Can’t Stop Thinking About This Focaccia Grinder Sandwich
Remember the Trader Joe’s focaccia sandwich with the pesto mayo that got millions of views on the socials and that people have stopped me in the grocery store to talk about?!
I really thought it was my favorite sandwich of all time, until I made this one. BUCKLE UP, YOU GUYS. This focaccia grinder sandwich might be even better! When we filmed this video, we ate the entire sandwich right on the spot and couldn’t shut up about it for the rest of the afternoon.
The sandwich:
Trader Joe’s roasted tomato focaccia, once again
Pesto
Salami and capicola
Provolone cheese
A tangy, shreddy, oregano-forward Italian salad
Pepperoncini for a bite
One last smear of mayo before you top it off!
oh my goodness wow
I love this recipe for anytime, but especially for right now in the middle of the holiday abyss. Because what day is it? And what have I been doing for the last 3 days? And wait, actually friends are coming over in 30 minutes?
This is where this sandwich shines. It’s a quick dinner sandwich but also a party sandwich. One quick and cohesive prep (and by “prep” I just mean layering), and a satisfying slice into wedges, and you have a meal that’s ready to make everybody so happy.
I got the pesto, Italian dressing, and focaccia all from Trader Joe’s (not spon, just a big fan) – so technically you could use any brand but I would definitely recommend the Trader Joe’s stuff, it is delicious.
Holy smokes this is so good. Trader Joe’s roasted tomato focaccia loaded with pesto, salami, capocola, Provolone, pepperoncini, and a shreddy, tangy Italian salad. Absolutely amazing.
Ingredients
Units
The Sandwich Base:
1 loaf of focaccia(I use the Trader Joe’s focaccia with roasted tomato and Parmesan)
1/4cuppesto(refrigerated one from TJ’s)
2ounces uncured calabrese salame(8 slices)
2ounces uncured capocollo(8 slices)
4 large slices Provolone cheese
The Salady Part:
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded (2–3 cups)
a quarter of a red onion, thinly sliced
1/2cup sliced pepperoncini
1/4 to 1/3cupItalian dressing
1/2 teaspoondried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1/4cupmayo(optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degres.
Keeping the focaccia flat, use a serrated knife to cut the focaccia in half horizontally. (You don’t want to tip the bread up because all the toppings will fall off.) Lift the top half of the bread off and set to the side.
Layer the bottom piece of focaccia with pesto. Then layer the salame, capocollo, and Provolone.
Toast in the oven for 6-8 minutes. (Leave the top piece laying to the side so it doesn’t stick to the cheese yet.)
In a separate bowl, toss lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini, Italian dressing, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange salad on top of the toasted sandwich. Dollop with a bit of mayo (optional but I love it).
Press the top part of the focaccia over the sandwich and cut into wedges! WHOA NELLY that’s good. It’s juicy, crispy, salty, dense, and everything I want in a sandwich!
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the kitchen at 5 p.m. thinking I have no idea what to make for dinner, these dinner recipes are for you. Recipes that are weeknight-friendly, flavor-packed, and just… doable.
These are the meals I make over and over when decision fatigue hits: quick noodles, easy tacos, cozy curries, sheet-pan situations, and a handful of simple-but-exciting bowls that always pull me out of a rut. Whether you’re craving something fresh and veggie-forward, something saucy and comforting, or something with a little kick, you’ll find a good “I can actually cook this tonight” option here.
These are the real-life, crowd-pleasing dinner recipes that get dinner on the table fast without feeling boring. So if you don’t know what to cook tonight… start here.
My Favorite Dinner Recipes
Chicken Wontons in Spicy Chili Sauce
Big, beautiful, bossy flavors ahead! Shiitake mushrooms and chicken wontons swim in a brothy flavor-filled sauce and get finished with a swirl of sesame oil and chili crisp on top. Yum!
Cauliflower Black Bean Tostadas with Queso and Pickled Onion
Tangy, creamy, crunchy, smoky, seasoned vegetarian goodness on a perfectly crisp little corn tortilla disk. Cauliflower Black Bean Tostadas to the rescue!
Red Curry Chicken Stir Fry with Spicy Cashew Sauce
Caramelized red curry chicken sits next to a bed of hot, fluffy rice and steamed broccoli and then totally sauced up with the BEST spicy cashew sauce. Ooof, this is so, so good.
