If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, chances are you’ve come across the chopped sandwich trend.
This isn’t your average sub sandwich thrown together in a hurry.
Instead, every ingredient gets finely chopped and tossed together before it goes into the bread, creating a bite where every mouthful has a little bit of everything.
The result is a sandwich that’s packed with flavor in every single bite, rather than one where you might get all lettuce in one bite and all meat in the next.
This method has caught on fast, and once you try it, it’s easy to see why. The chopping technique blends the mayo, sriracha ranch, and seasonings evenly throughout the veggies and meat, so nothing feels dry or one note.
It’s simple to put together, doesn’t require any cooking, and makes for a filling lunch or dinner that comes together in about 15 minutes.
Let’s get into exactly what you need and how to put it together.
Why Chopping Makes All the Difference
The idea behind this sandwich is simple but changes the whole eating experience. When you chop the lettuce, meats, cheese, and vegetables into small pieces and mix them with the sauces first, every ingredient gets coated.
That means instead of biting into a whole slice of tomato or a big piece of salami on its own, you get a little bit of everything mixed together in each bite.
This also makes the sandwich easier to eat. Big rolls stuffed with whole slices of meat and veggies can be awkward to bite into, with ingredients sliding out the sides.
Chopping everything down keeps it contained and makes the sandwich hold together better once it’s packed into the roll.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s the full ingredient list for this recipe. Most of these items are easy to grab at your local grocery store, from the deli counter to the produce section.
- White sub rolls – 2 rolls
- Iceberg lettuce – 2-3 leaves
- Chicken breast deli meat – 4-5 slices
- Deli salami – 5-6 slices
- American cheese – 3-4 slices
- Tomato – 4 slices
- Green bell pepper – ½, sliced
- Red onion – ¼ of a small onion, sliced
- Banana peppers – sliced, to taste
- Mayonnaise – 2 tablespoons, more if you like it extra creamy
- Sriracha ranch dressing – 2-3 tablespoons
- Salt and pepper – a pinch of each
If you can’t find sriracha ranch at your regular grocery store, you can find it at most major chains like Kroger, Publix, or Walmart in the salad dressing aisle, or make your own by mixing ranch dressing with a bit of sriracha hot sauce to taste.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep Your Cutting Board
Set out a large cutting board and add every ingredient except the sub rolls.
This includes the lettuce, chicken deli meat, salami, American cheese, tomato slices, green bell pepper, red onion, and banana peppers.
Step 2: Chop Everything Together
Using a large knife (or two knives if you want to speed things up), chop through all the ingredients on the cutting board until everything is broken down into small, bite sized pieces.
Keep chopping and tossing the mixture together as you go, so the ingredients start to combine.
Step 3: Add the Sauce and Seasoning
Mix in the mayonnaise, sriracha ranch, salt, and pepper right on the cutting board with the chopped ingredients.
Continue chopping and folding the mixture together until everything is evenly coated in the sauce.
Step 4: Prep the Rolls
Take your white sub rolls and cut them in half lengthwise, but not all the way through, so the roll opens up like a book without falling into two separate pieces.
Step 5: Fill and Serve
Divide the chopped mixture evenly between the two rolls, packing it in generously. Press down gently to help everything hold together, then serve right away.
Tips for the Best Chopped Sandwich
Use a sharp knife. A dull blade will squish the ingredients instead of chopping them cleanly, which can make the mixture watery.
Don’t skip the sauce and chop step together. Mixing the sauce in while you chop is what helps distribute the flavor evenly instead of leaving it pooled in one spot.
Toast the sub rolls lightly before filling them if you like a bit of crunch on the outside.
Adjust the sriracha ranch to your spice preference. Add more for extra heat, or use plain ranch if you’d rather keep it mild.
Pack the filling tightly into the roll so it doesn’t fall apart when you pick it up.
Serving Suggestions
This sandwich pairs well with a side of potato chips, a light pasta salad, or some pickle spears on the side. It also works great sliced in half and served alongside a bowl of soup for a heartier lunch option.
Yes. Hoagie rolls, French bread, or even a large baguette cut into portions will work well as substitutes.
Absolutely. Turkey, ham, or roast beef can all be used in place of chicken breast or salami, depending on what you prefer or have on hand.
Provolone, cheddar, or Swiss cheese are all good substitutes if American cheese isn’t your favorite.
It’s best enjoyed fresh, since the lettuce and tomato can release moisture and make the bread soggy if it sits too long. If you need to prep ahead, chop the filling in advance and store it separately, then fill the rolls right before eating.
You can mix regular ranch dressing with a small amount of sriracha or another hot sauce to create a similar flavor at home.
Yes, simply leave out the deli meats and add extra veggies like cucumber, olives, or roasted red peppers to keep the sandwich filling and flavorful.
The heat level depends mostly on the sriracha ranch and banana peppers. You can adjust both up or down based on how much spice you enjoy.
Yes, adding crispy bacon to the chopped mixture is a great option if you want to add a smoky, crunchy element to the sandwich.
Chopped Sandwich: The Viral Sub That’s Taking Over Lunchtime
Ingredients
- 2 white sub rolls
- 2.5 iceberg lettuce leaves
- 4.5 chicken breast deli meat slices
- 5.5 deli salami slices
- 3.5 American cheese slices
- 4 tomato slices
- 0.5 green bell pepper sliced
- 0.3 small red onion sliced
- 2 tbsp banana peppers sliced
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2.5 tablespoons sriracha ranch dressing
- 0.3 teaspoons salt
- 0.3 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the cutting board: Add 2.5 iceberg lettuce leaves, 4.5 chicken breast deli meat slices, 5.5 deli salami slices, 3.5 American cheese slices, 4 tomato slices, 0.5 green bell pepper, sliced, 0.3 small red onion, sliced, and 2 tbsp banana peppers, sliced to a large cutting board (leave the sub rolls aside for now).
- Chop everything together: Using a large knife, chop through all the ingredients until they are broken down into small, bite-sized pieces, tossing as you go.
- Add sauce and seasoning: Mix in 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2.5 tablespoons sriracha ranch dressing, 0.3 teaspoons salt, and 0.3 teaspoons black pepper with the chopped ingredients. Continue chopping and folding until evenly coated.
- Prep the rolls: Cut 2 white sub rolls in half lengthwise, without cutting all the way through, so each roll opens like a book.
- Fill and serve: Divide the chopped mixture evenly between the rolls, packing it in generously. Press down gently and serve right away.
