Whether you're looking for a giant party sub recipe, a cold dinner idea or simply wanting an easy to pack picnic lunch, this Party Sub Recipe is perfect for them all! Made with just a few ingredients this recipe is both easy and frugal!
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I'm sure we've all seen a giant sub sandwich before. One giant party sub that can feed a small army if you try. Well, this Party Sub Recipe may not feed an army, but it will feed a family of 4 or 5 just fine.
We often slice it into 4 sections and allow everyone to fill up on their quarter sub for a cold dinner during hot summer days because it's pretty filling. To stretch the sandwich out to feed even more people, it can be cut into 8-10 pieces about 2 inches wide and several inches tall.
Serve it up with a side of Orange Creamsicle Fluff for a cold summer meal that everyone will enjoy!
For more sandwich recipes, make sure to check out our Air Fryer Club Sandwich, Rainbow Grilled Cheese, Grilled Fluffernutter, and Easy Egg Salad Recipe.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Budget friendly. Italian loaves from the clearance rack make this party sub especially frugal, but even at full price it is an affordable option that works well for meal planning on a tight budget.
- Easy to make. Assembling one large sub is much faster and simpler than making individual sandwiches for the whole family.
- Fully customizable. Swap the meats, cheeses, veggies, and condiments to match your tastes and make it exactly the way your family loves it.
🛒 Ingredients
Italian loaf of bread. Italian bread is softer and less chewy than French bread, making it easier for kids to bite into. It is also my go to for French Bread Pepperoni Pizza.
Lunch meat. Classic options like turkey and ham work great, but roast beef, salami, or other favorites are easy swaps.
Condiments. Mustard, mayo, or other spreads add flavor and moisture. You can skip them on part of the loaf or leave them off entirely if needed.
Sliced cheese. Use your favorite cheese such as cheddar, American, or Muenster.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use leftover meats. This sub is a great way to use up holiday turkey or extra deli slices from the fridge instead of buying new packs.
Buy deli meat by the pound. Ordering from the deli counter is often cheaper than pre-packaged meats and lets you get exactly what you need.
Stretch with veggies. Lettuce, pickles, onions, and tomatoes add bulk and crunch, helping you use less meat while still keeping the sandwich filling.
🥄 Instructions for Party Sub Recipe
Step 1: Lay your loaf of Italian bread onto a cutting board and use a large bread knife to cut the sandwich along the side/middle area so that it creates a top and bottom half.
Step 2: Lay the two halves side by side with the cut sides facing up. On one, spread your mayo over the top. Spread the mustard over the top of the other half. Coat the tops well to avoid blank spots but use more or less of the condiments as desired.
Step 3: Cover the top of one half with cheese slices and arrange the lettuce leaves over the top of the other half.
Step 4: Fit and fold the lunch meat slices as needed to cover the top one of the halves.
Step 5: Add your additional topping to the top of the other half. This is your pickles, tomatoes, onions, olives, etc.
Step 6: Take the half that doesn't have the topping and place it over the top of the half with the toppings. Then flip the whole sandwich over so that it is upright if needed.
Step 7: Use a large bread knife to slice the sandwich into serving-sized pieces.
Step 8: Serve with any side dishes desired. Potato chips, cold fruit, and lemonade are all good suggestions.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Travel Tip: Pre-cut the sandwich before leaving home for easy serving on picnics or trips. This avoids tearing it apart later or needing to carry a knife.
- Customize Your Sub: Adjust ingredients to your taste. Add or skip mayo, mustard, tomatoes, onions, olives, salami, or any toppings you prefer to build it your way.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage. Wrap the Party Sub tightly in plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 24-36 hours. For best results, keep wetter toppings like lettuce and tomatoes to a minimum until serving.
Reheating. This sub is best enjoyed cold or at room temperature. If warming, heat only the bread and meats in the oven, then add cold toppings afterward.
Make ahead. Assemble the sub up to a day in advance and refrigerate. Add lettuce and tomatoes just before serving for the best texture.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Party subs pair perfectly with classic sides like potato chips, pasta salad, coleslaw, pickle spears, or a simple veggie tray. For parties, add fruit salad, potato salad, or a bowl of pretzels to round out the spread.
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- Strawberry Cottage Cheese SaladRecipe $7.61 / Serving $0.63
- Creamy LemonadeRecipe $2.74 / Serving $0.27
❓ Party Sub Recipe FAQs
You can use French bread if desired, but we personally prefer the softer Italian bread loaf as it's much less chewy. French bread is a great option if you want the thicker crust and chewiness though! (We love French bread, but not for this).
This sandwich is best eaten within 2 hours of making but can last up to a day or two if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You don't want to leave the sandwich sitting out too long at room temperature due to the condiments and cheese. Mayo doesn't do well with heat. But thanks to the thickness of the bread, it can be placed in the fridge for even longer storage if you don't finish it all at once.
Yes, we really enjoy making these large sandwiches before we go out to a park for a picnic. The bread and sandwiches feel much more sturdy, and less like to get squished by other foods in the cooler. This has definitely been our go-to meal for the past few years. Cheap, easy, filling, and easy to store.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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🐝 If you tried this Party Sub Recipe, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Party Sub Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Italian bread - ($1.00)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise - ($0.22)
- ⅛ cup yellow mustard - ($0.03)
- 6 slices cheddar cheese - ($1.14)
- Iceberg lettuce - ($0.25)
- 4 ounces turkey deli meat or leftover turkey - ($1.41)
- 4 ounces sliced ham lunch meat - ($1.41)
- Pickles - ($0.15)
Other optional toppings
- Sliced tomatoes
- Sliced onions
- Sliced black olives
Instructions
- Slice bread: Place the loaf of Italian bread on a cutting board and slice it lengthwise to create a top and bottom half.
- Spread: Lay both halves cut-side up. Spread mayonnaise evenly on one half and mustard on the other, adjusting amounts to taste.
- Layer: Add cheese slices to one half and lettuce to the other.
- Add meat: Fold the turkey and ham slices as needed and layer them evenly over the sandwich.
- Top: Add pickles and any optional toppings such as tomatoes, onions, or olives.
- Assemble: Place the bread halves together so the fillings touch, then flip the sandwich so the top faces up.
- Cut: Use a large bread knife to cut the sandwich into serving-size pieces.
- Serve: Serve immediately or prepare for transport as needed.
Notes
- Travel tip: Slice the sandwich before transporting for easy serving.
- Packaging: Place sliced pieces back into the original bread bag for simple transport without extra tools.
- Customization: Add or swap toppings like salami, tomatoes, onions, or olives to suit your preferences.
- Bread choice: Italian bread is softer, while French bread offers a thicker crust and more chew.
- Storage: Best enjoyed within 2 hours. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 to 2 days. Avoid leaving at room temperature due to mayonnaise and cheese.
Nutritional Information
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