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16 Sub Sandwich Ideas Better Than the Chain Down the Road

I love a sub, or a hoagie, or a grinder, or whatever you call it in your region, and I've always loved making them. These 16 subs, both hot and cold, give the local sammy shop a run for its money.

Italian Sub

An Italian sub is all about finding a delivery method for those tasty cold cuts. This version elevates the sub with a fennel and radicchio slaw, providing a mouthful of fresh Italian flavor.

a closed seeded Italian sub roll cut across the middle, showing thin folded mortadella, dark-red soppressata and bresaola, pale sharp provolone, finely shaved white fennel, purple radicchio and tiny pickled cherry-pepper pieces, without tomato slices or mayonnaise
Andrew Fowler

Italian Sub

An Italian sub needs thin folds of meat and enough sharp dressing to cut through them, not a roll packed so tightly that you can’t close it. Mortadella, soppressata and bresaola give this one three different textures, with sharp provolone and a crunchy fennel-radicchio mixture in place of the usual wet lettuce pile. Shave the fennel very thin so it bends with the bread instead of poking through the filling. Dress the vegetables just before assembly and leave any loose liquid behind. This is the sub I’d wrap for ten minutes before cutting, because a short rest helps the layers settle without turning the roll into a sponge.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and black pepper in a large bowl. Add shaved fennel, dry radicchio and drained cherry peppers and toss just before filling the rolls.
  2. Split the rolls lengthwise, leaving a hinge if possible. Pull out a small amount of loose center crumb only if the rolls are very dense.
  3. Divide provolone among the bottom halves, then fold mortadella, soppressata and bresaola evenly along each roll. Keep the meat in shallow folds rather than a high central pile.
  4. Lift the dressed vegetables from the bowl with tongs, leaving pooled dressing behind, and divide over the meat. Close each roll gently.
  5. Wrap snugly in parchment and rest for 10 minutes, then cut across the middle. Serve one sub per person or refrigerate promptly for later the same day.

Chopped Italian Sandwich

The cold cuts on an Italian sub don't have to be kept whole. This sandwich is essentially a salad on a loaf of bread, but dry your veggies to keep it intact.

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a closed plain long sub sandwich cut across the middle, filled with a chunky chopped mixture of pink ham, red salami, pale provolone, green romaine, tiny celery pieces, roasted red pepper and pale pepperoncini lightly coated in dressing, without intact folded meat layers or garnish, with completely clean image corners showing only the ordinary surface and absolutely no translucent marks, icons, emblems or watermarks
Andrew Fowler

Chopped Italian Sandwich

Chop until the ham, salami and vegetables are small but still recognizable, then add the dressing in a bowl where you can see how much moisture it brings. Dry romaine and well-drained peppers matter more than an extra spoonful of mayonnaise; a cutting board full of juice means a wet roll before you finish wrapping it. Make this close to eating, because the many cut surfaces soften faster than intact deli layers.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Cut ham, salami and provolone into small pieces on a large clean board. Add romaine, celery, roasted peppers and pepperoncini and chop together until pieces are about 1/4 inch, keeping some texture.
  2. Stir mayonnaise, vinegar, oil, oregano and pepper in a large bowl. Add the chopped mixture and fold until lightly dressed.
  3. Split the rolls lengthwise without cutting through the hinge. Remove only a little loose crumb if needed to make room for the filling.
  4. Divide the chopped mixture equally among the rolls, spreading it along their full length. Close gently and rest for 2 minutes so the filling settles.
  5. Cut each sub across the middle and serve promptly. Keep any waiting portions refrigerated and use the same day for the best crunch.

