Super easy to prepare, this Italian cold cut sub sandwich is hearty, filling and so delicious! It’s loaded with plenty of cold cuts, veggies and hot peppers. Forget the sub shop, and make your own delicious Italian sub sandwich at home.
Isn’t it funny (and kinda neat) that certain foods not only fill your belly, but remind you of things?
Cold cut sub sandwiches do that for me; they always brings back so many fond memories.
Hubby and I have been together since we were teenagers. I remember every Friday night we would go to the local sub shop and put together our own club cut combo.
We’d each order a cold cut sandwich and pair it with potato chips and sodas. We’d head back to one of our homes and watch a movie or some Friday night shows. It was seriously good times and I always smile when I think back on it.
So, today, I’m recreating those Italian cold cut subs with a homemade version.
These homemade subs are piled high with Italian cold cuts, like mortadella, hot capocollo (also known as “capicola” or “coppa,” as well as other names), and genoa salami. Plus, there’s provolone cheese, veggies, hot peppers, and a homemade vinaigrette. Talk about good!
Why We Love These Italian Cold Cut Sub Sandwiches
- For me, at least, there’s fond memories of when hubby and I were dating.
- These homemade subs are made in about 10 minutes.
- They can be customized to taste with whatever cold cuts and veggies you enjoy best.
- They are so hearty, satisfying and delicious!
How To Make a Sub Sandwich
Full details on how to make these homemade subs are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Start by carefully cutting your sub buns in half horizontally (but still leaving the two halves intact), then scoop out some of the interior bread so you create a little “valley” for the cheese, cold cuts and veggies. By all means, if you want to separate the two halves of the sub bun, go for it!
- Whisk together a homemade vinaigrette (made from olive oil, red wine vinegar, basil, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes) and generously brush each sub bun with it. Then layer the provolone cheese onto the bottom buns. The slices I used were round, so I just cut them in half so they would nicely fit on the buns.
- Top the cheese with plenty of delicious Italian cold cuts.
- Layer on shredded lettuce, sliced red onion and pickled banana peppers. I like to place the tomatoes last. I feel it kinda locks everything in place. Brush those tomatoes with more vinaigrette and give them a little sprinkle of salt and black pepper. All that’s left to do is close the sandwiches up, cut them in half (if you like) and dig in!
Best Bread for a Sub Sandwich
I love to use a sub bun. While delicious, baguettes are not the way to go for this sandwich. They’re a bit too hardy.
I used sub buns that were around 6 inches in length. You can certainly use something larger, but you may have to adjust the sub ingredients to accommodate the larger bun.
Check with your local bakery to get some nice, fresh sub buns! Doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just big enough to hold all those delicious sub ingredients!
Can I Use Other Italian Cold Cuts?
For sure! You can add more cold cuts or simply use your favourite variety.
And, if you happen to just have one type on hand, just use that in lieu of the other varieties. This cold cut sub recipe is super flexible!
Some other delicious cold cut meat options are prosciutto or speck (smoked prosciutto).
What Can I Use Instead of Vinaigrette?
Of course, you can totally use your favourite mayonnaise and mustard in lieu of vinaigrette. Truth be told, in my younger years, I often opted for mayonnaise when enjoying sub sandwiches.
Alternatively, if you want to have more crunch (and still have that vinegar bite), some giardiniera (Italian relish of pickled vegetables) would be lovely.
What To Serve With Sub Sandwiches
Any of these pair wonderfully with a sub sandwich:
- Potato chips (a personal fave to have with a cold cut sub)
- Pepperoncini (hot peppers)
- Pickle
- Olives
- Salad, like potato salad or macaroni salad
- French fries or wedges
- Soup
More Easy Sandwich Recipes
If you make this homemade sub recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Italian Cold Cut Sub Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1.5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- pinch dried basil
- pinch dried oregano
- 2 (6-inch) sub buns
- 3 to 4 slices provolone, about 75 to 100 grams in total
- 6 slices mortadella
- 8 slices hot capocollo, I like extra lean
- 8 slices genoa salami
- ½ cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
- ¼ thinly sliced red onion
- ⅓ cup pickled sliced banana peppers, patted dry of excess moisture
- 1 tomato, thinly sliced
- pinch salt
- pinch freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To make the vinaigrette, in a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, crushed red pepper flakes, basil, and oregano. Set aside.
- To make the sub sandwiches, cut buns in half (horizontally), while still leaving the two halves attached. Remove some of the interior bread on the bottom and top half of each sub bun to create a little valley for the sub ingredients.
- Brush the interior of each bun with the vinaigrette (reserve a little for drizzling over the tomatoes).
- On top of each bottom bun, layer on provolone, mortadella, capocolla, salami, lettuce, red onion, banana peppers and tomato. Brush over remaining vinaigrette and sprinkle with a pinch each of salt and black pepper. Place the top buns over top to form the subs. Cut each sub in half (if you like), serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
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Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Carla
I only had some sandwich pepperoni & sopressto. Also only Munster cheese but my husband loved them. He ate two in fact. As a self professed True Southern cook, these are something wonderfully delicious sandwiches to make when you don’t feel like making cornbread…
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Love how you used the cold cuts and cheese that you had on hand, that’s wonderful! So happy that you and your husband enjoyed!! Thanks so much!!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Dawn,
This is such a delicious sandwich filled with all my favorites! Perfect for an easy weekend lunch or dinner. 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
This sandwich made me think of the cold cut sandwiches I used to get from Subway! They were my favorite, but your homemade one looks even better. So delicious!
Valentina
I see a sandwich shop in your future. Seriously! And this one looks SO GOOD! I want it! 🙂 ~Valentina
Michelle
We love cold cut sandwiches — such an easy and delicious lunch! Wish I could just reach into the screen to grab this!
David @ Spiced
Holy cow, this is my kinda sandwich right here! I love Italian subs, and I loved your tradition as teenagers. It’s funny how food has the ability to connect with so many of our memories. Also, any discussion of Italian meats reminds me of The Sopranos. Gabagool, anyone? Haha!
Laura
You’re so right, Dawn! Nothing better than a cold cut sandwich! I need to get myself some mortadella and capicola and make one of these beauties!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Italian cold cut is the sub my husband gets every time he visits the Sub shop, so he would be thrilled if I made one up for him at home. This looks perfect!