This Italian Grinder sandwich is crunchy, saucy, meaty and cheesy! After one bite, you’ll understand why I love it so much! The recipe is fairly simple – and the number one thing you need is a GOOD Italian sausage – that makes the recipe!
What You Will ❤️ About Grinder Sandwiches
I first came across grinder sandwiches when I lived in Iowa. Des Moines actually has quite a few Italian restaurants and the most amazing deli, Graziano Brothers. They told us where to get the best grinder sandwich and we never looked back.
- Crusty Bread – I love a delicious crusty bread stuffed full of ingredients!
- Melty Cheese – It really doesn’t get any better than the cheese pull.
- Quick – These sandwiches are ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!
What’s in an Italian Grinder Sandwich?
You may have also heard about a tiktok viral recipe for a Grinder sandwich that is more like an Italian sub with deli meats, tomatoes, red onions and more – but this is an AUTHENTIC grinder sandwich!!
- Italian sausage – I recommend getting Italian sausage from a meat market/butcher rather than the grocery store. The taste is so much better!! If you buy sausage links – you’ll want to cut the casing off and crumble the sausage.
- Ground Beef
- Onion
- Green Pepper
- Seasonings: Oregano, garlic salt, red pepper flakes
- Pizza sauce
- Italian bread – I like to use the hoagie rolls that are sort of pre-baked – you take them home and pop them in the oven for 15-20 min
- Mozzarella cheese – you could also substitute provolone cheese
- Butter
How do you make a grinder sandwich?
A lot of folks make the hoagie filling in a crock pot – and you could definitely do that – but I just used my stove top. Here’s all there is to it:
- Preheat oven to 400º
- Brown sausage and ground beef over medium heat in a skillet about half way done
- Add diced green pepper and onion, brown until meats are not pink
- Add seasonings and pizza sauce
- Simmer for 2-3 minutes
- Slice the bread roll lengthwise so you have a top and bottom half.
- Using a fork, scoop some of the insides out of both sides
- Lay out a piece of aluminum foil and spray with non-stick spray (don’t forget this step!)
- Fill the base of the bread with the sausage filling
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese
- Put the top half of the bread on and wrap the sandwich tightly with foil
- Place sandwiches on a sheet pan and bake at 400º for 10 minutes
- Open foil packets and brush top of bread with butter and sprinkle lightly with garlic salt
- Leave foil packet open and bake five minutes more
- Remove from foil and serve!
What to serve with grinders?
Other delicious hot sandwich recipes
Copycat Italian Grinder
This Italian Grinder sandwich is crunchy, saucy, meaty and cheesy! After one bite, you’ll understand why I love it so much! The recipe is fairly simple – and the number one thing you need is a GOOD Italian sausage – that makes the recipe!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/2 green pepper diced
- 14 oz pizza sauce
- 2 loaves french bread sliced in half horizontally & vertically
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese grated
- 2-4 tbsp butter softened
- 2 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- If sausage has casings remove them and crumble into pan with the ground beef. Brown both meats together until no longer pink. Drain fat.1/2 lb Italian sausage, 1/2 lb ground beef
- And pepper & onion1/2 onion, 1/2 green pepper
- add garlic salt, red pepper flakes & pizza sauce.1 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 14 oz pizza sauce, 1/2 tsp oregano
- stir to combine and heat for 5 min
- Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut the split French loaf into 2 separate sandwiches. Repeat with second loaf.2 loaves french bread
- Pull a small amount of bread out of the bottom and top of the loaf to make a bowl for the meat.
- Fill the bowl with meat mixture.
- Cover the meat mixture with shredded Mozzarella cheese.1 cup Mozzarella cheese
- Place the top of loaf onto the sandwich
- Lay out foil for each sandwich and spray with non-stick spray. Lay sandwich on foil and wrap. Bake for 10 minutes in the oven
- Open foil up and brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake 5 min more with the foil packet open2-4 tbsp butter, 2 tsp garlic salt
- Remove from foil packets and serve
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwichCalories: 1146kcalCarbohydrates: 44.1gProtein: 46.6gFat: 89.5gSaturated Fat: 28.8gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 1752mgPotassium: 892mgFiber: 6.1gSugar: 9.8gCalcium: 101mgIron: 10mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Mirlene says
This is a very savory sandwich to make for lunch! Love the melted cheese on top of the italian crumbles on the toasted bread!
Irina says
I had never made a grinder sandwich till I found your recipe. I made it as soon as I could grab all the ingredients. It is with trying; it’s so yummy and delicious!!
julie says
Oh wow!!
My favourite, meaty cheesy goodness on a crusty baguette!
Winning, thank you for sharing.
j
Maria San Juan says
Wow! This seems exciting to make! I am very excited about this! Thanks for sharing!
Tara says
Oh wow! So many flavors packed into this sandwich! I love how easily it all comes together too. So much cheese!