Chopped Italian Recipe

This Chopped Italian Sandwich recipe combines crispy pepperoni, smoked ham, salami, roasted turkey, melted provolone and Swiss cheese, crunchy iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini, and sun-dried tomatoes inside warm, toasted Italian rolls. Featured on Griddle Nation, CJ Fraizer takes the viral chopped sandwich trend to the griddle, creating a bold and satisfying meal that combines the flavors of a classic Italian-style deli sandwich with hot, melty flat-top cooking.

The Inspiration

Chopped sandwiches have become popular for one simple reason: chopping the fillings together creates a little bit of everything in practically every bite. Instead of encountering separate layers of lettuce, meat, cheese, vegetables, and dressing, the ingredients are combined into one cohesive mixture before being loaded into the bread.

On Griddle Nation, CJ Fraizer takes inspiration from popular internet cooking videos and adapts those ideas for the flat-top griddle. This Chopped Italian Sandwich is particularly suited to that approach because it combines the freshness of a deli-style Italian sub with ingredients that benefit from a quick trip across the hot cooking surface.

The finished sandwich captures the playful style of Griddle Nation: familiar ingredients, internet-inspired technique, plenty of griddle flavor, and a final result that is messy, generous, and satisfying.

Ingredients

• Graza Frizzle High Heat Cooking Oil
• Blackstone Tuscan Herb Seasoning
• 4oz. Pepperoni, Diced
• 4oz. Smoked Ham, Sliced
• 4oz. Salami, Sliced
• 4oz. Roasted Turkey, Sliced
• 3 Slices Provolone Cheese
• 3 Slices Swiss Cheese
• 2 Sprigs Fresh Oregano
• 2 Italian Rolls, Sliced
• 4 Tbsp Mayonnaise
• ¼ C Pepperoncini
• 1 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 Head Iceberg Lettuce, Chopped
• 1 Jar Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Method

• Preheat griddle to low heat. Allow 10-15 minutes, or until the surface darkens and light smoke appears.
• Add a bit of Graza oil and meat to the griddle. Allow the meat to get slightly crispy edges before removing and chopping up.
• Add a bit of Graza oil and Blackstone Tuscan Herb seasoning to the griddle. Smash garlic cloves and place on seasoned griddle with oregano. After 1-2 minutes, move garlic and oregano off to the side, then place Italian bread on griddle surface to toast and soak up the flavors.
• Flip the toasted bread, add 3 slices of Swiss cheese, and layer 3 slices of Provolone cheese on top to one of the sides.
• Chop iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini, sun dried tomatoes, and meats together.
• In a mixing bowl add a little bit of mayo, Italian dressing, red wine vinegar, Blackstone Tuscan Herb seasoning, and black pepper.
• Toss chopped mixture into the mixing bowl, stir, and set aside.
• Add generous scoops of the meat salad to the hoagie, slice, and enjoy a warm, melty, messy, chopped sandwich.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this Chopped Italian Sandwich recipe for lunch, dinner, game day, backyard entertaining, or a casual weekend meal when you want something hearty without requiring an elaborate sit-down dinner.

For a classic sandwich-shop-style meal, pair it with kettle chips, French fries, seasoned potato wedges, or additional pepperoncini and pickles. A simple tomato and cucumber salad also works well alongside the sandwich, particularly when you want something fresh to balance the creamy dressing, melted cheeses, and griddled meats.

For casual entertaining, prepare the chopped filling shortly before serving and keep the toasted rolls warm until you’re ready to assemble. Because one of the best parts of this recipe is the contrast between the warm, toasted bread and the crisp chopped lettuce mixture, assemble the sandwiches immediately before serving for the best combination of textures.

Final Thoughts

This Chopped Italian Sandwich recipe combines the best elements of a classic deli sub with the satisfying flavors and textures of griddle cooking. Featured on Griddle Nation, CJ Fraizer starts with a familiar lineup of Italian-inspired sandwich ingredients and transforms them by cooking, chopping, dressing, and layering them together.

For more information, check out the Griddle Nation website. Griddle Nation