.
- For a Jersey Shore’s Favorite: sub capicola for the salami.
- For a Super Sub: sub capicola for the salami and add prosciutto.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on October 5, 2019. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Linda B.
I like to put Ceasar salad dressing on sandwiches like this instead of mayonnaise or vinegar. It serves the same purpose as mayo, but has SO much flavor. Great recipe!
Jessica Fisher
Yes! Sounds delicious!
Arthur Alonso
I taught italian sandwish is not italian sandwish unless it has vinger dressing? Not mayo.
Jessica Fisher
One of my cookbook editors (from the east cost) and I (from the west coast) went around and around about that. It seems that it may be a west coast thing to have herbed mayonnaise instead of vinaigrette. Go with what you prefer, but do try the herbed mayo. It’s super yummy!
Janell
Sounds delicious! We enjoy making subs, too. Sometimes we add extra toppings such as pepperoni, green peppers, black olives, etc.–and it turns into a mini-Subway!
jenniferbennett
Thanks so much…I really appreciate you doing that! (And so quickly!!!)
I can’t wait to try these recipes! 🙂