Meatball Sub

While most meatballs use a mix of beef and pork, a mix of veal and pork is more old-school, right down to the garlic-butter spread. Put on some Sinatra and give this one a try.

one long garlic-toasted sub roll mostly closed around exactly three round pork-and-veal meatballs in thick red tomato sauce with melted pale smoked mozzarella over them, without basil garnish or a separate sauce bowl
Andrew Fowler

Meatball Sub

Simmer these meatballs gently instead of browning them first, and the pork-and-veal mixture stays tender while the tomato sauce picks up flavor from the meat. Fresh bread soaked in milk gives the balls a softer texture than a dry breadcrumb mixture, but they still need to be shaped firmly enough to turn without falling apart. Leave them alone for the first part of the simmer so their surfaces can set. Smoked mozzarella melts over three meatballs in each garlic-brushed roll, which is plenty once the sauce has thickened. Spoon the sauce onto the meat rather than pouring it into the bottom of the bread.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Soak torn bread in milk for 5 minutes, then mash with a fork. Mix gently with pork, veal, egg, Pecorino, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper and shape into 12 equal meatballs.
  2. Heat oil in a wide deep skillet over medium heat and soften onion for 6 minutes. Add two-thirds of the garlic for 30 seconds, then stir in tomatoes, water, dried basil and remaining salt; simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Lower meatballs into the gently bubbling sauce in one layer. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes without stirring, then turn carefully with a spoon.
  4. Simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes until the centers reach 160°F. Uncover for the final 5 minutes if the sauce needs thickening, and spoon away excess surface fat.
  5. Heat the broiler. Mix butter with remaining garlic, split the rolls without severing the hinge and brush the cut faces; broil for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden.
  6. Put three meatballs in each roll with a modest spoonful of thick sauce. Divide smoked mozzarella over them and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until melted.
  7. Rest for 2 minutes, close the rolls around the filling and serve one sub per person. Keep any extra sauce separate so the bread doesn’t become waterlogged.

Philly-Style Steak Sub

While cheesesteak purists might argue about the best cheese and the best cut of beef to use, flavor wins. This sub uses a cheesy sauce for a hot sub that's probably best eaten with a fork and knife.

a closed long hoagie roll with visible thin slices of seared skirt steak, smooth pale white-American cheese sauce and a modest layer of thin lightly battered golden fried onion rings, without peppers, mushrooms or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Philly-Style Steak Sub

Sear the skirt steak in broad pieces, let it rest, and slice across the grain before it goes into the roll. This home version gets its onion flavor from thin fried rings, with a warm white-American sauce that reaches between the steak slices instead of sitting on top as a stiff cheese blanket. Keep the onion coating light; thick battered rings take over a sandwich that should still taste mostly of beef. The skillet needs to be hot enough to brown the steak quickly, and the cheese pot needs gentle heat so the sauce stays smooth. Assemble as soon as both are ready, while the onion edges still crackle.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Cut steak into pieces that fit your skillet and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Toss onion rings with buttermilk and let stand for 5 minutes.
  2. Mix flour, cornstarch and remaining salt in a shallow bowl. Heat the frying oil in a deep 10-inch skillet to 350°F, keeping it no more than halfway up the pan.
  3. Lift onions from the buttermilk, dredge lightly and fry in three uncrowded batches for 2 to 3 minutes each until pale golden and crisp. Drain on a rack over a tray.
  4. Warm milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in white American a little at a time until smooth, then keep warm over the lowest heat, stirring occasionally without letting it boil.
  5. Heat a separate heavy skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon oil. Sear steak for 3 to 5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until it reaches 145°F.
  6. Rest steak for at least 3 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain. Toast only the cut faces of the rolls under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes.
  7. Divide steak among the rolls, spoon over the warm cheese sauce and add the fried onion rings. Close gently and serve immediately, one sub per person.

Chicken Parm Sub

The chicken parmigiana cutlet is a natural fit for a sub. This version uses a cornflake crust, but I would personally use panko instead. The choice, though, is absolutely dependent on personal taste.

a long Italian sub roll closed around two broad strips of golden cornflake-Parmesan-crusted chicken thigh with thick red tomato sauce and melted mozzarella down the center, with some crisp chicken edges visible and no garnish
Andrew Fowler

