Score an Easy Touchdown with Sub Sandwiches

You can feel it in the air. The electric buzz that can only mean the football pre-season is HERE and NOW! And the regular season kick-off is just around the corner.

What does this mean, sports fans? That it’s time once again for that time-honored, ultra-festive tradition: the tailgate party. Woot!

We all know that tailgate is spelled F.O.O.D. And the secret to being a tailgate baller? Spend your time kickin’ it, not cookin’ it.

Guy getting ready to chomp into a huge sub sandwich loaded with cheese and tomatoes and lots of other good stuff

Stylin’ Sub Sandwiches

Friends, we give you the simple, but mighty sub sandwich. Laying out a self-serve sub bar is easier than pie. And literally everybody loves a good sammie!

Or grab a giant loaf or three (how wide is your tailgate?) of French bread or baguette, and you can prep and load up your subs ahead of time. Just slice them up into lots of servings and wrap them with plastic wrap.

To make an easy job even easier, here are some ideas to get your shopping list going, including some not-so-obvious sandwich fillings, toppings, and of course, sauce-ings for a flavor that’ll hit ‘em right between the goalposts. Oh, did we mention Super Secret Specialty Subs? Yep, we got those for you, too.


The Classic Italian Sub

Whatever you call ‘em–sub sandwich, grinder, hero, or hoagie—it all adds up to greatness. An explosion of savory ingredients come together to make a classic sub as filling as it is tastebud-tickling.

Drippy, drool-worthy close-up of a delicious Italian sub sandwich.

Preparation

You can really phone this one in. All you need are delicious, fresh hoagie rolls in six-inch lengths. Then, shop for all the glorious ingredients to stuff these babies so full of goodness that your tailgaters will wish they had room for two.

But Wait! Let’s Talk Sauce!!

Hot sauce on a sub? If you haven’t already been squirting your sandwiches with all kinds of sauce, you’re missing out. For the classic Italian sub, we recommend Serrabanero Green Hot Sauce. The sauce will tie all the flavors together and add a little zing on top. Our Habanero Hot Sauce and its adaptable taste profile make for another great go-to for your sub.

Now, Pick Your Stuffins’!

  • Salami: Such savory, fatty deliciousness! And there are tons of varieties to explore. Genoa, sopressata, and hard salami are three go-to options, but your local deli may have additional flavors. Try ‘em all. You can’t go wrong.
  • Ham: Prosciutto is a dry-cured ham with a delicate and savory yet slightly sweet flavor–plus, it basically melts in your mouth. Prosciutto should get most people’s bellies rumbling, but put out some traditional smoked or honey ham, too. They’re always crowd faves.
  • Capicola: Another lip-licking Italian protein option, capicola is a tender, thin-sliced cold cut made with dry-cured pork. It’s seasoned with a mixture of spices, but the savory is balanced with sweetness from the curing process.
  • Cheese: Provolone is classic for an Italian sub, but we say go all out and hit your local cheese counter! Some folks—like us!—love the mild sting of pepper jack. Swiss cheese has that irresistible, subtle nuttiness. And Havarti will make your sub a creamy dream.
  • Veggies: Lettuce? Meh. Try arugula instead! Its pepperiness is perfect for an Italian sub. Spinach also gives much flavor and substance. Then, go for it: tomatoes, sliced red onion, black or green olives, yes! Consider subbing out standard green peppers with some banana peppers or pepperoncini for a lil’ kick.
  • Dressing: Straight-up Italian dressing on these sammies can be magic, but you can also go traditional: olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and fresh black pepper. Or keep it simple and just smear on some creamy mayonnaise.
  • Then, it’s time to douse the whole thing in Aardvark for a kick in the mouth that will take your Italian sub into the stratosphere! Let folks squirt to taste!

A beautiful Bahn Mi sandwich cut in half and held with a hand to show its fillings.

Super-Secret Specialty Subs

Now, let’s get down to some sub sandwich variations that show the full flex of Aardvark’s super-secret special flavors! Because the whole point of making a sub sandwich is to load it up with lots of stuff! And, friend, you have many, many delicious options.

So let’s dig in!


Aardvark Jerk Chicken Sub

Our Drunken Jerk Jamaican Marinade combines habanero peppers with garlic, soy, and a generous kick of rum. Marinate chicken (you can use pork or tofu, too) for a couple of hours. Toss it on the grill or bake in the oven. And then take it to the game and stuff it between some bread parts.

Top with:

  • Mango chutney or pineapple salsa for a sweet-tangy counterpoint to the spicy jerk chicken. Because sweet and savory are so perfect together, they should just get married already!
  • Red onion: Thinly sliced.
  • Lettuce: Fresh and crisp and cool. Just like you are.

Southwestern Chicken Sub

Grab some grilled or roasted chicken at the deli counter (or skillet some up ahead of time). You can even go crazy and grab some breaded, fried chicken tenders from the frozen section, cook them at home, and serve cold.

Now for some toppings sure to please your fellow sports fans:

  • Chipotle Mayo: Combine mayonnaise with our Smoky Chipotle Hot Sauce for some BBQ-style smoke and heat.
  • Sliced avocado: Oh yeah.
  • Jalapenos: For even more fiery, fresh flavor.
  • Red onion: Slice it thin.
  • Pico de Gallo: Add a light dollop for garnish
  • Cheese: Try Monterey jack, pepper jack, or smoked gouda
  • Corn chips or Fritos: Crumble some in for fun extra crunch.

Serrabanero Green Veggie Sub

For your friends who prefer to avoid the meats, serve up something filling and flavorful that’ll kick them in the mouth in the best possible way (we’re all friends here).

Start with cool Greek yogurt combined with our Serrabanero Green Hot Sauce. Just imagine how that delicious serrano and habanero pepper heat will balance out the cool creaminess of the yogurt. And with its herbs, cilantro, and hint of lime, the Serrab sauce will really bring a sandwich like this together.

Topping ideas:

  • Avocado. So smooth, so tasty.
  • Cheese: Provolone slices…or crumbled feta for a fancier take.
  • Cucumber. Cool, crunchy and full of fresh flavor. Slice thin.
  • Shredded carrots. For sweetness and extra texture.
  • Tomatoes. Sliced or diced, good and juicy.
  • Red onion. For extra tongue-tingling tastiness.
  • Leaf lettuce. No iceberg lettuce. We are not savages.
  • Cilantro. A little to lift the whole sammie right over the top.

Aardvark’s Red Scorpion Bahn Mi

Ahhh. The iconic Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwich is a pleasure trip. Sweet, sour, spicy and savory—so much flavor to be crammed into a humble baguette.

Essential elements:

  • Protein: Grilled pork is traditional, but chicken, tofu, even Spam (yes, we said that) or pate would be tasty.
  • Pickled vegetables: A mix of shredded carrots and daikon pickled in vinegar, sugar, and salt. The pickling is easy if you want to try it. Takes but a couple of minutes to assemble and 30 minutes to pickle. Check out our recipe here.
  • Fresh herbs: Chopped cilantro or even mint.
  • Cucumber: For yummy fresh flavor and crunch.
  • Jalapenos (optional): For even more spicy kick and crunch.

The Spread:

Combine mayonnaise with our sriracha-style Red Scorpion Fiery Hot Sauce. It’s got enough heat to curl your toes and a complex flavor that cleans the floor with all those other sriracha sauces. Add a little sweet chili sauce, honey, or jam for a touch more sweetness.

Get the full recipe.

So, being a Tailgate Baller is well within reach. Just embrace the sub…and enjoy the game!

Save 50% on All Habanero Dipping Cups!