The Best Italian Subs for Pool Days and Summer Lunches
Easy Italian sub recipe made with pesto, deli meats, fresh mozzarella, creamy Italian dressing, and crisp lettuce. Perfect for pool days and summer lunches.
My favorite sandwich of all time is a classic Italian sub. Loaded with fresh mozzarella, pesto, deli meats, crunchy lettuce tossed in creamy homemade Italian dressing, and served on delicious Barcelona bread, they are seriously so good. Here’s my go to recipe for making the most delicious Italian subs at home!
We’ve been enjoying nonstop pool days the past few weeks, and when we go to the pool, we stay for hours! We pack snacks, lunch, and sometimes even stay past dinner. This is going to be another big pool weekend, so I made a bunch of Italian sub sandwiches for the family to enjoy by the pool. That way, we don’t have to stress about packing up and heading home once everyone gets hungry. When you have tired and hungry swimmers around, sandwiches are always the best to serve.
You can enjoy these sandwiches cold or toasted, and they’re so easy to customize with different meats, cheeses, sauces, and toppings. This version is inspired by two of my favorite sandwiches. One is from the Urban Deli down in Savannah, and the other is from Union Exchange Farm in Monroe. I basically combined my favorite parts of both sandwiches into one perfect Italian sub recipe!
Sandwiches are one of the easiest meals to pack for summer activities. They’re quick to make, easy to customize, and perfect for feeding a hungry crowd after a long day in the sun. Who doesn’t love a good sandwich? Does anyone else think a sandwich tastes better by a body of water?
Italian Sub Sandwich Ingredients:
- Barcelona bread – or sub rolls
- Pesto
- Iceberg lettuce (or romaine)
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Fresh mozzarella cheese
- Banana peppers
- Salami
- Turkey
- Pepperoni
- Black Pepper
Creamy Italian Dressing:
- Mayonaise
- Olive Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Good Seasonings Packet
Another ingredient I added after was a drizzle of balsamic glaze!
How to Make the BEST Italian Subs:
The first thing you’ll want to do is make the dressing. In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and half a packet of Good Seasons Italian dressing mix until creamy and well combined. Toss the shredded lettuce in the dressing until evenly coated.
This is also an amazing salad dressing to use for tossed salads or even a chicken marinade.
My little chef helped me construct these yummy sandwiches.
I usually make my own sourdough bread, but I wanted something quick, so I grabbed the most delicious and fluffy Barcelona Cristal sandwich rolls from the grocery store. You can definitely toast them if you want, but I’m more of a cold sandwich kind of gal. If you do toast them, add the tomatoes and lettuce last!
How to Toast Italian Subs
If you prefer a warm and crispy sandwich, these Italian subs taste amazing toasted! Assemble the sandwiches and place them onto a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the bread is warm and lightly crispy and the cheese begins to soften.
Toast just the bread first before adding the lettuce and tomatoes if you want the veggies to stay extra crisp and fresh.
Slice open the bread and spread pesto onto one side. Layer on the pepperoni, salami, turkey, fresh mozzarella, banana peppers, onions, and the seasoned lettuce. Finish with a sprinkle of black pepper before closing up the sandwich.
I packed our favorite jalapeño chips to go on the side and, of course, homemade chocolate chip cookies because who doesn’t love warm, gooey cookies by the water to help wash down a sandwich? Oh, and don’t forget the sparkling waters!
More Pool Side Summer Recipes You’ll Love:
Sweet Spring Kale Salad with Honey Orange Vinaigrette
Lemon Ricotta and Garlic Chicken Pasta Salad
Italian Caesar Salad With an Antipasto Twist
Sweet Jalapeño Deviled Eggs | Delicious Appetizer Recipe
The Easiest Chicken Salad Recipe I Eat Every Day
Restaurant-Style Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap
Asparagus Pasta Salad with Lemon Sea Salt Dressing
The Best Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Best Tuna Salad Recipe: High Protein
Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken & Bacon Avocado Sandwiches
Easy Homemade Italian Subs
Ingredients
Italian Sub Ingredients
- 4 sub rolls Barcelona crystal rolls
- 4 Tbsps pesto
- 6] cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/4 Cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 Small 1 tomato, sliced
- 12 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 1/4 Cup Banana Peppers
- 12 ounces Salami
- 12 Ounces Pepperoni
- 16 Ounces Turkey
- Black Pepper
Creamy Italian Dressing Ingredients
- 3 Tbsps mayonnaise
- 1/3 Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1/2 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Good Seasons Italian dressing mix until creamy and combined.
- Add the shredded lettuce to a bowl and toss it with the creamy Italian dressing until coated.
- Slice open the Bread rolls. Spread pesto onto one side of each roll.
- Layer the pepperoni, salami, turkey, fresh mozzarella, banana peppers, onions, tomatoes, and seasoned lettuce onto the bread. Sprinkle with black pepper.
- Close the sandwiches and serve immediately cold, or toast them lightly if preferred.
Notes
How to Store
Wrap sandwiches tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours for best freshness.We’re heading to the beach later this summer, and I already know these Italian subs are going to be packed in the cooler at least a few times during the trip. They’re the perfect beach lunch because they’re easy to make ahead, easy to transport, and so filling after a long morning in the sun. I can already picture us coming up from the beach hungry, cookies, grabbing cold sandwiches, chips, sparkling waters, and fruit while sitting out on the porch in our swimsuits. Summer food really is the best.
I hope you love these Italian subs as much as we do! They’ve quickly become one of our favorite easy summer meals for pool days, beach trips, and busy weekends at home. They’re fresh, flavorful, easy to customize, and always a crowd pleaser. If you make them, let me know what you think or tag me in your photos because I always love seeing your recreations!
