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    A Full Living » Blog » Main Courses

    Published: Aug 29, 2022 by Briana · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Grinder Sandwich (Viral TikTok Spicy Italian Sub)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    spicy italian grinder sandwich

    This Italian Grinder Sandwich is something many of us grew up eating, that has just recently taken TikTok by storm. Our version pulls out all the stops and gets a little fancy with a variety of meats, cheeses, fresh and dried Italian herbs, a spicy Calabrian chili mayonnaise, an arugula grinder salad on top, and more. It's a fabulous and huge sandwich meant to share!

    man holding an italian sub cut in half filled with meats, cheeses, veggies, and spicy mayo, with a woman reaching for her sub.

    This version of the TikTok grinder sandwich is next level. It's a hot submarine sandwich, also known as a hoagie or grinder, topped off with a fabulous arugula and romaine grinder salad. It's a loaded sandwich recipe, and can serve at least 4 people!

    We've tried many of the TikTok trends, and decided to put our own spin on a couple of them! Be sure to try out this keto dalgona coffee, this custard yogurt toast, or these delicious corn ribs!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why we love this recipe
    • 🍅Ingredients
    • ✏️Ingredient notes
    • 📖Instructions
    • ✨Tips & tricks
    • ✏️Substitutions & variations
    • 💭Frequently asked questions
    • ⏲Equipment
    • 🥣Storage
    • 🌟Leave a review!
    • 📖 Recipe

    ❤️Why we love this recipe

    • Made with high quality, fresh ingredients - This sandwich takes pretty much all of our favorite cured meats, and Italian cheeses and transforms them into an incredibly satisfying bite. The ingredients are high quality, fresh, and create a decadent sandwich!
    • Perfect for larger get togethers - Need to bring a show stopper to a party? Make these grinder sandwiches and impress everyone, and this recipe is meant to feed a crowd. Everyone will be blown away with the incredible taste of these plus they are easy to cut up and portion out to whoever is hungry. This sandwich can feed 4 as an entire meal, and probably 8-12 as a snack.
    • Customizable - Though our version has a little bit of a long list of ingredients, you can easily customize to suit your needs and preferences.

    🍅Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients we used for this sandwich. You can find full quantities and nutritional information in the recipe card. Please note that our version is a bit spicy and you can add or remove ingredients as you please, or see fit.

    grinder sandwich ingredients laid out on small ceramic plates and bowls, with text to denote each ingredient.

    ✏️Ingredient notes

    Calabrian chili garlic mayo

    • Mayonnaise - The grinder sandwich calls for a mayonnaise-based dressing, so we make that for the grinder salad, and also slather spicy Calabrian chili mayo all over the bread as well.
    • Fresh garlic - Could be substituted for garlic powder, but at this point, we're going all out with this sandwich and suggest fresh garlic, grated!
    • Calabrian chili paste - Add to taste for an incredibly delicious, slightly smoky, and very spicy flavor.

    Salad ingredients

    • Dried seasonings - Kosher salt, black pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
    • Red wine vinegar - Adds a little acid to the grinder salad.
    • Parmesan cheese - Freshly grated.
    • Pepperoncini peppers
    • Thinly sliced red onions
    • Arugula & romaine - You could use one or the other, or, iceberg lettuce as is traditionally used. We think this combo has more flavor, and holds up a little more.
    • Fresh basil - Optional, but really adds a lot of great flavor. We add some basil ribbons to the salad, as well as some basil to the sandwich before melting the cheese.

    For the sub

    • Cheeses - We opted for a few kinds of cheese here, including provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
    • A variety of meats - We opted for a mixture of spicy Calabrese salami, Genoa salami, capocollo, and prosciutto.
    • Italian bread of choice - Make sure to choose something sturdy enough to hold all the meats, cheeses, and extras. We opted for an entire loaf of ciabatta bread, and this sandwich can easily feed 4 people. You could go with any crusty bread, including French bread, and Italian bread.
    • Roasted red peppers - Optional, but incredible on this sandwich if you're a fan of this yummy ingredient.
    • Tomato - We went all out with the best heirloom tomato slices we could find, and garnished them with a little bit of salt and pepper, plus olive oil. You can use a beefsteak tomato.
    • Olive oil - To drizzle the tomato with before serving.

    📖Instructions

    📋Prep work

    • Thinly slice red onions.
    • Measure out seasonings.
    • Preheat the oven to 425°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Step 1 - Make the chili garlic mayo

    In a small bowl combine grated garlic, mayonnaise, and Calabrian chili paste to taste. Mix to combine and set aside.

    chili garlic mayo in a small gray ceramic bowl with a rubber spatula, and garlic cloves laying around it.

