Italian Chip Bag Sandwich (Viral TikTok Recipe)
These viral Italian chip bag sandwiches make the perfect grab and go meal for busy days. Featuring the classic flavors of a deli grinder, with the perfect amount of crisp potato chip crunch, they’re served in single serve chip bags for less mess and extra convenience. On the sidelines at the sports plex, at the beach or pool, or even on busy evenings when you’re short on time- these subs in a bag are a tasty new spin on walking tacos that’s delicious fun for the whole family.
Sometimes my idea of what counts as dinner really differs from my family.
I mean I’d consider a hearty pasta salad a main meal in the warmer months, but they’d scarf it down and then ask what’s next. Fair enough.
Depending on the time of year I really just don’t have time to be stuck in the kitchen making a full meal, especially not when I’m trying to rush out the door to all the kids various evening activities. I know it’s not ideal, but we all have to do the best with what we can.
In those circumstances, I’ve learned to rely on some tried and true, made on the go favorites.
Key things for me is easy to assemble, virtually no clean up- since I’ll likely be handing it off to little hands as I’m herding them out the door or passing dinner around on the sidelines of a field somewhere, and minimal clean up.
That’s where these Italian chip bag sandwiches have really come into play this Summer.
All the flavor of a fully dressed Italian sub, stuffed in a single serve chip bag. They’re perfect for little hands, especially when used with disposable silverware. Keeps the mess contained and toss it all in the trash when we’re done.
Eat on the go, without sacrificing flavor, when enjoying these easy walking grinders.
Ingredients Needed
Making a sub in a bag only needs a handful of classic ingredients, that make up the two main parts: the dressing and the sandwich components.
You’ll need:
For The Sub Mix
- Chips – Single serve (1/2 oz) kettle cooked chip bags. For maximum flavor I recommend using the salt & vinegar variety, but plain will work as well.
- Cheese – Both sliced provolone and grated Parmesan cheese
- Meat – Salami. We prefer hard salami, but genoa salami works too- so use whichever you prefer.
- Lettuce – For the best results use romaine lettuce. I know ice berg tends to be common in Italian sandwich recipes, but it hold a lot of water and will increase the moisture in the mix making the chips soggier more quickly and also meaning it will wilt and turn mushy more quickly than romaine.
- Olives – Black olives, drained and roughly chopped.
- Pepperoncini – Pepperoncini peppers, thinly sliced or chopped, and a bit of the brine from the jar. If you or your family is sensitive to spice, use mild peppers- otherwise use medium for a little extra heat.
For The Dressing
- Mayonnaise – Real mayonnaise is recommended for best results, not miracle whip.
- Vinegar – Red wine vinegar
- Oil – Extra virgin olive oil
- Brine – Juice from the jar of the pepperoncini peppers. This is an optional, but highly recommended component for the sauce.
- Seasonings – A blend of salt, pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder- to taste
Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, you’re ready to throw these walking grinders together!
How To Make
This viral chip bag sandwich recipe is trending for a reason. Mostly because they’re as easy to whip up as they are delectable down to the last bite.
Start by making the creamy dressing.
Add all of the dressing ingredients to a small mixing bowl, and whisk them together until evenly combined. Set this aside.
Add the prepared lettuce, provolone, salami, olives, pepperoncini, and Parmesan to a large mixing bowl. Gently toss everything together until evenly combined.
Using scissors, or kitchen sheers, cut across the top of the chip bags to open them- leaving as much of the bag as possible since they will double as your ‘bowls’.
Gently squeeze the chip bags to break the chips up a bit without crushing them into tiny pieces, then add all of the chips to the mixing bowl with the sub mixture. Gently stir again just until the chips are evenly incorporated into the mixture- without breaking them up too much more.
Add your desired amount of dressing to the mixture, then stir until everything’s well coated. I recommend adding a smaller amount than you think you’ll need, stirring it all together, then deciding if you’d like a bit more before just dumping it all in.
Spoon or scoop the mixture back into the now empty chip bags, serve with a disposable fork (if desired), and dig right in!
Storing
Unfortunately chip bag sandwiches do not store well, and are best made as needed just before you’re ready to serve them.
If making them ahead of time, you can store the sub mix and the dressing in separate container. Then combine them, as instructed, when you’re ready to enjoy.
Tips & Tricks
- Be sure you’re using kettle cooked style chips. They’re thicker and sturdier than regular potato chips, and will not turn to mush immediately when tossed with the dressing.
- For the best flavor I recommend using salt & vinegar flavored chips; however, plain chips make a good substitute.
- Don’t skip the pepperoncini juice in the dressing. It adds the perfect amount of zing! However, if spiciness is a concern, make sure you use mild pepperoncini.
- Once assembled, these walking grinders need to be eaten immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- If making them to take on the go, prep everything, but store the salad, and dressing separately. Add the chips and dressing and mix just before you’re ready to serve them.
- Perfect for enjoying on the sidelines at sports fields for games and practices, pool side or on the beach, or as a fun way to change things up for lunch or dinner that will surprise the whole family.
Other Easy Grab And Go Recipes
Whether you’re trying to catch the last rays on the beach, or planning what to scarf something down on the sidelines at the sports plex- this chip bag sandwich recipe is an easy, tasty option that’s made to feed a hungry crowd with minimal mess (or cleanup)!
Looking for other easy on the go recipes?
Try these:
- Turkey Swiss Pinwheels
- Spicy Rice & Bean Burritos
- Hash Brown Nests
- Homemade Crunchwrap Supremes
- Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls
- Cheeseburger Mason Jar Salad
If you’ve tried this VIRAL ITALIAN CHIP BAG SANDWICH, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Italian Sub In A Bag (Viral TikTok Recipe)
Ingredients
For The Dressing
- 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp pepperoncini brine
- salt, pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder to taste
For The Chip Bags
- 6-8 1/2 oz bags salt and vinegar kettle cooked chips
- 12 slices provolone cheese chopped into bite sized pieces
- 18 slices hard salami chopped into bite sized pieces
- 3 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
- 3/4 cup chopped black olives
- 12 pepperoncini peppers chopped
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add all of the dressing ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Whisk together until smooth & creamy. Set aside.1 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp pepperoncini brine, salt, pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder
- Add the cheese, salami, lettuce, olives, pepperoncini, and Parmesan to a large mixing bowl. Toss until evenly combined.12 slices provolone cheese, 18 slices hard salami, 3 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce, 3/4 cup chopped black olives, 12 pepperoncini peppers, 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Using scissors, evenly cut across the tops off the chip bags to open them but removing as little 'bag' as possible.6-8 1/2 oz bags salt and vinegar kettle cooked chips
- Squeeze the bags gently to break up the chips a bit, but do not crush them. Dump all of the chips into the mixing bowl, stirring until they're evenly incorporated into the filling.
- Add your desired amount of dressing to the mix and gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Scoop or spoon the mixture back into the chip bags, serve immediately, and enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure you're using kettle cooked style chips. They're thicker and sturdier than regular potato chips, and will not turn to mush immediately when tossed with the dressing.
- For the best flavor I recommend using salt & vinegar flavored chips; however, plain chips make a good substitute.
- Don't skip the pepperoncini juice in the dressing. It adds the perfect amount of zing! However, if spiciness is a concern, make sure you use mild pepperoncini.
- Once assembled, these walking grinders need to be eaten immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- If making them to take on the go, prep everything, but store the salad, and dressing separately. Add the chips and dressing and mix just before you're ready to serve them.
- Perfect for enjoying on the sidelines at sports fields for games and practices, pool side or on the beach, or as a fun way to change things up for lunch or dinner that will surprise the whole family.
Nutrition
