This Italian grinder recipe is mouthwatering and incredibly easy to make. And it’s not your average sandwich – it’s on a whole loaf of round white mountain bread filled with Italian deli meat goodness! You’ve got layers of savory meats, gooey cheese, and a crunchy salad all sandwiched between garlic-butter-toasted bread. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a midnight snack. Yum!
Table of Contents
Why Love This Recipe
- It’s so good: It’s a harmony of flavors with a mix of savory meats, zesty salad, and garlic-butter-toasted bread.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is incredibly simple to make yet packs a ton of flavor.
- Customizable: You can get creative with variations, from bread choices to different meats and veggies.
- Leftovers Get Better: The flavors continue to develop when stored, so the leftovers are even more delicious.
- Perfect for Gatherings: It’s an ideal choice when hosting friends or family – a giant sandwich is always a crowd-pleaser.
What is a Grinder Sandwich?
For those of you who might not be familiar with the term, a Grinder is a delicious, hearty sandwich that hails from Italian-American cuisine. It’s usually made with a variety of cold cuts, cheese and veggies, all generously stacked in a sub or hoagie roll. What sets the Italian Grinder apart is the vibrant and zesty salad that takes it to a whole new level.
This Sandwich is Pressed Like a Muffuletta
Well, I gave it my best shot! This sandwich is pressed like a Muffuletta, which means that all those delicious flavors meld together beautifully, creating a harmonious blend of tastes and textures that’ll have you coming back for seconds. But be warned, unless you’re a fan of messy sandwiches, I would suggest skipping this step. I made a complete mess trying to press this humongous sandwich. 😂
Overview of Ingredients
For the Grinder Salad
- Shredded iceberg lettuce: Crunchy and refreshing. You can use other lettuce variations but why would you?! There is nothing like the crunch of iceberg lettuce.
- Sliced pepperoncini peppers: Adds a subtle heat and some tang to the sandwich.
- Diced tomatoes: Adds a burst of freshness. Any tomato will do.
- Diced red onion: Feel free to use white or yellow onion.
- Red wine vinegar More tang and acidity that adds a bright flavor to the salad. You can use any vinegar you’d like.
- Herbs & Spices: I used Italian seasoning, Oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper.
- Olive oil: For additional richness and depth of flavor.
- Pepperoncini juice: This is the brine from the jar of sliced pepperoncini peppers. You can skip this and add more vinegar or vice versa.
- Mayonnaise: Binds the ingredients together and adds more yummy flavor.
For the Garlic Butter (to toast bread)
- Butter and olive oil: Whenever I make garlic butter I always add olive oil for additional flavor.
- Garlic powder: Feel free to use fresh garlic if you prefer.
- Parmesan cheese: Asiago or pecorino romano will work here as well.
- Parsley: Fresh and herbaceous adding brightness and color.
For the Sandwich
- Round white mountain bread loaf: A crusty and chewy bread that’s perfect for this sandwich.
- Meats: I used genoa salami, cajun turkey, pepperoni, mortadella and capicola.
- Cheeses: Get creative with your cheese. For this recipe, I chose provolone and gruyere cheeses.
- Grinder salad (from above): A creamy refreshing salad that adds texture and flavor.
- Everything bagel seasoning: Optional. A blend of spices such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and garlic adds a savory and slightly nutty flavor to the bread.
How to Make a Grinder Sandwich
Make the Grinder Salad
In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini peppers, diced tomatoes and red onion.
In a separate bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper and mayo until well blended.
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until everything is evenly coated. Chill in the fridge until ready to use.
Make the Garlic Butter
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, parsley and olive oil. Use a fork or a spoon to mix the ingredients until well combined.
Toast the Bread
Preheat the broiler to the highest setting.
Slice the mountain bread loaf horizontally, creating a top and bottom half. Scoop out some of the bread from middle. The amount is totally up to you and how much thick you’d like the bread for the final sandwich.
Brush the inside of both halves generously with the softened garlic butter mixture. Save a few tablespoons for brushing on the outer bun after assembly.
Place the buttered halves on a baking sheet. Keep a close eye on the bread, as broiling can be quick. Toast the bread for about 1-3 minutes or until it turns lightly golden and slightly crispy.
Assemble the Sandwich
Preheat oven to 350F.
Add even layers of the deli meats to both sides of the toasted bread. Top both layers with the provolone cheese and gruyere cheese.
Place the open sandwich back in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and carefully spoon the prepared grinder Salad evenly over the meat and cheese layers. Close sandwich.
Melt the remaining garlic butter. Once melted stir in the optional everything bagel seasoning. Brush this mixture over the outside of the bread loaf.
