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About This Recipe
You might have seen all the social media craze on Tik Tok over the viral Italian Grinder Sandwich. Well now you can make your own Italian sub sandwich right at home in just 15 minutes!
This viral recipe is so easy to make and packed with tons of flavor, protein and most importantly, deliciousness!
The best part of this recipe? It’s totally customizable to your preference. Use different meats, cheese, or veggies to make this recipe your own. You can enjoy this recipe as a low carb salad or add to your favorite crusty bread for a delicious hearty sandwich!
Keep reading for the best tips and the different ways to serve this recipe. Add a side of my Healthy Macaroni Salad or Rainbow Fruit Salad for an easy, complete meal!
Looking for another easy sandwich recipe? Try my High Protein Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich!
Why You’ll Love This Chopped Italian Grinder Salad Recipe
- One of my favorite viral Tiktok recipes for good reason! A super easy, flavorful recipe you can make in just 15 minutes!
- Enjoy this recipe as a hearty salad or classic grinder sandwich!
- Higher in protein and lower in fat than a traditional Italian sub salad!
- Easily customizable to your taste preference! Use your favorite cold cuts, cheeses, or toppings!
- Made with simple ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store!
- Deli Turkey – make sure to use good quality sliced deli turkey or any cold cut of choice.
- Turkey pepperoni – I used turkey pepperoni to help keep fat down a little bit but you can use regular pepperoni, salami, or meat of choice!
- Provolone cheese – you can also use white American cheese, cheddar, colby jack, etc.
- Cherry tomatoes – can also use grape tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes.
- Banana peppers – the sliced mild banana pepper rings in a jar.
- Red onion – red onion is classic for a grinder sandwich but you can use a yellow onion if you are in a pinch.
- Mayonnaise – I used light mayo but regular mayo works too. You could also sub with plain Greek yogurt if you prefer.
- Yellow mustard – yellow mustard is best but dijon mustard works too if it’s all you have on hand.
- Red wine vinegar – can sub for apple cider vinegar or distilled vinegar in a pinch.
- Italian seasoning – the Italian seasoning is perfect for this sub and is what brings all the yummy flavors together!
- Iceberg lettuce – or any other chopped lettuce or greens of your preference.
- Hoagie rolls – optional for serving, use gluten-free is needed!
- Switch up the types of meat! Use ham, chicken, salami, roast beef, etc.
- Use a different type of cheese! Sub the provolone for cheddar, American, colby jack, gouda, etc.
- Add extra veggies like avocado, carrots, bell peppers, etc!
- Use a different dressing! Customize the dressing to your preference or use your favorite store-bought!
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Prepare the ingredients. Chop the turkey, pepperoni and cheese into small pieces. Halve the tomatoes and chop the red onion and banana pepper rings.
2. Add all the ingredients (except the lettuce) to a large mixing bowl.
3. Toss to combine. *If prepping each sandwich individually, you can mix the lettuce in with each serving right before eating so it stays crunchy and fresh. If serving for a crowd, go ahead and mix it in.
4. Serve in a hoagie roll with condiments of choice (I added a little mayo) and enjoy!
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days (for optimal freshness) without dressing. Store dressing in a separate container and add to salad right before serving. This help keep the lettuce from getting soggy.
Serving Tip!
Add Dressing and/or Lettuce Right Before Serving! To keep the salad crisp and fresh, add the grinder salad dressing just before serving. Or you can go ahead and add the dressing and just add the lettuce right before serving! Either option prevents the lettuce from getting soggy and keeps this salad fresh!
Do I have to use deli turkey for this recipe?
You can use any deli meat or protein you like! Switch up the meat and use deli ham or chicken instead of turkey! You can also use salami, roast beef, regular chicken, etc!
What is a grinder sandwich?
A grinder is the New England slang for a submarine sandwich. These subs are typically served on crusty Italian bread that are hard to chew, hence “grinding” to eat the sandwich. They are typically filled with a variety of deli meats, cheese, shredded lettuce, a variety of thinly sliced vegetables, peppers, and red wine vinegar.
How do I keep my salad from getting soggy?
Add lettuce to the grinder salad right before serving (don’t mix it in with everything else unless you are serving to a crowd right away). This helps keep the lettuce from getting soggy.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Chopped Italian Grinder Salad Recipe (Great for Hoagies!)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. good quality sliced deli turkey
- 6 oz turkey pepperoni
- 4 oz provolone cheese chopped
- 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes (100g) halved
- 1/2 cup mild banana pepper rings (80g) chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion (80g) chopped
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise (120g)
- 2 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 oz shredded Iceberg lettuce*
- Hoagie rolls optional for serving
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes. Scroll for macros and MyFitnessPal code.
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients. Chop the turkey, pepperoni and cheese into small pieces. Halve the tomatoes and chop the red onion and banana pepper rings.
- Add all the ingredients (except the lettuce) to a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.
- *If prepping each sandwich individually, you can mix the lettuce in with each serving right before eating so it stays crunchy and fresh. If serving for a crowd, go ahead and mix it in.
- Serve in a hoagie roll with condiments of choice (I added a little mayo) and enjoy!
Equipment
- Vegetable chopper optional
Notes
This recipe is gluten-free as written. If using salad recipe to make hoagies, just be sure to use gluten-free hoagie rolls. To make dairy-free: use dairy-free cheese (or omit). Make This Recipe Your Own!
- Switch up the types of meat! Use ham, chicken, salami, roast beef, etc.
- Use a different type of cheese! Sub the provolone for cheddar, American, colby jack, gouda, etc.
- Add extra veggies like avocado, carrots, bell peppers, etc!
- Use a different dressing! Customize the dressing to your preference or use your favorite store-bought!
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
