This is the best version of the tiktok grinder sandwich, with tons of italian seasoning, a variety of meats, crunchy tangy salad, and classic italian sub dressing. It's one of my family's favorite sandwich recipes and I know it'll be yours as well!
When I saw the italian grinder sandwich go viral this year, my first thought was..."why is my husband's Jersey Mike's order going viral?" He's from New York, Italian grinders are popular in the New England and New York areas. He's been getting a version of this hearty sandwich since way before we were dating in high school.
While the tiktok recipe has a whopping 21 ingredients, including a large combination of deli meats, I will say that the best thing about this viral sandwich is that the focus is on the creamy salad topping, made with shredded iceberg lettuce, red onions, and other ingredients.
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My recipe takes the grinder salad sandwich to the next level by slathering on my favorite garlic herb butter all over the hoagie roll, toasting it, then toasting the cheese and meats before adding the super saucy salad on top of the baked deli meats.
This is probably the messiest sandwich I've ever made, not even for the blog, just in general! But it's also the best sub sandwich we've eaten in quite a while.
And let me tell you, we ate the living hell out this sandwich once I was done with the photo shoot. It's damn good.
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What is a grinder salad sandwich?
A grinder is another name for a sub or submarine type of sandwich, where the sandwich is made with a long roll. It's also known as a hero or a hoagie.
The grinder name, which refers to a hot submarine sandwich, has two origins: first, is because the crusty bread needs a lot of chewing to get through. The second refers to Italian-American slang for a dock worker, since grinder sandwiches were popular among them.
Ingredients
Cold cuts. The original has a large variety of meats, but I say use the ones you love. We usually add prosciutto, genoa salami, smoked turkey and ham or roast beef.
Slices of cheese. I used my favorite sandwich cheese, havarti, but deli-style provolone cheese is also great here. Swiss cheese has a mild nuttiness that goes well here, too, and if you want some kick go for spicy pepper jack.
Tomato slices. Thick slices of tomato give the best flavor. I used a beautiful heirloom tomato while they were in season, but I also love it with juicy beefsteak tomatoes.
A hearty bread roll. You may want to use a crusty large Italian bread roll, a hoagie roll, or french bread. Something that can withstand the strength of the coleslaw-like salad.
Grinder Salad Ingredients
The viral recipe calls for simple ingredients, and it does make a lot of salad. If you like really sloppy, messy sandwiches, pile this bad boy nice and high.
'The juice'. This is the classic submarine dressing, the oil and vinegar mix the sub places ask if you want on your sandwich. And yes, yes you do. It's made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, and Italian seasonings.
½ a head of iceberg lettuce.
Garlic paste. You don't need to buy it, it's simple to make! Grate fresh garlic with a microplane, add a pinch of salt and you have your own garlic paste. So easy!
Mayonnaise. I used some herbed aioli I had made, but your favorite store bought brand is perfect.
Parmesan cheese.
Red onion. Slice it thinly and then let the onion soak in cold water for 10 minutes to get rid of that unpleasant aftertaste.
Pepperoncini peppers. This gives a spicy, briny bite that is just so good. This can be replaced by green bell peppers, banana peppers
Garlic powder. Raw garlic tastes totally different from cooked garlic, but garlic powder has that mellow garlic flavor that gives so much.
Dried oregano and basil.
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
Garlic Butter
This adds an extra layer of flavor with fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic. I may say it's the best part of any sandwich I put it on! All you need is a little time to toast the bread with it on for a serious boost.
Fresh herbs. I used finely chopped fresh parsley, basil, and oregano since it was so abundant in my garden. But if you don't have fresh dried herbs work, too.
Butter. Use whatever you got here.
Garlic paste. Yes, here too! That intense garlic flavor takes this garlic butter to the next level.
Grated Parmesan cheese. Please, please, please use the fresh grated stuff from a wedge of parm. Grate it yourself, it tastes way better.
Red pepper flakes.
How to Make a Grinder Sandwich
First, turn your oven on to low broil. Melt down some butter with all the garlic butter ingredients in a saucepan or microwave.
Place the hoagie rolls onto a sheet pan, and brush the garlic butter generously over the tops of the bread rolls. Put under the low broiler for 3-5 minutes, until the tops become more golden brown and crisp.
While that's going on, toss all the grinder salad ingredients together and let it marinate.
Once the bread is done broiling, open them, smear some more garlic butter on the inside, and add the meat and cheese. Put them back under the broiler to melt the cheese for a couple of minutes.
Now top the sandwich with thickly-sliced tomatoes, some slices of avocado if you want (we do!), and plenty of grinder salad.
Mash it down and enjoy! Super simple!
Pro Tips for the Best Sandwich
- Use a salad spinner to keep the sliced iceberg lettuce from becoming too watery. This will keep the grinder salad from getting soggy.
- Prep all components separately and assemble right before you eat, the salad can make the bread really soggy if it sits for too long.
- The grinder salad can be made a day ahead of time. Leftover salad can stay in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Don't have Italian seasoning? Stir dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder together for a quick mix.
- To make the onions more palatable, less sharp, and remove the aftertaste, soak the red onion slices in cold water for about 10 minutes before using.
- If you don't have red wine vinegar, swap it for apple cider vinegar instead!
- Use Greek yogurt or sour cream in lieu of mayo if you aren't a fan.
Meats and Cheese Suggestions
You can use whatever you like, but the original recipe calls for:
- Provolone Cheese
- Ham
- Turkey
- Prosciutto
- Salami
Frequently Asked Questions
The recipe was originally shared by Gray Fultz on TikTok, but the recipe was actually created by her boyfriend, Josh Wright, who used to own a restaurant here in Virginia where he made the sandwich.
More Sandwich Recipes
- Chicken Caprese Sandwich
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Grinder Sandwich
Ingredients
Parmesan Herbed Garlic Butter
- 8 teaspoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or basil, finely minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Grinder Salad
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- ½ head iceberg lettuce
- 2 pepperoncini peppers, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely minced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
Grinder Sandwich
- 2 hoagie rolls or 1 large Italian loaf
- Slices of preferred cheese
- Slices of deli meats
- 1 Beefsteak or Heirloom tomato, sliced thickly
- 1 Ripe Hass avocado, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Garlic Butter Rolls
- Preheat your oven to 'low broil'.
- Mix together the melted butter, garlic paste, fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
- Place the the bread rolls onto a baking sheet, then generously brush the tops with the garlic butter. Toast in the preheated oven for up to 5 minutes.
- Make the Grinder Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, garlic paste, iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini peppers, fresh parsley, and red onion slices until everything is well combined.
- Let marinate while you build the rest of the sandwich.
- Build the Grinder Sandwich
- Open the toasted rolls and smear the rest of the butter on the inside of the bread, then top with your meats and cheeses.
- Toast the sandwich again for a few minutes under the low broiler until the cheese melts, then top the sandwich with slices of tomato, avocado (if using), and the grinder salad.
- Fold the top of the bread over the sandwich, give it a squish, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
Prep all components separately and assemble right before you eat, the salad can make the bread really soggy if it sits for too long. The grinder salad can be made a day ahead of time. Leftover salad can stay in the fridge for up to 3 days. Don't have Italian seasoning? Stir dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder together for a quick mix. To make the onions more palatable, less sharp, and remove the aftertaste, soak the red onion slices in cold water for about 10 minutes before using.Meats and Cheese Suggestions
You can use whatever you like, but the original recipe calls for:- Provolone Cheese
- Ham
- Turkey
- Prosciutto
- Salami
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