Recreating Jersey Mike's Beloved Italian Sub At Home Is Actually So Easy

Fans of fast food sandwiches have likely heard of (and indulged in) Jersey Mike's Original Italian Sub. This mammoth sandwich is one of the chain's most-ordered items and ranked 4th on our list of the best Jersey Mike's subs. But with fast food costs rising, you may be looking for an easy way to make this sandwich at home.

Before we get into how you recreate this fast food favorite, what is it exactly? This meaty sandwich pairs provolone with a whopping five types of meat: ham, salami, pepperoni, prosciuttini, and cappacuolo. If you want to make it "Mike's Way," also add lettuce, onions, and tomatoes, plus oregano and a red wine vinegar and oil dressing. Because it comprises simple ingredients, you should be able to grab them all at your local grocery store. 

In terms of money savings, this will vary based on where you shop, and the total could exceed the cost of one sandwich. At a budget grocery store like Lidl or Aldi, we found that the ingredients (excluding seasonings) cost about $30. However, this should make at least four sandwiches, meaning a homemade sub costs around $7.50 versus over $12 at Jersey Mike's.

To make the sandwich, cut a submarine roll in half, fill with the ingredients, and enjoy your copycat sub! If you plan to make the dressing, mix one part red wine vinegar with three parts olive oil. We recommend stirring salt and oregano into the dressing to better distribute them across the sandwich.

While the Original Italian Sub at Jersey Mike's is popular for a reason, that doesn't mean you can't customize it to your taste or diet when remaking it. Because the Italian Sub ranks as one of the unhealthiest sandwiches at Jersey Mike's, a homemade version is an especially great option to lighten it up. Notably, with 2,571 milligrams of sodium per regular-size sandwich (with white bread), those watching salt intake may want to think twice before ordering the Italian Sub at Jersey Mike's, as one sandwich exceeds the daily recommended amount of 1,500 milligrams.

At home, you can use low-sodium lunch meats and skip or lower the amount of salt you add. Remember to check the sugar and sodium content of the bread you use as well. Making a smaller sandwich is also a great way to cut calories, sodium, and saturated fat without compromising on taste.

Outside of customizations related to healthiness, you can make changes to taste and texture by adding different types of cheese, switching the dressing for hot sauce or hot honey, and incorporating other popular sandwich ingredients like banana peppers, avocado slices, pickles, or relish. You could even make a hot version, allowing you to enjoy the limited-edition Jersey Mike's Hot Italian Sub all year round.