This Chopped Italian Sandwich marries the robust flavors of a classic Italian sub with the freshness of a chopped salad. Hearty deli meats and cheeses are chopped along with crispy lettuce, tomatoes, and banana peppers, then stuffed into a hoagie roll, making this an easy lunch recipe for one or for a crowd! It's no wonder this delicious sandwich has become such a viral TikTok hit!
Friends, have you heard of the Chopped Italian Sandwich? Unless you've been living under a rock or are immune to the pull of social media, you've likely seen images of this beauty popping up all over. The internet has gone crazy for these viral grinder salad subs, and I'm totally here for it. If you love a hearty sandwich, you'll love this easy recipe that takes minutes to prepare and tastes like a million bucks. Its classic ingredients are easy to find at your local deli. It's become a family favorite at our house (lately we've been making a stash of these and then taking them for picnics at our local park) and a great recipe for a simple family lunch, busy weeknight dinners, or a game day party.
I love this simple Italian sandwich recipe because it's so EASY to make. If you can buy cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, and chop them into bite-sized pieces, you can make this sandwich. It's like the classic Italian grinder sandwich, but in sort of a chopped salad form, then stuffed into some Italian bread or a hoagie roll. It's also FAST - it literally takes minutes to make, making it a super appealing option for the nights when you're super short on time, or just can't stand the thought of turning on your oven and making a whole production. Last but not least, it's incredibly delicious - a variety of meat and cheeses all mixed with a tangy, creamy homemade Italian dressing. Yum!
In This Post
Key Ingredients
The beauty of this sandwich is that you can pick up pretty much everything you need at your local deli. Here are the simple ingredients you'll need for this delicious chopped Italian salad sub:
- Deli meats. This classic recipe, like the traditional grinder sandwich, uses a combination of pepperoni, hard salami, and ham to form the protein base of the sandwich.
- Cheeses. Pepperjack and provolone cheese add a creamy, spicy kick, but you can really use any deli cheese you like. Swiss cheese is a popular option.
- Italian dressing. A mix of mayo, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and seasonings like Italian seasoning and paprika, this dressing binds the chopped salad ingredients and gives it a nice zing.
- Vegetables. Iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and banana peppers add tons of freshness, crunch, and a slight tang, balancing the flavors of the meats and cheeses.
- Bread. Italian sub rolls are the classic here, since they're sturdy, yet soft, making them the perfect vessel for holding your hearty filling without risk of them falling apart. However, feel free to use any type of bread that fits these specs, like French bread, a fancy focaccia, ciabatta, or even sturdy rolls to make small chopped Italian sliders!
(Note - while the above meats and cheeses are classics that are typically used in a chopped Italian sandwich recipe, feel free to use what you like or have on hand. Most deli meats will work with this sandwich, so don't fret if you want to make this and only happen to have turkey and ham in your fridge - it's totally fine and will still work!)
How To Make A Chopped Italian Sandwich
Here's how you prepare these easy sub sandwiches.
- Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and seasonings until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Chop the ingredients. Grab a sharp knife and finely chop the lettuce, meats, cheese, tomato slices, and red onion. The key to the perfect chopped mixture is in the size of the ingredients; they should be uniformly chopped and should be small enough to blend together well, but not so tiny that they lose their texture. (Think bite-sized pieces.)
- Combine and dress. In a large bowl, toss the chopped lettuce mixture, meats, cheese, red onion, and tomatoes with the dressing until everything is evenly coated.
- Assemble the sandwich. Generously stuff the bread or rolls with the chopped salad mixture. The rolls should be overflowing with the delicious, creamy grinder salad. (Optional - if you want your subs a little toasty, you can toast the bread slightly before adding the chopped deli mixture.)
- Serve: Enjoy immediately or wrap tightly in parchment paper if taking on the go.
Variations And Substitutions
I love this Italian sandwich as it is, but you can experiment with different ingredients for some different flavors:
- Make it vegetarian. If you're a vegetarian or simply want to cut down on the deli meat, replace the meats with grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers for a vegetarian twist. You could also add beans (chickpeas would be great!) for more of a hearty filling.
- Change up the cheese. Experiment with different cheeses such as mozzarella, Swiss, or cheddar for a slight twist on flavors.
