K-Mart Submarine Sandwich - Exact Recipe

 

The Legendary K-Mart Submarine Sandwich – Exact Recipe

For many Americans who grew up in the 1960s through the 1990s, K-Mart wasn’t just a discount store—it was also a place to grab a bite to eat at the in-store lunch counter or cafeteria. Among their most famous offerings was the K-Mart Submarine Sandwich, a generously stacked cold-cut sub that combined simple but flavorful deli ingredients inside a soft Italian roll. This sandwich became a nostalgic memory for countless shoppers who would order one during lunch breaks, weekend errands, or family outings.

Although K-Mart’s in-store eateries have largely disappeared, the sandwich remains legendary. Fortunately, with the right ingredients and technique, you can recreate the exact K-Mart Submarine Sandwich experience at home. In this guide, we’ll explore the sandwich’s history, the precise recipe, ingredient details, assembly methods, variations, and even tips for recreating the vintage presentation.

This article is designed to be long and thorough (around 2000 words), so you’ll have every detail you need to capture the essence of this classic.

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A Brief History of the K-Mart Submarine Sandwich

In the mid-20th century, K-Mart stores across the United States began opening small cafeterias or “Kresge’s lunch counters.” These eateries quickly became community staples, offering affordable meals for shoppers. One of their standout items was the submarine sandwich, often sold wrapped in wax paper and handed to customers with a pickle spear on the side.

Unlike fancy deli sandwiches, the K-Mart sub was straightforward, inexpensive, and consistent. It became beloved because of its balance: salty cured meats, creamy dressing, crisp lettuce, sweet pickles, and the pillowy roll that held it all together.

By the 1980s, the sub had earned near-iconic status, often remembered alongside other cafeteria classics like grilled cheese, burgers, and hot dogs. Today, recreating this sandwich is a nostalgic culinary project for many who miss that simple K-Mart flavor.

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The Exact Ingredients

The key to authenticity lies in choosing the right bread, meats, cheese, and condiments. While many subs exist, the K-Mart submarine sandwich had its own formula. Here’s the ingredient breakdown:

Bread:

• 1 soft Italian sub roll (about 8–10 inches long)

  • The bread should be soft inside with a slightly chewy crust. Not too crusty like French baguette—K-Mart subs were tender, easy to bite, and often slightly sweet.

Meats (classic cold-cut trio):

• 3–4 slices cooked ham (thinly sliced, deli-style)

• 3–4 slices bologna (this was a hallmark of K-Mart’s sub—many modern subs skip it, but it’s essential here)

• 3–4 slices hard salami (adds spice and depth)

(Optional: Some locations added turkey or roast beef, but the core “exact recipe” relied on ham, bologna, and salami.)

Cheese:

• 2 slices American cheese (K-Mart used processed American cheese, which melted slightly against the bread and gave a creamy texture. Some variations used Swiss, but American is the most authentic.)

Vegetables:

• 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce (crisp and refreshing)

• 2–3 slices fresh tomato

• 2–3 rings thinly sliced white onion (optional, depending on your memory of the sandwich—some stores added it, others didn’t)

Pickles:

• 3–4 slices sweet pickles (bread-and-butter style)

  • This is a crucial detail. Unlike many delis that used dill pickles, K-Mart used sweet pickles, giving the sandwich a unique flavor profile.

Dressing:

• 2–3 tablespoons sub dressing (mayonnaise-based)

  • Many former employees recall K-Mart using a mayo-based dressing, sometimes mixed with a little sweet pickle juice or relish. A good homemade version is:

    • ½ cup mayonnaise

    • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard

    • ½ teaspoon sugar

    • Pinch of salt and pepper

(Some people remember a “sub sauce” similar to Italian dressing, but the most commonly cited version is a mayo-sweet pickle blend.)

Seasoning:

• Sprinkle of salt and black pepper

• Light drizzle of oil and vinegar (optional, some stores did this for extra tang)

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Step-by-Step Preparation

Step 1: Prepare the Bread

• Slice the sub roll horizontally, but do not cut all the way through—leave a hinge.

• Lightly toast the inside if you want extra structure, though K-Mart’s version was often served on untoasted bread.

