🥪 Giant Muffaletta Italian Sandwich Recipe

This New Orleans-inspired sandwich is packed with Italian meats, cheeses, and a bold olive salad, all layered inside a large round loaf of bread. It’s perfect for parties, picnics, or game day!

📝 Ingredients

🫒 For the Olive Salad:

1 cup green olives, pitted and chopped
1 cup black olives or Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
½ cup roasted red peppers, chopped
¼ cup pickled giardiniera, chopped
2 tablespoons capers
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
¼ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste

🍞 For the Sandwich:

1 large round Italian loaf (or muffaletta loaf, approx. 10–12 inches wide)
6 oz Genoa salami
6 oz mortadella or deli ham
6 oz capicola or spicy Italian ham
6 oz provolone cheese, sliced
6 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the Olive Salad:

In a bowl, mix all the olive salad ingredients.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight) for best flavor.

2. Prepare the Bread:

Slice the round loaf in half horizontally.
Hollow out a bit of the soft inside (optional) to make room for fillings.
Brush the inside of each half with olive oil or some of the olive salad juices.

3. Assemble the Sandwich:

Spread a generous layer of the olive salad on the bottom half of the bread.
Layer meats: start with salami, then mortadella, then capicola.
Add layers of provolone and mozzarella cheese.
Top with more olive salad if desired.
Place the top half of the bread on and press down slightly.

4. Rest and Serve:

Wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or foil.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour (helps everything meld together).
Slice into wedges and serve cold or at room temperature.

❓ Q&A: Common Questions About Muffaletta Sandwich

❓ What kind of bread should I use?

Traditional: Muffaletta bread is a large, round sesame loaf.
Alternative: Round Italian bread, focaccia, or ciabatta work well if you can’t find muffaletta bread.

❓ Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes! Muffalettas are ideal for making ahead. The olive salad soaks into the bread and enhances the flavor. Make it up to 1 day in advance, tightly wrapped and refrigerated.

❓ What meats can I substitute?

You can mix and match Italian cold cuts:

Instead of mortadella: use regular ham or turkey.
Instead of capicola: try spicy salami or soppressata.

❓ Is the sandwich served hot or cold?

Traditionally served cold or at room temperature. You can toast it if desired, but purists serve it cold.

❓ Is the olive salad spicy?

It can be! The giardiniera and red pepper flakes add heat. You can omit the flakes or use mild giardiniera if you prefer a milder flavor.

❓ How many people does this serve?

A giant muffaletta (10–12 inches wide) serves 6–8 people, depending on portion size.