Chicken Parm Sub

Pound the thighs flat before breading so the middle cooks before the cornflake-Parmesan crust gets too dark. Cut each cooked thigh into two broad strips and overlap them along the roll, leaving some crust exposed around the measured spoonful of thick tomato sauce. The mozzarella only needs a short broil, and that last bit of restraint keeps the chicken edges crisp while the center stays juicy.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Pound the thickest parts of the thighs to an even 1/2 inch between sheets of parchment. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook garlic for 30 seconds. Add passata, basil and remaining salt and simmer for 15 minutes until thick enough to leave a spoon trail.
  3. Put flour in one shallow dish, beat eggs in a second, and combine crushed cornflakes with Parmesan in a third. Coat chicken lightly in flour, then egg, then the crumb mixture, pressing gently.
  4. Heat neutral oil in a deep skillet to about 325°F. Fry chicken in two batches for 4 to 5 minutes per side, adjusting the heat to keep the coating golden, until the centers reach 165°F; drain on a rack.
  5. Heat the broiler. Split rolls without cutting through the hinge and toast the cut faces for 1 to 2 minutes. Cut each fried thigh into two broad strips.
  6. Arrange two chicken strips along each roll, spoon thick sauce down the center and divide mozzarella over the sauce. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes until cheese melts, keeping the roll edges from burning.
  7. Rest for 2 minutes and close the rolls around the filling. Serve one sub per person while the exposed crumb edges are crisp.

Turkey Club Sub

A classic double-decker club sandwich is great, but they do have a way of falling apart. A sub, however, provides all those flavors but in a much cleaner bite.

a closed whole-wheat sub roll cut across the middle, with thin pale poached turkey slices, crisp bacon, red tomato slices, shredded iceberg and a smooth pale-green avocado-mayonnaise spread, without cheese or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Turkey Club Sub

Poach the turkey gently, then chill and slice it thinly so the meat reaches both ends of the roll. Avocado mayonnaise gives the club a richer base without adding a slice of cheese. The bacon and tomato still need separate layers, and the dry iceberg should be tucked inside rather than hanging out in loose shreds. Cool the toasted roll before assembly; this filling belongs in a cold sandwich, not against bread that’s still steaming.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Bring broth, water and bay leaf to a gentle simmer in a wide skillet. Add turkey, cover partly and poach over low heat for 8 to 12 minutes, turning once, until the centers reach 165°F.
  2. Transfer turkey to a shallow container with 2 tablespoons of the poaching liquid. Cool for 5 minutes and refrigerate promptly for 30 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.
  3. Meanwhile, heat oven to 400°F and bake bacon on a rimmed sheet pan for 15 to 20 minutes until crisp. Drain and cool on paper towels.
  4. Mash avocado with mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper until mostly smooth. Split the rolls, toast their cut faces briefly under the broiler and cool on a rack.
  5. Spread avocado mayonnaise over the cut faces. Layer dry iceberg, thin turkey slices, blotted tomato and two bacon slices into each roll, breaking bacon only as needed to fit the length.
  6. Close the subs and cut across the middle. Serve cold, one per person, or refrigerate covered until eating later the same day.

Baked Ham and Cheese Sub

When baking a sandwich, cold cuts have a way of getting slippery. By cutting the ham into strips, the problem is solved, and Muenster provides just the right amount of funk.

a closed golden onion sub roll cut across the middle, filled with short pink ham-steak strips, soft pale leek ribbons and melted pale Muenster with a thin brown apple-butter mustard spread, without whole deli-ham folds or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Baked Ham and Cheese Sub

Cut the ham steak into short strips and soften the leeks until their liquid is gone, so the filling can settle along the whole roll without a slippery stack of deli slices in the middle. Muenster melts around the strips during a covered bake, while a thin apple-butter mustard spread gives the ham a little sweetness without making the sandwich taste like a glazed breakfast pastry.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-low heat and cook the drained leeks for 10 to 12 minutes until soft and their moisture has evaporated.
  2. Add ham strips and pepper and cook for 3 minutes, stirring, to warm the filling. Mix apple butter and Dijon in a small bowl.
  3. Split the rolls without severing their hinges. Spread the apple-butter mustard over the cut faces, then divide half the Muenster, the ham-leek mixture and the remaining cheese among the rolls.
  4. Close the subs and put them on a sheet pan. Melt the remaining butter, brush lightly over the tops and tent the pan loosely with foil.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes, uncover and bake for 5 to 8 minutes more until the filling reaches 165°F and the cheese melts. Rest for 3 minutes before cutting each sub across the middle and serving one per person.

