Grinder Sandwich – A Cozy Kitchen

This viral TikTok Grinder Sandwich is packed with meats, cheeses, and its signature creamy Grinder salad. Served on an Italian loaf with Calabrian chili paste, tomato, onion, and parmesan, it’s a flavor-packed obsession that never gets old.

A few years ago I came out with a sandwich series and it was VERY popular. I made everything from an amazing BLT to New York’s famous Chopped Cheese, a Tuna Melt and of course, this Grinder Sandwich.

What is a Grinder Sandwich

A New England-style hero, the grinder can be hot or cold—mine is hot. It’s packed with meat, cheese, and a crispy, tangy, creamy salad, plus parmesan, tomato, and extra onion.

How to Make a Grinder Sandwich

1. Make the Salad: Start by soaking the onions in water. This removes some of the bitterness from the onions. 
2. Toss sliced Iceberg lettuce with a creamy dressing of mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, oregano, crushed red pepper, minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. 
3. Add in sliced pepperoncini and sliced red onions.

4. To Assemble the Sandwich: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Start with a sliced Italian sandwich loaf and add some Calabrian chili paste to both sides for a nice kick. 

5. Next, layer salami, spicy pepperoni, and prosciutto on the top half and the Colby jack and Havarti cheeses on the other half. 

6. Bake for 5 minutes or until the meats are warm and the cheese is melty. 

7. Add the salad with the slices of tomato, more onion, and parmesan, slice it up, and enjoy your life.

Recipe Tip

• Making this ahead. You can assemble the sandwich and keep it in the fridge beforehand. Then just pop it in the oven when you’re ready to serve it. The salad, however, gets pretty soggy if it sits for too long. I say that’s best fresh.
• Can you make this without pork? Yes! Find salami made from beef. Skip the prosciutto and replace it with turkey.

Recipe FAQs

Where does the name come from?

The Grinder sandwich name’s origins are unclear—some say it refers to the chewing effort required, while others link it to Italian-American dockworkers called “grinders.” Either way, it’s a deliciously hefty sandwich.

What does the sandwich consist of?

Though recipes vary, every Grinder Sandwich includes mixed meats, Italian cheese, creamy Grinder salad, tomato, onion, and plenty of parmesan. Mine adds Calabrian chili paste for a spicy kick.



More Sandwich Recipes

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• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add the red onion to a bowl, pour some cold water over it, and let it sit. This will take away some of the bitterness. Whisk the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, oregano, red pepper, and garlic cloves. Add in the lettuce, onion, and pepperoncini, and give it a taste. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.

• Slice the bread in half and add Calabrian chili paste to both sides of the bread. Add the cheese to one of the halves. Add the meats to the other half. Transfer to the oven to bake for about 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the meat is warmed. Add the salad on top of the meat, along with a few slices of tomato, fresh onion, and parmesan cheese.

• Slice in half and enjoy. #grindersandwich

TIPS AND TRICKS

• You might be asking yourself if you can make this ahead. And I say yes and no. You can assemble the sandwich and keep it in the fridge before hand. Then just pop it in the oven when you’re ready to serve it. The salad, however, gets pretty soggy if it sits for too long. I say that’s best fresh.
• Can you make this without pork? Yes! Find salami made from beef. Skip the prosciutto and replace it with turkey.
• I love the grinder salad itself. And I have actually made the salad by itself, a piece of protein (like chicken) and served them together. Bliss! Does it take the sandwich out of the equation all together? Yes, but it’s still good.

Calories: 1525kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 139g | Saturated Fat: 42g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 54g | Monounsaturated Fat: 38g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 193mg | Sodium: 2365mg | Potassium: 955mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2415IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 839mg | Iron: 3mg

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