Step 2: Spread the Dressing

• Spread a generous layer of the mayo-sweet pickle dressing on both sides of the bread.

• The creamy dressing is one of the defining features—don’t skimp.

Step 3: Layer the Cheese

• Place the American cheese slices directly against the bread.

• This prevents sogginess from the vegetables while adding creaminess.

Step 4: Add the Meats

• Layer the ham, bologna, and salami evenly.

• Fold the slices for volume and texture rather than laying them flat.

Step 5: Add Vegetables and Pickles

• Add shredded iceberg lettuce for crunch.

• Place tomato slices and optional onion rings.

• Lay sweet pickle slices evenly across the sandwich.

Step 6: Season and Finish

• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

• Drizzle lightly with oil and vinegar if desired.

• Close the roll and press gently.

Step 7: Wrap (for the authentic experience)

• Wrap the sandwich in wax paper or deli paper. Letting it sit for 5–10 minutes helps the flavors meld—just like the old K-Mart lunch counter experience.

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Serving the Sandwich

Traditionally, the K-Mart Submarine Sandwich was served:

• Wrapped in wax paper

• Cut in half diagonally

• With a pickle spear on the side

• Sometimes with a small bag of potato chips and a fountain drink

For the full nostalgic experience, serve it on a plastic cafeteria tray with a wax-paper napkin.

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Variations and Regional Twists

While the “exact recipe” centers on ham, bologna, salami, American cheese, sweet pickles, lettuce, tomato, and mayo-based dressing, some K-Mart locations varied slightly. Here are a few:

1. The Italian Sub Version – Used Italian dressing instead of mayo-based sauce, with banana peppers added.

2. The Deluxe Version – Included turkey or roast beef along with the ham and bologna.

3. Cheese Variations – Some stores swapped American cheese for Swiss or provolone.

4. Pickle Variation – A few locations offered dill pickles instead of sweet, though most used sweet.

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Why This Sandwich Worked

The K-Mart submarine wasn’t fancy, but it was perfectly balanced. Here’s why:

• Soft bread made it easy to eat, even for kids.

• Sweet pickles + mayo dressing gave a tangy-sweet-creamy note that stood out from deli subs.

• Bologna inclusion gave it a nostalgic, almost school-lunch flavor that blended surprisingly well with salami’s spice and ham’s saltiness.

• Iceberg lettuce stayed crisp, even after sitting wrapped.

• American cheese melted slightly into the bread, binding everything together.

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Tips for Making it Perfect at Home

1. Choose the right bread – Avoid crusty baguettes; go for soft sub rolls.

2. Slice veggies thinly – Tomatoes and onions should be thin to avoid overpowering.

3. Shred the lettuce finely – Just like cafeterias did.

4. Don’t skip the sweet pickles – This is the most iconic element.

5. Wrap and rest – Letting it sit wrapped for 10 minutes helps create the “cafeteria magic.”

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Storage and Make-Ahead

• Short-term storage: Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for up to 12 hours. Best eaten the same day to prevent sogginess.

• Lettuce tip: Keep lettuce separate if making ahead, and add just before eating.

• Freezing: Not recommended (bread and lettuce will turn mushy).

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Pairing Suggestions

To recreate the true K-Mart lunch counter meal, pair your sub with:

• Classic potato chips (plain, ridged, or barbecue)

• A pickle spear

• Coleslaw or macaroni salad (optional)

• A fountain soda or chocolate milkshake

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A Nostalgic Bite of Americana

The K-Mart Submarine Sandwich was more than just a meal—it was an experience tied to shopping trips, family outings, and a bygone era of lunch counters in department stores. Recreating it at home is not only possible but deeply rewarding for anyone who remembers that unmistakable flavor.

By carefully layering ham, bologna, salami, American cheese, crisp lettuce, sweet pickles, tomato, and mayo-based dressing on a soft Italian roll, you can bring the exact K-Mart submarine sandwich back to life in your own kitchen.

So next time you’re craving a taste of nostalgia, skip the fancy deli and build this sandwich—then wrap it in wax paper, pour yourself a soda, and imagine you’re sitting at a K-Mart lunch counter once again.