Grinder Sandwich
Making a grinder sandwich is surprisingly easy, and you can enjoy it anytime you want. We are excited to show you our easy recipe for an Italian grinder sandwich that you can make and enjoy anytime you have a craving.
What is an Italian Grinder?
An Italian grinder sandwich is a delicious sandwich that is packed full of amazing goodies. This recipe for an Italian grinder will show you how you can make a sandwich that is made on an Italian sub bun that is loaded with lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, melted cheese, onion, dressing, salami, pepperoni, and either turkey or ham deli meat.
Is your mouth watering at that description? Ours is! Let’s dive into how you can easily make this delicious grinder sandwich at home.
Italian Grinder (TikTok Viral Salad Sandwich)
Ingredients Needed
For the dressing:
Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is the best for your dressing. We recommend using full-fat mayonnaise for the best overall flavor to your grinder dressing.
Red wine vinegar. Red wine vinegar can easily be picked up at your local grocery store and added to your dressing for an amazing flavor.
Salt and pepper. Salt and pepper can be added to the dressing so that it fits your taste preferences.
Parmesan. We recommend including grated Parmesan cheese in your dressing as it provides a delicious flavor to your sandwich.
Italian seasoning. Adding a little bit of Italian seasoning to the dressing will help to give it a delightful hint of Italian flavor.
Red pepper flakes. Just a pinch of red pepper flakes added to your dressing will give a bit of spice and an amazing taste to the dressing.
For the sandwich:
Lettuce. You can choose to use iceberg lettuce or Romain lettuce for this grinder sandwich. No matter which one you choose, you want to be sure that it is sliced very thin, or thinly shredded.
Beefsteak tomato. We recommend using a large beefsteak tomato that is cut into thin slices. You may substitute the tomato for another type, but we have found that beefsteak works the best.
Deli meat. You may choose to use a variety of deli meat on an Italian grinder sandwich. The most common options apart from salami and pepperoni are to include ham or turkey deli meat.
Salami. We recommend including some sliced salami in your Italian grinder sandwich for the best Italian flavor.
Pepperoni. In addition to salami, we also recommend that you include a few slices of pepperoni on the sandwich for added spice and flavor.
Red onion. Thinly sliced red onion can also be added to your Italian grinder sandwich for color and flavor.
Banana peppers. Although an optional ingredient, banana peppers may be added to your Italian grinder sandwich if desired as well.
Melty cheese. Include melty cheese such as provolone and mozzarella for a delicious sandwich. You could also choose to include cheeses such as Colby Jack, or pepper jack if you prefer.
Sub bun. This whole sandwich is based on a sub bun. Typically, Italian bread is used as the bun for this sandwich. You may choose to use another type of bread for your sub if desired.
How to make a TikTok Grinder Sandwich, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Make the Grinder Dressing
Before you begin assembling the sandwich, we recommend starting by making the dressing. In a small mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, grated parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir until combined.
Set the dressing aside until your sandwich is assembled, then add it on top.
Step 2: Prep Work
Now, prepare all your ingredients. Start by thinly slicing or shredding your lettuce. Next, slice your tomatoes into thin pieces.
Remove the bell peppers from the juice, and allow them to drain onto a paper towel.
Slice the cheese into thin pieces. And cut your onion into thin slices as well.
When all of the ingredients are prepped, it’s time to begin making your sandwich.
Step 3: Build the Grinder Sandwich
There are two ways you can enjoy a grinder sandwich. One is to toast it, and the other is simply to enjoy your sandwich with all the ingredients cold.
To toast your sandwich…
Open your sub bun, and begin by layering your meat and cheese together. Place the sandwich on a cookie sheet and broil for one to two minutes until your cheese is melted. If you wish to not toast your sandwich, simply prepare it without broiling it in the oven.
Assemble the sandwich…
Layer your shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, banana peppers, and red onion onto your sandwich with meat and cheese,.
Top the sandwich with your prepared dressing before serving. Close the sandwich, then serve right away and enjoy.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
Italian Meat Types. The type of meat you include in your sandwich is entirely up to you. For an Italian grinder sandwich, the most common types of meat to use besides ham and turkey include salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, Capocollo, and Soppressata.
Chicken Bacon Ranch. Another way to enjoy a grinder sandwich is to make a chicken bacon ranch version. To do this you could simply use grilled chicken, cooked bacon, and top the sandwich with ranch dressing. Otherwise, you can prepare the grinder as instructed above.