- Try a different bread. While Italian sub rolls are traditional, feel free to use hoagie rolls, crusty bread, or even brioche buns for a softer texture. The most important thing to remember here is that the bread needs to be sturdy enough to hold the grinder salad without everything falling apart.
- Make it spicy. The banana peppers add a touch of spice, but if I'm really craving some heat, I'll add Giardiniera peppers or throw in a dash of hot sauce with the dressing. You can also use a hot meat, like a spicy salami or calabrese, to make this sub spicy.
- Add-Ins: Consider adding other ingredients like black olives, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini peppers, sweet cherry peppers, or green olives for extra zing.
What to serve with these Italian Sandwiches
This is classic lunch and picnic fare, so think tortilla chips or potato chips, or anything else crunchy that you enjoy. (Fresh, sliced veggies are another good option.) I also love it served with a side salad, like this 4-ingredient pasta salad recipe, or my chickpea cucumber and feta salad. And don't forget a tall glass of ice-cold lemonade or iced tea!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! In fact, this chopped sandwich is a great recipe for meal prep. You can prepare the chopped salad and dressing ahead of time and store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Then just assemble the sandwiches right before serving to keep the bread from getting soggy.
While it's the most common, any crunchy variety of lettuce will work. Romaine lettuce would be a good substitute.
Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It's best consumed within a day or two for optimal freshness (the shredded lettuce can start to get a bit wilted if left for too long). Leftover assembled sandwiches will get soggy, so store your bread, and the Italian grinder salad separately.
Absolutely! The great thing about this recipe is its flexibility. Feel free to use your favorite sandwich ingredients, like roast beef, turkey, or different varieties of cheese, to make it your own.
The pepper jack cheese and red pepper flakes in the dressing add a mild spice level to these sandwiches. For a less spicy version, substitute pepper jack with more provolone or another mild cheese, and adjust the red pepper to your taste (or omit it altogether).
I love this modern twist on the classic Italian sub. If you try this Chopped Italian Sandwich, don't forget to tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Sandwiches
- Easy Salmon BLT Sandwiches
- Tunacado Sandwiches
- Easy Rotisserie Chicken Banh Mi Sandwiches
- Sweet And Spicy Bacon Smash Burger
- Spanish Sliders
- Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe
- Grinder Sandwich
- Easy Chicken Parm Sandwiches
Recipe
Chopped Italian Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
For The Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon poppy seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon celery salt
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and black pepper to taste
For The Grinder Salad
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 6 slices ham
- 6 slices pepperoni
- 6 slices hard salami
- 3 slices provolone cheese
- 3 slices pepper jack cheese
- 1 cup diced cherry tomatoes
- ½ small red onion finely diced
- ¼ cup banana peppers chopped
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 4 Italian sub rolls
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl. Set aside.½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar, ⅛ teaspoon paprika, ⅛ teaspoon poppy seeds, ⅛ teaspoon celery salt, ⅛ teaspoon red pepper, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper to taste
- On a large cutting board, finely chop the lettuce, slices of ham, slices of salami, pepperoni, slices of provolone cheese and pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, red onion, banana peppers and Parmesan. Add all ingredients for the grinder salad to a large mixing bowl.2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, 6 slices ham, 6 slices pepperoni, 6 slices hard salami, 3 slices provolone cheese, 3 slices pepper jack cheese, 1 cup diced cherry tomatoes, ½ small red onion, ¼ cup banana peppers, ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Pour the dressing over the top of the chopped deli mixture, a little at a time, and, using tongs, mix everything to combine. Store any excess dressing in the refrigerator for later use.
- Spoon the grinder salad mixture into the sub rolls and serve.4 Italian sub rolls
Notes
- Be sure to chop all the ingredients into small pieces. This will ensure a perfect bite every time.
- Be careful in adding the dressing. It's easier to add more than to take away so slowly add the dressing until you reach the consistency you like for your grinder salad.
- Feel free to toast your bread before adding the salad mixture for a warm and toasty sandwich.
- Be sure to use a sturdy bread to help hold the chopped salad together.
Nancy says
Yuuuuummmm... These were delish. I saw variations of this recipe floating around the internet and decided to give yours a try. Loved the combos of flavor here and the dressing was perfect. A super easy, but indulgent lunch.