Veggie Sub

There are a million takes on veggie subs, but I think roasting the vegetables is the best way to ensure a satisfying bite, and it gives you greater diversity of vegetable choices. Cauliflower is the star here, and it soaks up the feta-yogurt sauce nicely.

a closed whole-wheat sub roll cut across the middle, with bite-sized browned roasted cauliflower florets, thin orange pickled-carrot ribbons and a thick pale whipped-feta spread, without leafy greens, meat or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Veggie Sub

Roast the cauliflower until its edges are properly brown, because pale steamed florets won’t give a vegetable sub enough texture or flavor. The whipped feta goes onto both cut faces, where it helps hold the smaller pieces in place. Quick-pickled carrot ribbons supply the cold crunch, but lift them out of their brine before they go near the bread. Let the cauliflower stop steaming before assembly so it doesn’t loosen the cheese spread. This is a substantial veggie filling that you can pick up like a normal sub, provided you keep the florets bite-sized instead of trying to wedge a whole cauliflower steak into the roll.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 425°F. Toss cauliflower with oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, paprika and pepper, spread on a rimmed sheet pan and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, turning once, until tender with deeply browned edges.
  2. Meanwhile, toss carrot ribbons with vinegar, water, sugar and remaining salt in a bowl. Stand for 20 minutes, turning once, then drain thoroughly and blot lightly.
  3. Blend feta, yogurt and lemon zest in a small processor until thick and fairly smooth. Refrigerate while the cauliflower finishes roasting.
  4. Let roasted cauliflower cool for 5 minutes so visible steam subsides. Split the rolls and toast only their cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Spread whipped feta along both cut faces. Divide cauliflower over the bottoms, pressing the florets gently into the spread, then add drained carrot ribbons.
  6. Close the rolls around the filling and cut across the middle. Serve one sub per person while the cauliflower is still warm and the pickled carrots are crisp.

Tuna Sub

This is a lighter tuna salad, with yogurt subbing for most of the mayo. I also really like using fennel here as an alternative to celery, as it plays so well with seafood in general.

a closed sesame sub roll cut across the middle, with pale flaked tuna, small browned roasted-fennel pieces and tiny green-olive pieces in a light creamy dressing over butter lettuce, without celery, cheese or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Tuna Sub

Roast the fennel until its edges brown, then cool it completely before chopping it into the tuna dressing. The softened vegetable and chopped green olives give this filling a different texture from a celery-heavy deli salad, while yogurt and a little mayonnaise bind the flakes without burying them. Keep the filling chilled separately if lunch is still hours away, and put dry lettuce beneath it when you finally assemble the rolls.
Prep Time 55 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium fennel bulb about 12 oz, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 4 cans 5 oz each tuna in water, thoroughly drained
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup pitted green olives drained and finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
  • 4 large butter-lettuce leaves washed and dried
  • 4 soft sesame sub rolls 8 inches long

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 425°F. Toss fennel wedges with oil, salt and pepper and roast on a small sheet pan for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once, until tender and browned at the edges.
  2. Spread fennel in a shallow container and refrigerate promptly for 30 minutes until cold. Chop into small pieces, leaving any loose liquid behind.
  3. Whisk yogurt, mayonnaise, olives, lemon juice and zest in a bowl. Flake in the drained tuna and fold gently with the cold fennel until lightly coated.
  4. Split the rolls and toast their cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, then cool completely on a rack. Put one dry lettuce leaf along each bottom.
  5. Divide tuna filling equally among the rolls and close gently. Cut across the middle and serve one sub per person, or refrigerate covered until eating the same day.

