Sub Sandwich for Parties (Feeds 10-12 People!)

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It is a great day here in Cincinnati because for the first time in forever, the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl! That’s right, folks, the football team that couldn’t make it past the first round for years is heading to the big game. Even my alma mater, UC, had a killer football season. So break out the game day party recipes and let’s celebrate!

Whether you’re hosting for the Super Bowl, a birthday party, a graduation, or just a casual get-together, party subs are the ultimate budget-friendly crowd-pleaser. This sub sandwich for parties is insanely customizable, feeds a ton of people, and honestly? It tastes better than anything you’d get from a sub shop. I used roast beef and turkey because that combination is chef’s kiss, but you can use whatever deli meats your crowd loves.

Why This Party Sub Recipe Works

It’s incredibly budget-friendly. Making one giant sub at home costs a fraction of what you’d pay for individual sandwiches from a deli or catering company. You’re looking at maybe $20-25 to feed 10-12 people.

It feeds a crowd with minimal effort. No need to make individual sandwiches or worry about different preferences – just slice and serve. Everyone can grab their own piece.

It’s endlessly customizable. Vegetarian guests? Make one side all veggies. Picky eaters? They can pick off what they don’t want. Kids love it? Make a simpler version on one end.

It looks impressive. A giant party sub always gets oohs and aahs when you bring it out. It’s like the centerpiece of your appetizer spread.

Make-ahead friendly. You can assemble this hours ahead, wrap it up, and just slice when you’re ready. Perfect for stress-free entertaining.

What Makes This Party Sub Special

The secret to this sub sandwich for parties isn’t just the layers of meat and cheese – it’s my signature sandwich spread. My husband literally told me I should bottle this stuff and sell it. (He has to say that, but honestly, it IS that good!)

The spread is a simple mix of mayo, Dijon mustard, honey, smoked paprika, and a splash of red wine vinegar. The result is this sweet, tangy, slightly smoky flavor that makes every bite absolutely addictive. It’s way better than plain mayo or mustard, and it keeps the bread from getting soggy.

Ingredients for the Best Party Sub

Let me break down what you need and why each component matters:

The Bread: French bread is my go-to because it has a sturdy crust that holds up to all the fillings without getting soggy. You want a loaf that’s about 17-18 inches long. Italian bread, ciabatta, or even hoagie rolls work great too. The key is finding bread that’s fresh and has a good crust-to-crumb ratio.

The Meats: I use 1 pound each of sliced roasted turkey and roast beef. This combo gives you variety without being overwhelming. You can absolutely swap in ham, salami, pepperoni, or even go all-vegetarian. For a classic Italian sub, use salami, pepperoni, and capicola. For a simple crowd-pleaser, just do turkey and ham.

The Cheese: American cheese melts beautifully and has that classic deli sub flavor. But you can use provolone, Swiss, pepper jack, cheddar, or even a combination. I usually do 5-6 slices for good cheese coverage.

The Veggies:

• Lettuce (iceberg or green leaf for crunch)
• Roma tomatoes (they have fewer seeds and less water)
• Red onion (adds a nice bite)
• Pickles (sweet, dill, or my favorite – sweet and spicy)

The Signature Spread:

• 1 cup mayo
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

This spread is what makes the whole thing special. The smoked paprika adds depth, the honey balances the tang from the vinegar, and the Dijon gives it that deli-style kick.

How to Assemble the Perfect Party Sub

Step 1: Warm the Bread Preheat your oven to 250°F. Wrap the French bread in aluminum foil and warm it for about 15 minutes. This makes the bread easier to slice and gives it that fresh-from-the-bakery quality. Let it cool for 5 minutes before cutting.

Step 2: Prep the Bread Slice the French bread in half lengthwise. Here’s a pro tip: scoop out some of the soft bread from the top half of the loaf. This creates a little “trough” that prevents the sandwich from being too bread-heavy and makes room for more fillings. Don’t throw away that bread – save it for breadcrumbs or croutons!

Step 3: Make the Spread While the bread is cooling, mix together your mayo, Dijon mustard, honey, smoked paprika, and red wine vinegar in a small bowl. Taste it and adjust – want it sweeter? Add more honey. Want more tang? Add a splash more vinegar.

Step 4: Layer Like a Pro Here’s the order that works best:

1. Spread half the sandwich spread on the bottom half of the bread
2. Layer on the cheese slices (they create a barrier against soggy bread)
3. Add the roasted turkey
4. Layer the roast beef
5. Add tomato slices (pat them dry with a paper towel first!)
6. Add red onion slices
7. Add pickles
8. Top with lettuce leaves
9. Spread the remaining sauce on the top half of the bread
10. Close it up!

Step 5: Slice and Serve Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the sub into 4 large portions (for hearty eaters) or 6-8 smaller portions (for lighter appetites or if you have other food). I like to cut on a slight diagonal – it looks fancier!

Make-Ahead Instructions (Game Changer!)

This is the party hack: you can assemble this sub sandwich up to 4 hours ahead of time for parties. Here’s how:

1. Assemble the entire sandwich as directed
2. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil
3. Refrigerate until 30 minutes before serving
4. Unwrap and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes
5. Slice and serve

The key is that sandwich spread – it creates a moisture barrier that keeps the bread from getting soggy even after a few hours. Just don’t add the tomatoes until you’re closer to serving time if you’re really worried about moisture.

Customization Ideas

Italian Party Sub: Use salami, pepperoni, capicola, and provolone cheese. Add banana peppers, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and a drizzle of oil and vinegar instead of the spread.

Turkey Club Sub: Double up on turkey, add crispy bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Use the signature spread.

Veggie Party Sub: Skip the meat and load up with roasted red peppers, cucumbers, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, red onion, and hummus or the signature spread.

Kids-Friendly Sub: Use just turkey and American cheese with lettuce. Skip the onions and pickles. Use honey mustard instead of the signature spread for a milder flavor kids love.

Spicy Sub: Add pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, banana peppers, and mix some hot sauce into the spread.

Serving Suggestions

How Many Does This Feed? One standard French bread loaf (17-18 inches) will give you:

• 4 large sandwiches (for hearty eaters or if this is the main meal)
• 6 medium sandwiches (standard party serving)
• 8 smaller sandwiches (if you have lots of other appetizers)

For a party of 20-25 people with other appetizers, make 2 subs. For a party where this is the main food, plan on 1 sub per 8-10 people.

Perfect for Every Occasion

This sub sandwich for parties isn’t just for game day! I’ve made this for:

• Super Bowl parties
• Birthday parties
• Graduation celebrations
• Picnics and potlucks
• Casual family gatherings
• Kids’ sports team events
• Office parties

It’s one of those recipes that works for literally any casual gathering where you need to feed a bunch of people without spending hours in the kitchen or a fortune on catering.

Commonly Asked Questions

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