    Step 2 - Cover bread with mayo

    Cut the ciabatta loaf, or your bread of choice in half and slather both sides with the chili garlic mayo.

    a loaf of ciabatta bread cut in half on a baking sheet, slathered in Calabrian chili mayo.

    Step 3 - Add some veggies, herbs, and cheese

    Layer roasted red peppers on one side and fresh basil leaves on the other. Both of these ingredients are optional. Grate fresh parmesan cheese over top.

    ciabatta bread with chili mayo, layered with roasted red peppers, fresh basil. and freshly grated parmesan.

    Add mozzarella and provolone cheese slices, layering over top.

    ciabatta bread with mozzarella cheese slices and provolone cheese on a baking sheet.

    Step 4 - Bake

    Bake to melt the cheese at 425°F for roughly 5-7 minutes.

    italian grinder sub with melted cheese over top of the bread.

    Step 5 - Add the meats

    Now it's time to layer on your favorite cured meats.

    italian sub topped with spicy sopressata, genoa salami, prosciutto, and capocollo.

    Step 6 - Make the grinder salad

    In a large mixing bowl, add arugula, romaine, chili garlic mayo, red onions, pepperoncini peppers, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and all of the dry seasonings. Toss to combine.

    ingredients in a bowl to make an arugula salad with parmesan, chili mayo, and red onions.
    creamy arugula salad with spicy mayo and fresh parmesan in a large mixing bowl with tongs.

    Step 7 - Add the finishing touches

    Add the thinly sliced tomato with a little salt, pepper, and olive oil on one side of the bread, and the grinder salad on the other side.

    italian sub with grinder salad, heirloom tomatoes, meats, and cheeses open before being put together and cut.

    Step 8 - Dig in!

    Now it's time to cut into the sandwich and enjoy it right away! Cutting this sandwich into four pieces made for some really hefty servings, or a whole meal.

    Cutting this sandwich into eight parts is great to share with others as a substantial snack.

    You will probably need some toothpicks to hold it together and be warned, this sandwich is super messy!

    close up shot of a grinder sandwich laying face up and cut in half to show the delicious layers of the sandwich.

    ✨Tips & tricks

    • Use fresh ingredients. The freshness of the veggies combined with the savory, salty, and spicy deliciousness of this sandwich just works. Use the freshest ingredients possible.
    • Don't skip the extra steps if you can help it. This recipe is maybe a little more work than some other sandwich recipes out there, but we promise, every step is totally worth it! If you can help it, try to include as many as the ingredients as you can for a burst of flavor. You won't regret it!
    • Enjoy right away. This sandwich tastes best right away, and doesn't save particularly well. Make and serve right away!
    • To help the salad from going soggy, make it right before it's time to top the sandwich. This goes hand in hand with the previous tip, as this sandwich is meant to be assembled and eat right away.
    Italian grinder sandwich standing tall on a large ceramic plate.

    ✏️Substitutions & variations

    The ingredients are pretty straightforward, but here are a few simple swaps you can make to suit your preferences, diet type, or what you have on hand.

    • Add more veggies - Love veggies? Try adding olives, green bell peppers, or banana peppers to the grinder salad mixture!
    • Use shredded iceberg lettuce - If you're not a fan of romaine or arugula and just prefer the original salad, use iceberg.
    • Less or more spicy - If you're not as big on spices as we are, that's no problem and an easy fix! You can omit any of the spicy meats, chili flakes, or Calabrian chili mayo to suit your preference. Alternatively, you could always add more spice with more red pepper flakes, or spicy cheese slices like pepper jack.
    • Use different cold cuts - If you love roast beef or smoked turkey on your grinder salad sandwich, don't let us stop you from using your favorites!
    • Use Italian dressing - For a more classic taste, you can use a little Italian dressing in place of vinegar and olive oil.
    • Swap the vinegar - Alternatively, you could also use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar in place of red wine vinegar.
    • Want a more simple Italian sandwich? You can truly omit ingredients as you see fit. The key to this sandwich the basic way is some sort of hoagie roll or crusty bread, a creamy salad topping, and just layers of meat and cheese!
    • Gluten free - Just make sure to use your favorite gluten free bread. Everything else should be naturally gluten free!
    • No mayo? No problem. Use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of mayo.

    💭Frequently asked questions

    What is a grinder?

