Chopped Italian Sandwich

By Krista Teigen

Published Jan 16, 2026

Italian sandwiches have been my go-to at delis for years now, so I finally decided to give the viral chopped Italian sandwich a try. Chopping everything together instead of layering the ingredients turns out to be the best way to enjoy this flavor-packed classic. Every bite gets a little bit of everything, including meat, cheese, veggies, and dressing, without anything overpowering the rest. The result is a perfectly balanced sandwich with bold, tangy flavor and plenty of texture. In just 15 minutes, you have four sandwiches ready to go for lunch, dinner, or a game day feast.

Chopped Italian sandwich cut in half, showing layers of chopped deli meats, provolone, lettuce, peppers, and dressing inside a soft hoagie roll. - 4

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A chopped Italian sandwich is now the only way I’ll eat a classic Italian sub . This recipe is so fun. I layer the lettuce, meats, cheese, and vegetables on a big cutting board and get to chopping. The banana peppers or pepperoncini add a little tangy heat that cuts through all the richness. Right on the cutting board, I drizzle in the mayonnaise, oil, vinegar, and seasonings, and mix everything together until it’s perfectly coated. That’s it, and it’s ready to be piled into hoagie rolls. It’s perfect for an easy lunch, casual dinner, or anytime you want something fast, filling, and no-fuss.

Tips for Beginners

Avoid soggy bread. If you’re not serving right away, chop and dress the meats and cheese first, then fold in the lettuce just before assembling. You can also keep the dressing separate and mix it in at the last minute to keep everything crisp. You can also give the rolls a quick toast before layering all the fillings on.
Use a sharp chef’s knife. A sharp knife makes a huge difference here. It gives you clean, even pieces instead of smashed deli meat or bruised lettuce, which helps the mixture stay light and evenly coated.
Taste and adjust the dressing. Before stuffing the rolls, give the mixture a quick taste. Add a splash more red wine vinegar for brightness or an extra pinch of Italian seasoning if it needs more savory flavor.

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
▢ 8 salami slices
▢ 6 deli ham slices
▢ ½ cup pepperoni
▢ 6 slices provolone cheese chopped
▢ 1 large tomato sliced
▢ ¼ cup red onion slices
▢ ¼ cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers
▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise sub for Greek yogurt
▢ 2 tbsp olive oil
▢ 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
▢ 1 tsp Italian seasoning
▢ ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
▢ 4 hoagie rolls

Instructions

Place the lettuce in a pile on a large cutting board. Add the salami, ham, pepperoni, provolone, tomatoes, red onion, and peperoncini on top of the lettuce. Chop everything up into small pieces. 4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, 8 salami slices, 6 deli ham slices, ½ cup pepperoni, 6 slices provolone cheese, 1 large tomato, ¼ cup red onion slices, ¼ cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers
Add the mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the top of the pile. Use a knife or a large spoon to combine. ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
Spoon the filling into each hoagie roll. 4 hoagie rolls

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make a Chopped Italian Sandwich Step by Step

ingredients for chopped Italian Sandwich - 5

Gather all the ingredients together.

Lettuce, salami, ham, pepperoni, provolone, tomato slices, red onion, and pepperoncini layered on a cutting board before chopping. - 6

Layer ingredients on a cutting board: Place 4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce in a pile on a large cutting board. Layer 8 slices salami, 6 slices deli ham, ½ cup pepperoni, 6 chopped slices provolone cheese, 1 large sliced tomato, ¼ cup sliced red onion, and ¼ cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers on top of the lettuce.

Chopped Italian sandwich ingredients being finely chopped together on a cutting board with a chef’s knife. - 7

Chop everything up: Using a sharp knife, chop everything together into small, bite-sized pieces.

Mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning added to chopped Italian sandwich ingredients on a cutting board. - 8

Add dressing ingredients: Drizzle ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp olive oil, and 2 tbsp red wine vinegar over the chopped mixture. Sprinkle with 1 tsp Italian seasoning and ¼ tsp each salt and black pepper.

Chopped Italian sandwich filling mixed together on a cutting board until evenly coated with dressing. - 9

Coat the ingredients: Use the knife or a large spoon to mix everything together until evenly coated and well combined.

Three chopped Italian sandwiches assembled in hoagie rolls lined up on a cutting board. - 10

Assemble the sandwiches: Spoon the chopped filling evenly into 4 hoagie rolls, piling it high, and serve right away.

Two chopped Italian sandwiches cut in half, showing the chopped meat, cheese, vegetables, and dressing inside the rolls. - 11

Variations and What Else to Add

Swap the bread: Use gluten-free hoagie rolls, soft ciabatta, or a crusty baguette, depending on what you have on hand.
Change up the meats: Try sliced turkey or roast beef for a different flavor, or use vegetarian deli slices to make it meat-free.
Switch the cheese: Mozzarella works well for a milder bite, and dairy-free provolone-style slices are a great option if needed.
Adjust the heat: If banana peppers or pepperoncini are too spicy, swap them for chopped pickles or roasted red peppers for tang without the heat.
Tweak the dressing: Add a splash of bottled Italian dressing for extra zip or a small spoonful of Dijon mustard for a sharper, savory kick.

How to Store

Store the chopped filling separately from the bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Once assembled, these sandwiches are best eaten the same day since the bread will soften as it sits.

Serving Suggestions

I usually serve these chopped Italian sandwiches with something crunchy on the side, like classic chips or crinkle-cut fries, to keep things simple. They’re also great paired with a bowl of tomato soup or minestrone when I want to turn them into a more filling meal. If I’m feeding a crowd, I’ll sometimes skip the sandwiches altogether and serve the filling as a hoagie dip instead. This is one of my favorite options for game days alongside white queso , but it also works just as well for easy lunches, casual dinners, or packing up for a picnic.

More easy sandwiches & deli favorites

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Giant Party Sub (Made with a Bundt pan)

Reuben Sandwich Recipe

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Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Chopped Italian Sandwich

Ingredients

4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
8 salami slices
6 deli ham slices
½ cup pepperoni
6 slices provolone cheese chopped
1 large tomato sliced
¼ cup red onion slices
¼ cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers
¼ cup mayonnaise sub for Greek yogurt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp each salt and pepper
4 hoagie rolls

Instructions

Place the lettuce in a pile on a large cutting board. Add the salami, ham, pepperoni, provolone, tomatoes, red onion, and peperoncini on top of the lettuce. Chop everything up into small pieces. 4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, 8 salami slices, 6 deli ham slices, ½ cup pepperoni, 6 slices provolone cheese, 1 large tomato, ¼ cup red onion slices, ¼ cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers
Add the mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the top of the pile. Use a knife or a large spoon to combine. ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
Spoon the filling into each hoagie roll. 4 hoagie rolls

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!