Pillowy sun-dried tomato focaccia gets piled with pesto mayo, turkey, juicy tomato slices, and greens. This sandwich is a beauty and practically a lifestyle!
A spicy, peanutty, noodley bit of super easy comfort food! These gochujang noodles require just a handful of ingredients – like ramen noodles, peanut butter, sesame oil, and soy sauce – and come together in just 20 minutes.
5 Ingredient Spicy Pork! A fancy-feeling dinner recipe that actually comes together in snap. Serve it in bowls, stir-fry it with some veggies, or add it to burritos!
Golden, juicy, thinly sliced pan-fried chicken swims in a creamy coconut-kale gravy-like situation with slips of shallot and a bit of heat. Super easy, minimal ingredients!
These Chicken Teriyaki Burgers are amazingly simple while also being ridiculously delicious. Caramelized burgers that are fried up in minutes, a pile of sesame slaw on top, and a perfectly toasted bun. YUM.
We are living our best bowl life this week. Seasoned sweet potato wedges and chicken meatballs or rotisserie chicken all piled onto a plate with a little puddle of punchy green avocado mojo sauce. Yes, wow, repeat.
We’re making a summery salmon with a beautiful, big-flavored basil sauce that is so good, you’re going to want to just drink it. Perfectly-spiced, fresh, and a dinner for everyone!
A block of tofu, nicely browned in teriyaki sauce, served on a bed of sticky rice with edamame, cucumber, avocado, jalapeño, and a handful of crushed-up crunchy onions, buried under a thick drizzle of extra teriyaki and spicy mayo.
These Ricotta Meatballs are an easy and delicious family favorite! Tender, juicy homemade meatballs with a jar of good marinara and a crispy topping to finish it all off. YUM!
These vegetarian tacos have a deliciously satisfying black bean filling with fresh salsa and seasonings all tucked into a golden crispy tortilla and served alongside a cool and creamy cilantro lime sauce. YUM!
These butter chicken meatballs are covered in a rich and mildly spiced tomato gravy that is made luxurious with just a little bit of butter and cream. Serious weeknight magic!
Juicy, quick-marinated, Ginger Peanut Chicken on a bed of THE MOST LUSH coconut jasmine rice, with speckles of crunchy peanuts, bright fresh cilantro, and lime squeezes.
Crispy bits of chicken tenders, crispy cucumbers, and briny pickled onions, all on a bed of fluffy quinoa with a swoop of cool mint sauce on top. You absolutely cannot go wrong with these bowls.
Golden brown chicken meatballs cozied up next to fixings like cucumbers, shallots, kewpie mayo, mint, a bit of chili crisp, and some fresh cilantro to make the ultimate chicken sando!
Egg rolls meet tacos! I love this! Easy to make and ridiculously good with a classic egg roll filling, crunchy veg, pillowy tortillas, and a spicy gochujang sauce.
These Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls are a meal prep / weeknight dinner life-saver! Crispy tofu, roasted veggies, fluffy rice, and a spicy sweet peanut sauce all over top.
Dinner doesn’t just *happen*, so I’ve locked in some of my one-and-only dinnertime products that make these dinner recipes really delicious and really easy.
The links below are affiliate links and I may receive a commission from your purchase!
My Favorite Skillet: These healthy nonstick ceramic skillets are PFAS-free, made in the USA, and super versatile! Love them so much.
Air Fryer: My original dinnertime lifesaver is the Air Fryer Chicken, and there are several recipes above that use the air fryer as well! It cooks food quickly, makes it super crispy, and is easy to clean.
Instant Pot: I love to use an Instant Pot for soups, but is also my go-to appliance for making perfect rice!
Dutch Oven: I think every kitchen should have a dutch oven – it can right from stovetop to oven, heats and simmers evenly, and just *looks* so cozy. Affordable, too!
Shallow Casserole Pan: Very similar to the dutch oven above, but shallower – love this for all kinds of casseroles, including those Ricotta Meatballs above.
Simple Dinner Sides That Go With Everything
Looking for something to round out dinner? Whether it’s a salad and bread to go with ricotta meatballs, rice for beef and broccoli, or some broccoli for the curry salmon – these are the sides that can pair with just about anything.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6