Roast Beef Sub

Roast beef and gouda are usually served cold alongside one another, but they work together well when served hot too. Instead of melted Gouda, this recipe uses a Gouda sauce that would also be an absolute treat on macaroni.

a closed long plain sub roll cut across the middle, with thin warm roast-beef folds, smooth pale-golden garlic-Gouda cheese sauce and softened wrinkled red cherry-tomato halves, without onions, whole garlic heads or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Roast Beef Sub

Roast the garlic and tomatoes while you get the rolls and sauce ingredients ready, and the slowest part of this sub mostly takes care of itself. The softened garlic disappears into a Gouda sauce rather than sitting in sharp raw pieces against the meat. Warm the thin roast beef gently in a little broth, then lift it out before filling the rolls so you don’t turn the sandwich into a French dip by accident. The tomatoes should be wrinkled and concentrated, with their loose pan juices left behind. A short rest after assembly lets the cheese sauce settle between the beef folds while the bread still has a lightly toasted edge.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. Cut the top from the garlic head, drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and wrap in foil; roast for 35 to 45 minutes until the cloves are soft enough to squeeze.
  2. Toss tomato halves with remaining oil, salt and pepper on a small rimmed pan. Roast alongside the garlic for 25 to 30 minutes until wrinkled and lightly browned.
  3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in flour for 1 minute. Whisk in milk gradually, simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly thickened, then squeeze in the roasted garlic and mash or blend smooth.
  4. Remove the saucepan from direct heat and stir in Gouda until melted. Keep warm without boiling.
  5. Warm broth in a wide skillet, add roast beef and turn gently over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes until the meat reaches 165°F. Lift out with tongs, leaving the broth behind.
  6. Split the rolls and toast only the cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes. Divide warm beef among them, spoon on garlic-Gouda sauce and add roasted tomatoes with their loose juices left in the pan.
  7. Close, rest for 2 minutes and cut across the middle. Serve one sub per person while the sauce is warm and soft.

Buffalo Chicken Sub

The best part of a Buffalo wing, I think, is that contrast between tangy, spicy chicken and a cooling blue cheese dip. In this sandwich, blue cheese is mixed with creme fraiche for a little French flair.

a closed plain long sub roll with broad cooked white-meat chicken pieces coated in orange-red Buffalo sauce and a cool topping of thin celery and carrot ribbons in pale blue-cheese crème fraîche, without fried chicken crust, bones or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Buffalo Chicken Sub

Roast the chicken on the bone, remove the skin if the butcher hasn’t already, and pull the cooked breast into broad pieces rather than shredding it into threads. Those larger pieces stay recognizable after you toss them with Buffalo butter. The carrot and celery go into a cool blue-cheese crème fraîche mixture, so you get the familiar wing-plate crunch inside the roll without another bowl of dressing. Keep the slaw lightly coated and add it after the hot chicken. This is best eaten soon after assembly, while the contrast between warm sauced meat and cold vegetables still has some life.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. Rub chicken with oil, salt and pepper and roast in a small baking dish for 40 to 50 minutes until the thickest parts reach 165°F without the thermometer touching bone.
  2. Rest chicken for 10 minutes. Remove every bone and any firm connective tissue, then tear the meat into broad bite-sized pieces.
  3. Warm hot sauce and butter together in a small saucepan just until the butter melts. Toss the warm chicken with the sauce until coated.
  4. Stir crème fraîche, blue cheese and lemon juice in a bowl. Fold in celery and carrot ribbons so the vegetables are lightly dressed rather than swimming in sauce.
  5. Split the rolls and toast only their cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes. Divide Buffalo chicken along the bottoms and add the cold vegetable mixture.
  6. Close gently and cut across the middle. Serve one sub per person immediately, leaving any loose sauce in the chicken bowl.

Cuban-Style Sub

What makes for a superior Cubano sandwich is the marinade. Pork and orange go so well together, but be sure not to overcook, as the citrus already does a lot of the "cooking" in advance.

a closed lightly pressed golden long sub roll cut diagonally, showing thin grilled pork-loin slices, pale-pink ham, melted Swiss, flat dill-pickle slices and yellow mustard, without shredded pork or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Cuban-Style Sub

