Copycat Kmart Sub Recipe
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Back in the day, Kmart had restaurants in the back and this Kmart sub recipe takes me back!!! My Grandpa would always indulge me with their wonderful sub sandwich. Every bite was a taste of my past! Plus – it’s loaded with 3 meats, cheese and tons of veggies!
What You Will Love About Kmart Sub Sandwich
Besides the nostalgia of the restaurant, the blue light specials and my Grandpa cutting his hot dog with his pocket knife (ew) and sharing some cokes with me – this wonderful K-mart Sub recipe is delicious! Layered with ham, salami & bologna – one layer of cheese and then LOADS of fresh veggies – I’ve eaten this sub sandwich every day this week!
Kmart Sub Sandwich Ingredients
- Super soft sub rolls – this is probably the hardest part – finding the right long sub roll!
- Meats
- Salami – preferably WITH the peppercorns – 2 slices salami per sandwich
- Bologna – Kmart used Oscar Mayer but I went with Kahn’s from the deli counter because it’s my favorite – 1 slice bologna per sandwich
- Honey Roasted Ham – Oscar Mayer Honey Loaf Ham here as well – back in the day – Oscar Mayer was sort of the only game in town! 1 slice ham per sandwich
- American Cheese – Kmart used Kraft cheese slices – I went for Land O’Lakes because it’s the best!!!!! 2 cheese slices per sandwich
- Veggies
- White onion – sliced sliver thin
- Lettuce – shredded iceberg of course!
- Tomato slices – super thin
- Banana peppers – the yellow sweet mild banana pepper rings add an amazing and tangy crunch
- Dill pickle – thinly sliced
- Mustard – French’s yellow mustard is the only condiment because it these sandwiches were sitting out in the store
How to Make K-mart Sub Sandwich
This sandwich is all about the layers!!! Here’s how to make it:
- Slice all of your veggies ahead of time – so then all you’re doing is layering.
- Slice your meats in half as well – this way you’re not folding them and they fit lengthwise in that long sub bun
- Open the bun but don’t tear the hinge of the bread into two pieces & start with the squirt of mustard on both the top bun and bottom of the sandwich.
- If your sub roll isn’t sliced, be sure to use a serrated knife to hinge it open
- Stack it up! Going from the bottom bun to the top:
- 4 Salami halves
- 2 Bologna halves
- 4 Cheese halves
- 2 Ham halves
- Onion slivers
- Tomato – 4 thin slices
- Shredded Lettuce
- Banana Peppers
- Pickle slivers
- Close and smush that sandwich and wrap it in foil or plastic wrap.
- Be sure to leave it sit out at room temperature for 30 min or so before serving
- Or if making ahead – wrap them up and pop them in the refrigerator
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
They used Honey Loaf Ham – which is hard to find these days. I went with sliced honey ham.
Kraft American cheese slices – but I used Land O’Lakes because it tastes so much better!!!
They would spread that traditional French’s yellow mustard in a v-shape pattern on the top and bottom of the bun.
Frozen coke and a bag of Lays chips of course – just like Kmart!
Variations
This Kmart sub recipe is pretty specific on ingredients – but you can mix it up a bit! Here are a few ideas for additions:
- Dressing – a drizzle of olive oil, vinegar, chunky kosher salt & pepper on this sandwich is a delicious addition!
- Cheese – swap out those American cheese slices for something stronger like Swiss cheese
- Add more Veg – thinly sliced bell peppers & cucumbers would add more crunch
More Sandwich Recipes
More On-the-Go Lunch Recipes
Kmart Sub Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 submarine rolls
- 8 slices salami
- 4 slices bologna
- 4 slices honey ham
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1/4 onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 2 small tomatoes thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup banana peppers
- 1 dill pickle thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup French's yellow mustard
Instructions
- Slice all of your veggies ahead of time – so then all you're doing is layering.
- Slice your meats in half as well – this way you're not folding them and they fit lengthwise in that long sub bun
- Open the bun but don't tear the hinge of the bread into two pieces & start with the squirt of mustard on both the top bun and bottom of the sandwich. If your sub roll isn't sliced, be sure to use a serrated knife to hinge it open4 submarine rolls
- Stack it up! Going from the bottom bun to the top:4 Salami halves2 Bologna halves4 Cheese halves2 Ham halvesOnion sliversTomato – 4 thin slicesShredded LettuceBanana PeppersPickle slivers8 slices salami, 4 slices bologna, 4 slices honey ham, 4 slices American cheese, 1/4 onion, 1 cup shredded lettuce, 2 small tomatoes, 1/3 cup banana peppers, 1 dill pickle, 1/4 cup French's yellow mustard
- Close and smush that sandwich and wrap it in foil or plastic wrap.
- Be sure to leave it sit out at room temperature for 30 min or so before servingOr if making ahead – wrap them up and pop them in the refrigerator
I love it. I remember eating them as a kid. Not too often (no money as a kid), but I remember them.
Omg! I hope this tastes like the original. As a child my Mother couldn’t get me to eat ANY sandwich with lunch meat. But, for some unexplained reason, I LOVED the Kmart sub. I saved my money for Kmart days just to get the sub.
I’ve actually never had a Kmart sub but I’ve heard about them for many years. I decided to use this recipe to see what everybody else was talking about.
I thought it was a good basic sub and outside of NYC fare, probably ground-breaking in the Midwest.
I was so disappointed when our only Kmart closed here in my city several years ago. I’m so excited to try this in hopes that I can still have my favorite sub anytime I want to!
I worked for K-Mart for 23 years and would have to cover in the deli when they had to go on their break or someone would call in for their shift. At our store we used 3 slices of all the meats then added the veggies and we would put mustard on one side of the bread and mayo on the other side. I was never a fan of these sandwiches until I had to start making them, as I don’t like onions so I would have them make mine without the onions now I love them and miss the Kmart store!! When I make a ham sandwich I will put mustard on one side and mayo on the other brings back memories.