13 Of The Most Authentic Italian Sandwiches That Are Made In Italy

Italian sandwiches are savory, filling and versatile. This collection of recipes is bursting with new ideas and strategies for creating your own unique Italian sandwich that will make your mouth water.

They are just as delicious as they are fun to make.

For this recipe, you will need some simple items you can find in any supermarket, then a pan that is big enough to hold the two sandwiches when they are cooked.

An old classic, the Italian sandwich is a delicious, simple, and filling meal.

This article will be providing you with the top 10 most classic and authentic Italian sandwiches.

1. Muffaletta Sandwich

A classic sandwich is a treat. The term “muffuletta” is used by the locals to refer to this famous sandwich.

There’s more to a good muffuletta than ham, salami, and provolone cheese. To make a proper muffuletta, you need to soften the bread and spread it with one of these recipes.

Muffuletta is a traditional New Orleans sandwich made with Italian or French bread topped with Genoa salami, mortadella, roasted red bell peppers and olive salad which is just a beautiful mix when served together.

It might sound basic but the flavors really speak for themselves and you also get a few different textures that balance each other out.

2. Roasted Chicken Caprese Sandwich

This is a delicious chicken sandwich with roasted tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese. It’s a perfect summertime lunch or appetizer for an evening cookout.

A delicious, healthy, and easy recipe for a Caprese chicken sandwich. This sandwich is full of flavor and packed with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and cooked chicken.

It’s perfect for a summer meal on the patio or as a weeknight meal as well.

Slightly tangy, briny and lemony caprese chicken sandwich (see also ‘23 Awesome Mini Sandwiches To Get A Party Started‘). Served on a baguette with fresh tomatoes and basil is the perfect option for something light and fresh.

3. Ciabatta Sandwich

This is an ideal sandwich if you want something less filling and light on your stomach. Some traditional sandwiches can be quite filled and large but this one will give you a different option.

This is a lovely toasted sandwich, giving a slight crunch.

There are a whole lot of colors coming from the peppers and the basil which have been roasted to perfection. The mozzarella is really the icing on top to bring the sandwich together, melting through the other ingredients, it is to die for.

4. Meatball Smash

This fun sandwich is great if you’re looking for something a little bit more filling and heavy.

Meatballs with spaghetti is something of a tradition in Italy, so why not put it in a sandwich with lots of cheese.

You will get all of the base flavors pouring through, the garlic, cheese, meat and seasoning all working very well together to give you this hearty sandwich.

5. Roasted Pork

If you are looking to use some lovely classic Italian meats this is the one for you.

It is filled with pork, lots of veggies and also accompanied by flavorful sauces and dressings.

This is also quite a cheesy sandwich which is perfect for a nice lunchtime snack and doesn’t take too long to make if the meat has already been prepared. The only part you really need to consider is cooking the meat properly so it is nice and roasted.

6. Meatloaf Sandwiches

This particular sandwich is ideal for not wasting any food in your home. You are able to use the leftover meatloaf from your dinner to make it into a delicious snack.

You want to make sure you are having your lovely tender meatloaf on a bit of toasted bread to combine the different textures.

You are able to add any sort of salad you like in particular to make it the best sandwich for you.

7. Tuna Salad

Tuna isn’t always everyone’s first pick for fish in a salad or sandwich but this particular recipe is likely to change your mind.

It is creamy and zesty which doesn’t always work but this definitely does!

The main flavors are coming from the extra ingredients such as: lemon zest, lime juice and the olives if you choose to add them.

The mayonnaise gives that creamy texture mixing it all together and it will not take long at all and is very easy to make.

8. Marshmallow Nutella

This option is not meaty but more of a dessert snack. It is filled with soft nutella spread and melted marshmallows combined.

Everyone needs to treat themselves every now and then and this is the best way because it is just a creamy delight and is also easy to make – result!

You also have the creamy butter added into the mix which just adds to the overall flavor and texture of the sandwich.

9. Panino Imbottito

A panini or ‘’small bread’’ is another way to make a sandwich just on different sizes of bread.

This particular recipe shows off the delicious Italian cuisine and what they have to offer. It starts off with soft, traditional cheese which will be spread across the base of your panini.

The type of sauce you use is always a very important part because it binds all the flavors together and in this case, the classic chimichurri sauce does the job.

It can be made at home using a blend of different herbs and chili flakes and red wine vinegar which is all very simple.

The star of the dish is always the filling to top everything off which is a fajita steak. When cooked right, it will all be melting in the mouth, just delicious.

10. Pinwheels

This has many different variations across the world where different ingredients and steps are used to create these pinwheels.

The Italian way uses a mix of traditional ingredients that will all be very easy to get from your local supermarkets.

You will be using traditional meats from Italy with traditional mozzarella.

The dressing is also very classic with a nice tangy flavor to give the sandwich some spice.

11. Italian Hot Dog

It is quite difficult to make the hotdog any different to what you would usually get but the Italian version definitely brings its own thing.

This hot dog is all about playing with the different main flavors, adding in different meat and different sauces to make it all that much extra.

The Italian Hot Dog is a favorite street food in many countries. It is also a great food for parties and get-togethers.

What is better than a traditional hot dog? This version with mozzarella cheese and a side of tomato sauce.

12. Porchetta

Porchetta is a wonderful, flavorful pork roast that is easy to make at home. This recipe is simple and works well with just about any cut of pork.

Pork belly is traditionally cooked by smoking it. Using a combination of slow and low temperatures, this is a way to get the best flavor and texture.

This is the perfect option for a nice afternoon tea snack. This hearty sandwich is packed with lots of flavor from the pulled pork and is quick and easy to make after roasting.

13. Purgatorio

This is one of the classic vegetarian sandwiches and it is not something you might have had before.

Most people tend to have a loaf of bread which they scoop the middle out of to make room for the filling.

One of the best parts is that you will already have most of the ingredients and they are all very common in your local stores.

For example, you will need some basic, baby potatoes, plum tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. Therefore, this takes no time to make but you need to make sure you have seasoned it to finish!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is A Real Italian Sandwich?

The traditional Maine Italian sandwich is prepared using a long bread roll or bun with meats such as salami, mortadella, capicola and ham along with provolone, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, Greek olives, olive oil or salad oil, salt and cracked black pepper.

What Sandwich Is Florence Known For?

It’s our most typical schiacciata because it has sbrisolona, the typical Florentine salami, pecorino cheese cream made by Dad, artichoke cream, and slightly spicy eggplants.

This schiacciata has given us so many satisfactions over the years. It was even quoted in Saveur Magazine among the best sandwiches in the world.

Conclusion

Overall, if you’re looking for a delicious, classic Italian sandwich here are some of the best and easiest to make.

It can sometimes be confusing looking at hundreds of different options and is much easier to choose out of a handful of the best ones.

This list also gives a good range of different sandwiches which has a bit of everything for everyone.

Some of the most popular sandwiches are usually the most basic ones which do not require having to go out and buy lots of ingredients.

The main thing that people love is good balance when it comes to food. Being able to balance out the type of bread, filling, sauce and salad is the most important part.

Whether it is vegetarian or filled with meat, it has to balance well with the other parts of the sandwich. This is why there are so many classic Italian sandwiches you need to try.

Hopefully this guide has helped you pick a delightful new snack to add to your diet. With such a range, it is also good to try new sandwiches and see which one is your favorite out of all of them.

Some of these recipes are also ideal for substituting different options in if it suits you better.