Pat the marinated pork-loin cutlets dry before grilling so they brown instead of steaming, then rest and slice them across the grain. Ham, Swiss, pickles and yellow mustard give the pressed sub its familiar flavor without a long-braised shoulder as the starting point. Keep the pickle layer flat and press over moderate heat, because a soft long roll only needs enough crispness to support the warm filling without turning into a hard shell.
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Whisk orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, oregano and salt in a shallow container. Add pork, turn to coat and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Lift pork from the marinade, discard the marinade, pat the cutlets dry and brush with oil.
  3. Grill pork for 3 to 5 minutes per side until the centers reach 145°F, then rest for at least 3 minutes. Warm ham briefly on the grill for about 30 seconds per side.
  4. Slice pork thinly across the grain. Split the rolls and spread mustard over the cut faces, then layer half the Swiss, sliced pork, ham, two pickle slices per roll and the remaining cheese.
  5. Close the subs and spread butter thinly over their outsides. Heat a large skillet over medium-low and cook two sandwiches at a time under a second heavy pan.
  6. Press for 3 to 5 minutes per side until lightly crisp, the cheese melts and the centers reach 165°F, lowering the heat if the bread colors too quickly. Repeat with the remaining two sandwiches.
  7. Rest for 2 minutes, then cut diagonally across the middle and serve one sub per person.

Pizza Sub

One of my favorite pizza toppings is boscaiola: sausage, mushrooms, and tomatoes all working in harmony. This sandwich takes the concept to the sub.

a closed long Italian sub roll cut across the middle, with browned crumbled sausage, sliced cremini mushrooms, short green-pepper strips, thick red tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, without pepperoni or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Pizza Sub

Cook the sausage, mushrooms and pepper until the pan is dry before adding tomato, because pizza flavor won’t make up for a roll full of watery vegetables. A short simmer pulls the filling together, and mozzarella melted over both cut faces gives the bread a little protection while keeping the sandwich easy to close around the warm sausage mixture.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 lb raw mild Italian pork sausage casings removed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 oz cremini mushrooms finely sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper cut into short thin strips
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 can 15 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 6 oz low-moisture mozzarella shredded
  • 4 soft Italian sub rolls 8 inches long

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until it reaches 160°F; transfer to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon fat in the pan.
  2. Add mushrooms and bell pepper and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until softened and the mushroom liquid has evaporated. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
  3. Return sausage to the skillet with tomatoes, oregano and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes until thick enough to mound on a spoon.
  4. Heat the broiler. Split the rolls without cutting through the hinge and toast the cut faces for 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Divide mozzarella over both cut faces of each roll and broil for 1 to 2 minutes until melted. Spoon the hot sausage mixture along the bottoms, keeping loose sauce in the skillet.
  6. Close the subs, rest for 2 minutes and cut across the middle. Serve one sub per person while the cheese still stretches.

Breakfast Sub

Making eggs for a breakfast sandwich is quite different than making eggs in general. I love a runny scramble, but for a sandwich, a baked frittata works much better, with a dill yogurt providing the moisture.

a closed whole-wheat long sub roll cut across the middle, holding a firm yellow baked-egg frittata strip with thin potato rounds, dark-green spinach, tiny scallions and small white feta pieces over a thin dill-yogurt spread, without bacon, sausage or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Breakfast Sub

Bake the eggs as one small frittata, then cut it into long strips that fit the rolls instead of chasing loose scrambled curds through the bread. Thin potato coins give the filling enough substance for breakfast without another sausage patty or a layer of bacon. Cook the spinach until its moisture is gone before adding it to the eggs, or the center of the bake can stay watery even when the edges look done. Feta supplies most of the salt, and the cool dill yogurt only needs a thin swipe on the bread. Let the frittata settle for five minutes before cutting so the strips lift out intact.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 lb Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1/8-inch rounds
  • 2 tsp olive oil divided
  • 5 oz baby spinach
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 3 oz feta crumbled
  • 2 scallions finely sliced
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper divided
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 4 soft whole-wheat sub rolls 8 inches long

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 350°F and oil an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 teaspoon oil. Simmer potato rounds in water for 5 to 6 minutes until just tender, then drain thoroughly.
  2. Heat remaining oil in a skillet and wilt spinach for 2 to 3 minutes until its moisture evaporates. Cool briefly, then chop.
  3. Whisk eggs, milk, salt and half the pepper in a bowl. Fold in potatoes, spinach, feta and scallions and pour into the prepared dish in an even layer.
  4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the center is set and reaches 160°F. Rest for 5 minutes, then cut into four long strips, each about 8 by 2 inches.
  5. Mix yogurt, dill, lemon juice and remaining pepper. Split the rolls and toast only the cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes.
  6. Spread a thin layer of dill yogurt inside each roll and tuck in one warm frittata strip. Close, cut across the middle and serve one breakfast sub per person.

