Oh heck yes—Italian Sub Squares are basically the best parts of an Italian hoagie turned into a shareable, party-perfect bake 🥖🧀 Here’s a classic, foolproof recipe, plus a couple of tasty twists.
🟥 Italian Sub Squares (Classic Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 package refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade)
- 8–10 oz sliced ham
- 8–10 oz sliced salami
- 6–8 oz sliced pepperoni
- 8 oz provolone cheese, sliced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Seasoning Topping
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sesame seeds (optional)
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
🔥 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep
- Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
- Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2️⃣ Bottom Layer
- Roll out pizza dough to fit the dish.
- Press dough into the bottom and slightly up the sides.
3️⃣ Layer the Fillings
In this order:
- Provolone cheese
- Ham
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Another layer of provolone
(Yes, cheese on the bottom and top keeps it gooey and sealed.)
4️⃣ Top Dough
- Roll out remaining dough and place over the fillings.
- Pinch edges to seal.
- Brush top with beaten egg.
- Drizzle with olive oil.
5️⃣ Season & Bake
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes.
- Bake 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.
6️⃣ Rest & Slice
- Let cool 10 minutes.
- Slice into squares and serve warm.
🥗 Optional Sub-Style Topping (Cold Finish)
For that real Italian sub vibe, top after baking with:
- Shredded lettuce
- Sliced tomatoes
- Banana peppers
- Red onion
- Drizzle of oil & red wine vinegar
🔥 This contrast (hot square + cold toppings) is unreal.
🧀 Variations
- Deluxe: Add capicola or mortadella
- Spicy: Use hot soppressata + extra pepper flakes
- Cheesy: Mix mozzarella with provolone
- Low-carb: Use low-carb dough or fathead dough
💡 Pro Tips
- Thinly sliced meats = easier slicing
- Don’t overfill or it’ll leak
- If top browns too fast, tent loosely with foil
- Reheats beautifully in the oven or air fryer
If you want, I can:
- Make a make-ahead party version
- Convert this to sliders
- Give you a no-yeast dough option
- Turn it into a game-day tray
Just tell me 😄
