This saucy, flavor-packed Italian Sausage Sandwich is loaded with peppers, onions, and mushrooms and topped with melted cheese. Perfect for a game day party or a casual meal any night of the week.
Like my easy Philly Cheesesteak recipe and Pizza Joes, the savory ground Italian sausage filling and veggies for these sandwiches both cook quickly on the stovetop in one skillet. Fast, easy, and over-the-top delicious!
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A short ingredient list and easy method create these Italian Sausage Sandwiches. A solid choice for Super Bowl or a fun, easy to make meal any old time.
“Oh, yeah. You’re on to something, Mom”. My son’s comment after biting into this Italian Sausage Sandwich.
And, he was so right! This hearty sandwich is absolutely delicious and my mind was swirling with all kinds of ideas on how to switch up the base recipe for some fun twists. More on that later!
Table of contents
When you start with flavorful ingredients, it doesn’t take much to create something amazing.
Ingredient Notes
- Italian sausage – Bulk ground mild Italian sausage from brands like Johnsonville or Jimmy Dean.
- Veggies – Yellow onion, red bell pepper, and cremini mushrooms.
- Seasoning – Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Marinara sauce – Your favorite store-bought marinara. You can reduce the sodium in this recipe by using a low-sodium pasta sauce.
- Cheese – Look for a shredded Italian cheese blend with provolone, mozzarella, and Parmesan. I typically shred my own cheese for recipes but pre-shredded cheese works great for these. Fast and easy!
- Hoagie rolls – If split, be sure the top and bottom of the rolls are attached. Or, purchase rolls that you can slice yourself.
- Oil – A little olive oil for cooking the veggies.
How to Make Italian Sausage Sandwiches
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
The Veggies and Italian Sausage Filling
- In a large skillet, sauté the onion and peppers in olive oil until crisp tender.
- Add the mushrooms and season with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to sauté until the mushrooms are slightly softened. Transfer the veggies to a plate and set them aside.
- Next, add the Italian sausage to the empty skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until cooked through. Drain as much grease as possible from the skillet then use paper towels to blot any remaining grease from the skillet and the sausage.
- Return the skillet to the heat, add the marinara sauce and stir well to combine. Reduce the heat under the skillet and simmer for a few minutes while you prepare the rolls.
Assembling the Sandwiches
- Split open (but don’t take apart) the hoagie rolls and place them on a large rimmed baking sheet. Use your fingers to scrape some of the bread from the inside of the bottom half of the roll to hollow the center a bit (so it isn’t so bready).
- Set the baking sheet under the broiler in your oven with the oven rack in the upper one-third of the oven. Watch closely and remove them from the oven when they are lightly browned and toasted.
- Sprinkle the bottom of each toasted roll with a little cheese. Divide the Italian sausage mixture evenly between the rolls.
- Top the sandwiches with the veggies and remaining cheese.
Pro Tip
Toasting the hoagie rolls before loading them up with the saucy filling helps prevent the bread from becoming soggy.
Baking the Sandwiches
- Close the rolls up and loosely cover the baking pan with a sheet of foil (to help keep the rolls closed). Bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes, or just until the cheese has melted.
The recipe makes enough filling for six sandwiches. Once closed, they will easily fit on one large, rimmed baking sheet.
Big Batch Instructions
This recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled for feeding a group.
- After assembling the sandwiches, wrap each sandwich in foil.
- Stack the wrapped sandwiches on the baking sheet and bake as directed.
- The foil will help keep the sandwiches warm until you are ready to serve.
Italian Sausage Sandwich Variations
- Lighten it up – Use Italian turkey sausage. Or, sub half of the Italian Sausage for lean ground turkey or beef.
- Pizza-inspired – Add sliced pepperoni, green bell pepper, and olives to the filling.
- Spice it up – Use hot Italian sausage, sprinkle with red pepper flakes, and top them with shredded pepper Jack cheese.
What to Serve with Italian Sausage Sandwiches
- Crispy Oven Baked Fries
- Italian Tortellini Salad
- Simple Italian Salad
- Macaroni Coleslaw
- Lemon Parmesan Salad
- Homemade Three Bean Salad
- Tortellini Broccoli Salad
Make Ahead Instructions
The filling and veggies can be made several hours or even a day in advance. Once cooled, transfer to separate airtight containers and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the sandwiches.
If the sandwich ingredients are chilled, you’ll need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the baking time.
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Italian Sausage Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 ½ cups sliced cremini mushrooms, from about ½ an 8-ounce package
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound bulk ground mild Italian sausage
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups finely shredded Italian cheese blend, about 4 ounces
- 6 hoagie rolls
- Fresh Italian parsley, optional for garnish
Instructions
Make the Italian Sausage Filling
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Add the onion and peppers and saute until crisp tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms. Season with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and saute for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, just until slightly softened. Transfer the veggies to a plate and set them aside.
- Return it to MEDIUM heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until cooked through. Drain as much grease as possible from the skillet then use paper towels to blot any remaining grease from the skillet and the sausage. Return the skillet to the heat, add the marinara sauce and stir well to combine. Reduce the heat to LOW and simmer for a few minutes while you prepare the rolls.
Prepare the Rolls
- Set the oven to BROIL with an oven rack in the upper ⅓ of the oven. Split open (but don’t take apart) the hoagie rolls and place them on a large rimmed baking sheet. Use your fingers to scrape some of the bread from the inside of the bottom half of the roll to hollow the center a bit (so it isn’t so bready). Transfer to the oven and BROIL, watching closely, just until lightly browned and toasted. Remove from the oven and move the oven rack to the center of the oven.
- Remove the sausage mixture from the heat and set the oven to 375 degrees F.
Assemble and Bake the Sandwiches
- Sprinkle the bottom (slightly hollowed out) half of each toasted roll with about 2 tablespoons cheese. Divide the Italian sausage mixture evenly between the rolls and top with the veggies and remaining cheese. Garnish with a little parsley, if desired.
- Close the rolls up and loosely cover the baking pan with a sheet of foil (to help keep the rolls closed). Alternately, wrap each sandwich in foil and return them to the baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, or just until the cheese has melted.
Notes
- Lighten it up – Use Italian turkey sausage. Or, sub half of the Italian Sausage for lean ground turkey or beef.
- Pizza-inspired – Add sliced pepperoni, green bell pepper, and olives to the filling.
- Spice it up – Use hot Italian sausage, sprinkle with red pepper flakes, and top them with shredded pepper Jack cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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Do you think this would work as a filling for Tortillas?
Sure!