Meats and Cheese Suggestions
Meats. The best Italian meat suggestion to include on your grinder are deli ham, deli turkey, salami, deli pepperoni, prosciutto, Capocollo, and Soppressata.
Cheese. As far as cheeses are concerned, you want to think of cheeses that melt well. These include provolone, mozzarella, pepper jack, Colby Jack, or even cheddar.
Tips for the Best Results
Add dressing last. Although there are many types of instructions you could follow, we have found the best result is when the dressing is added as the very last thing to your sub before serving.
Some recommend mixing the dressing with your lettuce, but we have found that this makes the lettuce mushy and wilted very quickly. Our preference is to spread the dressing on the sandwich last.
Assemble then serve. We strongly recommend that you assemble the sandwich, and then serve it right away for the best results.
How to Store:
Room temperature. This grinder sandwich may be left at room temperature for no more than two hours before it goes bad.
In the fridge. If you need to store this grinder sandwich for later, you will want to place it in the fridge in an airtight container.
Please note that if the dressing is added it will likely last between one and two days.
However, for best results, we strongly recommend that you enjoy the entire sandwich while it is fresh.
How to Reheat:
We have found that the best way to reheat a grinder sandwich is to bake it for a few minutes in the air fryer. This makes it taste almost as good as when it was fresh. To air fry your grinder sandwich, preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
Take a sheet of aluminum foil and poke holes in it. Add your grinder sandwich to the aluminum foil, and lightly wrap the sandwich, leaving the sandwich mostly exposed.
Air fry the grinder for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the sandwich is warmed through. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
We recommend that you serve this grinder sandwich when it is freshly made. You can either serve it after it has been toasted or with cold ingredients.
FAQs
What other cheese can I use?
You can use any type of cheese on the grinder sandwich. Our favorites to include are provolone, mozzarella, pepper jack, Colby Jack, and cheddar cheese.
What other meat can I use?
While the most common types of meat to include on an Italian grinder are deli ham, deli turkey, salami, deli pepperoni, prosciutto, Capocollo, or Soppressata. You could also include cooked chicken, cooked bacon, or any of your favorite types of deli meats.
What bread to use?
You can use any type of bread. We recommend that you use bread shaped like a sub bun, but any kind will work.
What else goes on this sandwich?
You can include any other ingredients on the sandwich that you like. Some examples would be olives, various types of peppers, pickles, etc. Think of your favorite sandwich toppings, and feel free to include them as well.
What to Serve with a Grinder Sandwich
TikTok Grinder Sandwich
Making your favorite grinder sandwich is super easy, and now you can enjoy it anytime you want. Making your own homemade Italian grinder like TikTok is easy and delicious.
We hope you will give our delicious Italian grinder sandwich recipe a try and we hope that you will love it. Be sure to give it a try, then comment below and let us know what you think!
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Grinder Sandwich (TikTok Viral Recipe)
Grinder Sandwich
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 tsp Red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 pinch Red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
For the sandwich:
- 1 head Lettuce chopped thin
- 1 large Beefsteak tomato thin sliced
- 1 packet Deli meat of your choice usually ham or turkey
- 1 packet Salami or to taste
- 1 packet Pepperoni or to taste
- 1 medium Red onion
- 1 cup sliced Banana peppers or to taste
- 8 oz Melty cheese thinly sliced to taste
- Sub buns
Instructions
- Before you begin assembling the sandwich, we recommend starting by making the dressing. In a small mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, grated parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir until combined.
- Set the dressing aside until your sandwich is assembled, then add it on top.
- Now, prepare all your ingredients. Start by thinly slicing or shredding your lettuce. Next slice your tomatoes into thin pieces.
- Remove the bell peppers from the juice, and allow them to drain onto a paper towel.
- Slice the cheese into thin pieces. And cut your onion into thin slices as well.
- When all of the ingredients are prepped, it’s time to be in making your sandwich.
- There are two ways you can enjoy a grinder sandwich. One is to toast it, and the other is simply to enjoy your sandwich with all the ingredients cold.
- To toast your sandwich… Open your sub bun, and begin by layering your meat and cheese together. Place the sandwich and a cookie sheet and broil for one to two minutes until your cheese is melted. If you wish to not toast your sandwich, simply prepare it without boiling it in the oven.
- Assemble the sandwich…Onto your sandwich with meat and cheese, layer your shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, banana peppers, and red onion.
- Top the sandwich with your prepared dressing before serving. Close the sandwich, then serve right away and enjoy.
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