Spicy Italian Sub

Name: Spicy Italian Sub with Fresh Mozzarella
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 large loaf Italian or French bread; 3 tbsp butter, melted; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced; 1/4 cup garlic aioli; 1/4 cup spicy red pepper spread or relish; 1/2 cup dill pickle chips; 2 cups arugula; 1/4 lb sliced deli turkey; 1/4 lb sliced soppressata; 1/4 lb sliced capicola; 1/4 lb sliced prosciutto; 1/4 lb sliced salami

This Spicy Italian Sub layers fresh mozzarella, soppressata, turkey, and spicy red pepper spread on toasted garlic bread with pickles and arugula. It's a hearty sandwich that combines Italian cold cuts with bright, tangy, and spicy elements for maximum flavor.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Italian sub 🏷️Sandwich 🏷️Spicy 🏷️Prosciutto Salami

🏷️

🏷️Capicola

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TikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$25–$41

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

1 large loaf Italian or French bread
3 tbsp butter, melted
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
1/4 cup garlic aioli
1/4 cup spicy red pepper spread or relish
1/2 cup dill pickle chips
2 cups arugula
1/4 lb sliced deli turkey
1/4 lb sliced soppressata
1/4 lb sliced capicola
1/4 lb sliced prosciutto
1/4 lb sliced salami

13 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2
Cut the loaf of bread in half lengthwise.
3
Hollow out the soft bread from the inside of both halves to create a boat for the fillings.
4
In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and minced garlic together.
5
Brush the garlic butter mixture all over the inside surfaces of both bread halves.
6
On one half of the bread, arrange the slices of fresh mozzarella in an even layer.
7
Place both bread halves on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until the bread is lightly crispy and the cheese is melted.
8
Remove from the oven. On the top half of the bread (without cheese), spread the garlic aioli.
9
Spread the spicy red pepper spread over the aioli.
10
Layer the dill pickle chips over the spreads.
11
Pile the arugula on top of the pickles.
12
Layer the deli meats on top of the arugula, starting with turkey, then soppressata, capicola, prosciutto, and finally salami.
13
Carefully place the cheese-covered half of the bread on top to close the sandwich. Press down gently.
14
Slice the large sub into 4 individual portions.
15
Wrap each portion tightly in sandwich paper or aluminum foil and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Toast the garlic bread until deeply golden and crispy—this creates a moisture barrier that prevents the sub from becoming soggy from the spread and pickles.
Layer meats and cheese on the warm toasted bread so the mozzarella softens slightly and the flavors meld together.
Mix garlic aioli with the spicy red pepper spread on one side of the bread for a cohesive, balanced heat and flavor profile.
Add pickles and arugula just before serving to maintain their crunch and prevent the bread from absorbing excess moisture.

Substitutions

garlic aioli → mayonnaise mixed with roasted garlic (lighter option)
spicy red pepper spread → hot Italian peppers or roasted red pepper hummus (different heat level)
fresh mozzarella → provolone or burrata (firmer or creamier texture)
dill pickle chips → roasted red peppers or banana peppers (less acidic, different flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Wrap assembled sub tightly in foil and refrigerate up to 2 hours; this sub is best eaten fresh and not suitable for long-term storage due to the fresh mozzarella and arugula.