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Baked Italian Grinder Sandwiches

Baked Italian grinder sandwiches with melty provolone, layered Italian meats, and tangy giardiniera are baked until the cheese turns gooey and the meat warms through. Built in open-faced layers on a sheet pan for a fast, crusty-roll dinner in about 25 minutes.
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Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 780
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Hoagie roll base
  • 4 hoagie rolls Use good-quality hoagie rolls for sturdy, crusty edges.
Garlic olive oil
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 2 clove garlic, minced Minced garlic helps it brush evenly into the cut rolls.
Italian deli meats and cheese
  • 8 oz sliced salami
  • 8 oz sliced ham
  • 8 oz sliced provolone cheese Provolone melts quickly for that warm, gooey texture.
Tangy giardiniera topping
  • 0.5 cup giardiniera, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
Dressing
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and bake the open-faced sandwiches
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slice the hoagie rolls open and brush the insides with olive oil mixed with garlic.
  2. Layer the sliced salami, sliced ham, and sliced provolone cheese evenly across the bottom half of each roll.
  3. Place the sandwiches open-faced on a sheet pan and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the meat is warmed through.
Make the lettuce-giardiniera dressing
  1. Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning.
  2. Toss the shredded lettuce with the dressing and giardiniera, chopped.
Finish and serve
  1. Top the warm sandwiches with the dressed lettuce mixture, close the rolls, and slice before serving.

Notes

For less sogginess, dress the lettuce right before topping the hot sandwiches. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat gently in the oven at 325°F until warmed. Freezing isn’t recommended because the lettuce dressing can lose texture. Dietary swap: use gluten-free hoagie rolls if you need a gluten-free dinner.