Press the Sandwich, Optional
Wrap the entire sandwich tightly in plastic wrap. If you choose to press the sandwich, place something heavy like a cast-iron skillet or a couple of cans on top to apply gentle pressure. Let the weight remain for at least five minutes. Your sandwich won’t be totally flat but it’ll help make bites easier! You can always let it press longer for an even flatter sandwich.
Keep in mind that this step is optional, as the pressing may cause some juices to run out, making it a bit messy but even more flavorful.
Slice and Serve
Unwrap the sandwich and carefully slice it into generous wedges. Serve your Italian Grinder sandwich with your favorite sides, such as chips, pickles or a salad. Enjoy!
Bread Variations
While white mountain bread is a fantastic choice for the Italian Grinder, there are several other bread options you can consider if you prefer a smaller sandwich. You’ll want to choose a sturdy bread that’ll hold up well to all of the hearty fillings.
Sub or Hoagie Rolls: A traditional choice. These elongated rolls are designed for sandwich making! They are soft, yet sturdy, and can accommodate the Italian Grinder ingredients beautifully.
Ciabatta: Ciabatta bread is a rustic Italian bread known for its chewy crust and airy interior. Check out my stuffed ciabatta recipe.
Baguette: A traditional French baguette, with its crisp crust and soft crumb is a great choice if you prefer a thinner and longer sandwich.
Sourdough: If you enjoy a slightly tangy flavor, sourdough bread can be a great choice.
Additional Toppings:
Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle fresh basil, cilantro, or parsley over the salad for a burst of herbal freshness.
Caramelized Onions: Sautéed caramelized onions can add a sweet and savory flavor to your Italian Grinder.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For an intense tomato flavor, use sun-dried tomatoes in addition to or in place of fresh tomatoes.
Avocado: Add creamy slices of avocado to your salad for an extra layer of richness.
How to Store Leftovers
Simply wrap leftovers in plastic wrap or foil and pop them in the fridge. The flavors will continue to mingle, making the leftovers even more delicious the next day.
And there you have it! The viral TikTok Italian Grinder is a sandwich that’s big on flavor. Whether you’re making it for lunch, dinner, or a gathering with friends, this sandwich is a guaranteed hit. So, gather your ingredients, get creative with your variations and have fun building your grinder. Happy Cooking!
Italian Grinder – Viral TikTok Sandwich
Ingredients
For the Grinder Salad:
- 2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Garlic Butter
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp parsley
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Sandwich:
- 1 large mountain bread loaf
- 8 – 10 slices Genoa salami
- 12 – 15 slices pepperoni
- 8 – 10 slices mortadella
- 8 – 10 slices capicola
- 8 – 10 slices Cajun turkey
- 8 – 10 slices provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded gruyere cheese
- 1 tbsp everything bagel seasoning, optional
Instructions
Make the Grinder Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini peppers, diced tomatoes and red onion.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper and mayo until well blended.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until everything is evenly coated. Chill in the fridge until ready to use.
Make the Garlic Butter
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, parsley and olive oil. Use a fork or a spoon to mix the ingredients together until well combined.
Toast the Bread
- Preheat the broiler to the highest setting.
- Slice the mountain bread loaf horizontally, creating a top and bottom half. Scoop out some of the bread from middle. The amount is totally up to you and how much thick you’d like the bread the final sandwich.
- Brush the inside of both halves generously with the softened garlic butter mixture. Save a few tablespoons for brushing on the outer bun after assembly.
- Place the buttered halves on a baking sheet. Keep a close eye on the bread, as broiling can be quick. Toast the bread for about 1-3 minutes or until it turns lightly golden and slightly crispy.
Assemble the Sandwich
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Add even layers of the deli meats to both sides of the toasted bread. Top both layers with the provolone cheese and gruyere cheese.
- Place the open sandwich back in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and carefully spoon the prepared grinder Salad evenly over the meat and cheese layers. Close sandwich.
- Melt the remaining garlic butter. Once melted stir in the optional everything bagel seasoning. Brush this mixture over the outside of the bread loaf.
Press the Sandwich, Optional
- Wrap the entire sandwich tightly in plastic wrap. If you choose to press the sandwich, place something heavy, like a cast-iron skillet or a couple of cans on top to apply gentle pressure. Let the weight remain for at least five minutes. Your sandwich won’t be totally flat but it’ll help making bites easier! You can always let it press longer for an even flatter sandwich.
- Keep in mind that this step is optional, as the pressing may cause some juices to run out, making it a bit messy but even more flavorful.
Slice and Serve
- Unwrap the sandwich and carefully slice it into generous wedges. Serve your Italian Grinder sandwich with your favorite sides, such as chips, pickles or a simple green salad. Enjoy!
