Baked Italian Grinder Sandwiches Recipe
Baked Italian Grinder Sandwiches are a delicious combination of Italian sub rolls layered with an assortment of deli meats, cheeses, and flavorful toppings. Brushed with a seasoned garlic-herb butter and baked to perfection, these sandwiches offer melted cheese, crispy bread, and bold Mediterranean flavors — perfect for a satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Butter Mixture
- 1 loaf Italian sub rolls
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Meats and Cheeses
- 1/2 pound deli-sliced salami
- 1/2 pound deli-sliced ham
- 1/2 pound deli-sliced pepperoni
- 1/2 pound deli-sliced mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 pound deli-sliced provolone cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Toppings
- 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup banana peppers, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the sandwiches.
- Prepare rolls: Slice the Italian sub rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through, keeping them hinged on the bottom.
- Arrange rolls: Place the hinged rolls on a baking sheet cut side up with enough space to avoid overcrowding.
- Make seasoned butter: Melt the unsalted butter and add garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Butter the rolls: Brush the seasoned butter generously on the cut sides of the rolls ensuring even coverage on both halves.
- Layer meats: Evenly layer the salami on the bottom half of each roll, followed by layers of ham and pepperoni to cover the base completely.
- Layer cheeses: Add slices of mozzarella cheese over the pepperoni, then layer provolone cheese on top, ensuring full coverage of the sandwich.
- Add Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the provolone for extra cheesy flavor.
- Add toppings: Distribute roasted red peppers, sliced black olives, and banana peppers uniformly over the cheese layers.
- Add fresh basil: Place fresh basil leaves on top of the peppers to add freshness and visual appeal.
- Bake sandwiches: Bake the sandwiches in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the cheese melts and the bread becomes slightly crispy.
- Cool and slice: Remove from oven and let sandwiches cool for a minute before carefully slicing into individual portions.
- Serve: Serve the baked Italian grinder sandwiches warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Do not cut the bread fully through to help keep sandwich fillings intact during baking.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Use a serrated knife to slice the sandwiches cleanly without squishing the fillings.
- Feel free to swap meats or cheeses according to your preference or availability.
- For extra crispiness, broil the sandwiches for 1-2 minutes after baking, but watch closely to prevent burning.
Keywords: Italian grinder, baked sandwich, Italian sub, deli meat sandwich, melted cheese sandwich, baked Italian sandwich