White BBQ Chicken Sub

While different regional styles of barbecue have made the national stage, Alabama white barbecue is still largely neglected. Get ahead of the hipsters and discover how good a mayo-based barbecue sauce can be on a sandwich.

a closed long plain sub roll cut across the middle, with sliced grilled chicken breast showing dark grill marks under a light creamy white barbecue sauce, soft browned sweet-onion strands and green dill-pickle chips, without red barbecue sauce or cabbage
Andrew Fowler

White BBQ Chicken Sub

Grill the breasts whole and slice across the grain after resting so the chicken stays juicy under the tangy white sauce. Sweet onion rings can cook alongside them, giving the filling a little char without a second vegetable pan. Reserve the sauce for the rolls before coating the cooked chicken, and let the meat lose its strongest heat so the mayonnaise doesn’t turn thin and oily. Add the cold pickle chips last; their sharp crunch belongs against warm onion and chicken, not buried under a red ketchup glaze.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush chicken with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt, garlic powder and paprika; brush onion rings with the remaining oil.
  2. Whisk mayonnaise, rice vinegar, lemon juice, horseradish, brown sugar and pepper in a bowl. Set aside 1/2 cup for the cooked chicken and keep the remainder separate for the rolls.
  3. Grill chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until the centers reach 165°F. Grill onion rings alongside for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until tender with browned edges.
  4. Rest chicken for 5 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain. Toss with the measured 1/2 cup white sauce; separate the cooked onions into short manageable strands.
  5. Split the rolls and toast only the cut faces on the grill for 30 to 60 seconds. Spread with the reserved sauce, then divide chicken, grilled onion and drained pickle chips among them.
  6. Close the subs and cut across the middle. Serve one per person while the chicken remains warm and the pickles are cool.

Caprese Sub

I lived on Caprese sandwiches as a youthful backpacker in Italy, and while they're great, that simple combo of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil can fall apart pretty easily. Ricotta holds the sandwich together here, and you'll wonder why more sandwiches don't feature it.

a closed sesame sub roll cut across the middle, filled with a thick pale whipped mozzarella-ricotta spread, softened whole blistered red cherry tomatoes and thin green basil ribbons mixed into the filling, without separate mozzarella slices, pesto or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Caprese Sub

Whip drained mozzarella with a little ricotta and it becomes a spread that holds the tomatoes in place instead of sliding out as separate cheese slices. Blister the cherry tomatoes quickly, let them stop steaming, and leave their loose juices in the pan before folding in the basil. The finished sub stays soft and creamy inside with just a lightly toasted cut edge on the roll, so use a gentle serrated cut rather than pressing hard enough to squeeze the cheese out.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella drained and cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta drained if watery
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt divided
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 8 large basil leaves thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 4 soft sesame sub rolls 8 inches long

Method
 

  1. Drain mozzarella on paper towels for 15 minutes and blot the cubes dry. Process with ricotta, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper until a thick spread forms, stopping to scrape the bowl.
  2. Heat remaining oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add whole cherry tomatoes and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the pan, until blistered and softened with a few beginning to split.
  3. Remove the pan from heat and let tomatoes cool for 5 minutes. Lift them into a bowl, leaving loose juices behind, and fold with basil, balsamic and remaining salt.
  4. Split the rolls and toast their cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool briefly, then spread the mozzarella mixture generously along both cut faces.
  5. Divide the warm blistered tomatoes among the rolls and close gently. Cut across the middle and serve one sub per person, keeping the cheese spread inside the bread rather than pressing it flat.

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