This hearty Grinder Sandwich is made with toasted bread topped with sliced meats and cheese, a creamy salad slaw. The sandwich has become a TikTok sensation and is so popular for lunch or dinner! Serve the sandwich with French Fries or the easy Sweet Potato Fries for a complete meal.

This sandwich is made on a hoagie roll, just like our homemade meatball sub. Both sandwiches are incredible and packed with so many wonderful flavors.

Close up of finished grinder sandwich.

What You’ll Need:

  • Sandwich Rolls- Your favorite hoagies or subs sandwich rolls will work great.
  • Lettuce- Iceberg lettuce is the classic lettuce used, but romaine will work.
  • Tomato- We used a large tomato, but cherry tomatoes will work.
  • Onion- Red onion or sweet onion will work in this recipe.
  • Dressing- Mayo and Italian dressing make the dressing.
  • Meats- Slices of ham, turkey, and salami are the best combination for the sub.
  • Peppers- We used a sweet pepper, but you can slice fresh bell peppers, roasted peppers, or leave out peppers altogether.
  • Cheese- Sliced provolone cheese works great.
  • Seasoning- Just a little Italian seasoning is all you need, but you can add salt and pepper if desired.
  • Pepperoncini- The pepperoncini adds heat to the sandwich. If you don’t want heat, leave them out.
All ingredients separated ready for the sandwich to be made.

How to Make a Grinder Sandwich:

  • Cut lettuce- Finely shred the iceberg lettuce.
  • Cut onion- Slice the onion into thin strands or finely chop.
  • Make the dressing- In a bowl, combine the mayo, Italian seasoning, and half of the Italian dressing for the dressing.
  • Slice tomatoes- Slice the tomato.
  • Cut pepper- Slice the pepper into thin strands or slices.
  • Make slaw- In a large bowl, add the lettuce, onion, pepperoncini, peppers, and dressing. Toss to combine.
Step by step of how to assemble the slaw salad for your sandwich recipe.

How to Assemble Grinder:

  • Preheat oven– You’ll want to preheat your oven to 400°F.
  • Toast buns- Add the slices of meat and cheese to the bun and toast for 5-8 minutes or until the bread is crispy and the cheese has melted.
  • Add slaw- Take toasted bread from the oven and add the slaw, top with slices of tomatoes.
  • Enjoy- Close the hoagie buns and enjoy the sandwich.
Step by step of how to stack and assemble grinder sandwich recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the sandwich in advance?

We do not recommend making the sandwich in advance. This sandwich is best if enjoyed immediately as the lettuce gets soggy.

Is the sandwich spicy?

The pepperoncini does heat the sandwich, and if you don’t like spicy food, leave it out altogether.

Can I use cabbage instead of lettuce?

You can use a cabbage mix instead of lettuce or romaine.

Close up of grinder sandwich cut in half.

Grinder Sandwich Recipe

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 1 vote
Our take on the viral TikTok Grinder Sandwich Recipe made with toasted bread, cheese and sliced meats then topped with a lettuce slaw with vegetables.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 hoagie buns
  • ½ head of lettuce (or 1 romaine) shredded
  • 1 medium tomato sliced
  • ¼ red onion thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp sliced sweet pepper sliced
  • 3 slices provolone cheese
  • 3 Tbsp pepperoncini
  • 3 Tbsp italian dressing
  • ½ tsp italian seasoning
  • 6 slices ham
  • 6 slices turkey
  • 8 slices salami

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • In a small bowl, combine the mayo, Italian seasoning and Italian dressing.
  • In a large bowl add the shredded lettuce, onion, pepperoncini, peppers and dressing and toss to combine.
  • Add the slices of meat and cheese to the bun. Toast 5-8 minutes or until the bread is crispy and cheese has melts.
  • Top the lettuce mixture over the melts and add the sliced tomatoes.
  • Serve and Enjoy immediately.

Nutrition

974kcal Calories46g Carbs52g Protein64g Fat19g Saturated Fat19g Polyunsaturated Fat21g Monounsaturated Fat0.1g Trans Fat145mg Cholesterol2768mg Sodium980mg Potassium5g Fiber13g Sugar1866IU Vitamin A44mg Vitamin C288mg Calcium14mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Grinder Sandwich Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 974 Calories from Fat 576
% Daily Value*
Fat 64g98%
Saturated Fat 19g119%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 19g
Monounsaturated Fat 21g
Cholesterol 145mg48%
Sodium 2768mg120%
Potassium 980mg28%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 52g104%
Vitamin A 1866IU37%
Vitamin C 44mg53%
Calcium 288mg29%
Iron 14mg78%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)