Italian Cobb Salad Sub — is it a sub or a salad? It’s both. This cold-cut Italian sub salad combines the classic Cobb salad with the flavors of an Italian hoagie, all assembled inside an unsliced Italian loaf for a satisfying handheld meal.
If you’re unsure what a hoagie roll is, it’s simply a sub bun or Italian-style loaf you can fill with deli meats and fresh toppings. This recipe merges the best of an Italian salad and a Cobb salad, layering ingredients for great texture and flavor in every bite.
I like serving this as a light dinner main course. It comes together quickly, packs plenty of protein, and lets you pile on your favorite salad toppings.
Ingredients for Italian Cobb Salad Sub
- Bread: 1 loaf unsliced Italian bread
- Sauces: balsamic vinegar and Italian dressing
- Lettuce: fresh iceberg or romaine (or another crunchy lettuce)
- Deli meat: deli ham and deli turkey, plus cooked bacon strips
- Eggs: hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- Cheese: Swiss cheese slices
- Tomato: Roma tomato slices (or your preferred tomato)
How to make Italian Cobb Salad Sub
- Cook bacon according to package directions. Let cool and set aside.
- Cut the loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Scoop out some of the interior crumb, leaving a sturdy shell so the filling stands out.
- Brush both halves of the bread with balsamic vinegar and Italian dressing using a pastry brush.
- Layer the chopped lettuce, deli ham, deli turkey, bacon, sliced hard-boiled eggs, Swiss cheese and tomato along the length of the bread. Slice and serve.
How to store leftover Italian subs
Fridge: Store leftover fillings and shredded lettuce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Counter: Keep any remaining bread at room temperature in a bread box or wrapped for up to 3 days.
Tips and tricks
Favorite sandwich ingredients to add
These add-ins let each person customize their sub:
- Banana peppers
- Red onion
- Black pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning
- Green or black olives
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- Red wine vinegar
- Sea salt
Why this Italian sub works
This recipe is a great way to transform leftover salad ingredients into a flavorful sandwich. Combining the bright acidity of vinegar and Italian dressing with layers of meat, cheese and crunchy lettuce creates a balanced, portable meal that prevents waste and pleases a crowd.
How to make easy boiled eggs
You can buy pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs or make your own at home. Hard-boiled eggs are a quick protein boost and slice neatly for layering in the sub.
More tasty sandwich ideas
Ham Salad Sandwiches
Easy French Dip Sandwiches
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Italian Cobb Salad Sub
Ingredients
- 1 loaf unsliced Italian bread
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup Italian dressing
- 5 cups fresh iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 lb deli ham
- 1 lb deli turkey
- 6 strips bacon, cooked
- 3 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 large Roma tomato
Instructions
- Cook bacon and let cool.
- Slice the loaf lengthwise and remove some interior bread to create a cavity.
- Brush both bread halves with balsamic vinegar and Italian dressing.
- Layer lettuce, ham, turkey, bacon, sliced eggs, cheese and tomato inside the loaf. Slice and serve.
Nutrition (approx.)
Calories: 950 kcal | Carbohydrates: 53 g | Protein: 48 g | Fat: 61 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
If you try this recipe, tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and let us know how you liked it!