    The grinder is essentially the same thing as a sub or a hero. The grinder name came from the "toothsome ness" of the sandwich since it's a large, hefty bite!

    Can I use an air fryer or toast oven to make this?


    Yes, absolutely! Essentially all you need to do is melt the cheese, so use whatever method works best for you.

    🛒Shop this recipe

    Need supplies for this recipe? We've linked our favorites right here in our Amazon Store! You don't pay anything extra if you shop using our link, but we get a small percentage of the sale. 

    A Full Living is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate program, an affiliate advertising program designed to promote a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking products to amazon.com. We only share products we use and love.

    ⏲Equipment

    Luckily, this recipe is pretty standard and you really don't need much to make it.

    • We love this knife set since it comes with an awesome bread knife, which you will need to cut this sandwich, as well as a sharp chef's knife, to get the tomato slices nice and thin.
    • We use a microplane to finely grate the parmesan cheese and garlic.
    flat lay of a large spicy italian grinder sandwich, cut in half with the insider facing the camera so you can see the layers.

    🥣Storage

    This grinder salad sandwich is most definitely enjoyed fresh, as the salad topping begins to get soggy pretty quickly. However, it will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    For best results, leave off the tomato, mayonnaise, and creamy arugula salad topping until just before serving to prevent the sandwich from getting soggy.

    We don't recommend freezing this recipe.

    🌟Leave a review!

    Make sure to leave a 5-star review below! This helps other readers find our recipes via Google, and encourages them to try them. Also be sure to leave a comment with your experience!

    Take a photo and share with us by tagging us on Instagram or follow along on Pinterest for more ideas!

    📖 Recipe

    grinder sandwich

    Grinder Sandwich (Spicy Italian Sub)

    This Spicy Italian Grinder Sandwich takes the TikTok trend to the next level! Made to feed a crowd, this irresistible sandwich is loaded up with meats, cheeses, fresh herbs, veggies, and a little heat!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: Briana

    Ingredients

    Calabrian chili garlic mayo:

    • 1 large loaf ciabatta bread
    • 126 grams mayonnaise (10 tablespoons)
    • 75 grams Calabrian chili paste
    • 4 cloves garlic, grated

    Grinder sandwich:

    • 5 slices provolone cheese
    • 5 slices mozzarella cheese
    • 1 whole roasted red pepper, cut into strips
    • handful of basil and freshly grated parmesan to top sandwich
    • 10 slices Calabrese salami piccante (spicy salami)
    • 8 slices prosciutto
    • 6 slices Calabrese salami
    • 6 slices capocollo
    • 1 medium heirloom tomato, thinly sliced
    • olive oil, salt, and pepper to dress the tomato

    Grinder salad:

    • 2 ounces baby arugula
    • 2 ounces baby romaine, chopped
    • ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
    • mayo to taste from above
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 18 grams parmesan cheese, freshly grated
    • 50 grams pepperoncini peppers

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make the chili garlic mayo by combining all ingredients well. Spread some mayo over both sides of the bread, reserving some for later.
    • Layer on roasted red peppers, whole basil leaves, and freshly grated parmesan cheese over top. Add the mozzarella and provolone slices. Bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is nice and melted.
    • Layer on the meats on both sides of the bread.
    • On one side of the bread, add the thin slices of tomato, with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
    • Now, make the grinder salad by combining the arugula, romaine, pepperoncini peppers, red onions, parmesan cheese, red wine vinegar, and seasonings. Use tongs to toss, and top one side of the sandwich with it.
    • Carefully press both sandwich halves together, and cut into pieces. Enjoy right away!

    Notes

    • We don't recommend making this sandwich too far in advance, or it will become soggy. 
    • The nutrition facts make a very large serving at 4 portions, but this recipe is can be scaled up to 8 servings, or even 12 servings. 
    • Use your favorite spices, herbs, meats, and cheeses to taste.
    • Arugula and romaine can be swapped with shredded iceberg lettuce. We prefer arugula as it has more flavor and is sturdier than iceberg, but it is your choice. 
    • Make the salad last, so it has less time to become soggy. 
    • Please visit the body of the post for more substitutions and variations. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 841kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 2271mg | Potassium: 515mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2238IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 287mg | Iron: 2mg

    These nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy and are only estimates. We cannot guarantee the accuracy.

    Did you love it?If you made this recipe, make sure to show us on Instagram at @AFullLiving or tag #AFullLiving! We love to see what you guys are making!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian, Italian-American
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