Chopped Grinder Sandwich Recipe
The Chopped Italian Grinder Sandwich is a delightful mix of deli meats and toppings, all chopped together with zesty dressing, then scooped into a perfectly soft, sweet Hawaiian roll bun that's toasted with garlic butter and layered with melty cheese.
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Ingredients
For the Sandwich Filling:
- 2-3 slices deli turkey
- 3 slices genoa salami
- 6 slices deli pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 5 slices red onion
- 1 roma tomato sliced
- ¼ cup banana peppers plus a few splashes of jarred brine
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or a splash of oil and vinegar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Cheesy Garlic Buns:
- 6 Hawaiian-style sweet rolls sliced into two 3-roll buns
- 4 tablespoons softened butter
- ½ tsp garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves pressed/grated
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 4-6 slices provolone or swiss cheese
Optional Topping:
- Crushed Nacho Doritos optional, but highly recommended for crunch and flavor
Instructions
Prepare the Chopped Sub Filling
- On a large cutting board, start by spreading out a base of shredded lettuce.
- Layer the slices of turkey, salami, and pepperoni on top of the lettuce. Follow with the slices of red onion, tomato, and banana peppers.
- Dollop the mayonnaise over the layered ingredients. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, red wine vinegar and a few splashes of the brine from the banana peppers. Season with salt and pepper.
- Using a large, sharp knife, begin chopping the entire pile of ingredients. Continue chopping and mixing until all the ingredients are finely diced and evenly combined with the dressing to form a cohesive sub salad mixture. Taste and adjust if needed.
Prepare the Cheesy Garlic Rolls
- Preheat oven to broil and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the block of Hawaiian rolls into sets of three attached rolls to create a bun the size of a hoagie roll. Then slice horizontally most of the way through so the top and bottom are still attached on one side.
- In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with garlic and parsley.
- Generously spread the garlic butter mixture on the cut side of both the top and bottom halves of the rolls. Place the rolls open, face up on the prepared baking sheet and toast them for 1-2 minutes until golden brown. Monitor to prevent burning.
- Remove the rolls from the oven. Layer slices of cheese (2-3 slices per sandwich) or enough to cover the surface area of the entire inside of the roll.
- Return the rolls under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and starts to bubble.
Assemble and Serve
- Once the cheese is melted, divide the chopped sub filling between the two sandwiches.
- Generously sprinkle or press crushed Doritos onto the sub filling if using.
- Serve immediately while the bread is warm and the cheese is melted.
Notes
You can change the selection of deli meats to meet your preference. Capicola, prosciutto, and ham all work well.
The bottom of the rolls will remain very soft. If you prefer a firmer toasted bun:
• Before buttering, place the rolls face-down under the broiler and toast. Then proceed with adding butter on the inside and toasting, then continue with adding and toasting the cheese. This will keep the bread a bit firmer if that’s your desired texture.
The bottom of the rolls will remain very soft. If you prefer a firmer toasted bun:
• Before buttering, place the rolls face-down under the broiler and toast. Then proceed with adding butter on the inside and toasting, then continue with adding and toasting the cheese. This will keep the bread a bit firmer if that’s your desired texture.