The Bomb Italian Sausage Sandwich! And yes it is. The Bomb that is!
This cheesy, spicy, saucy, oh so messy, Italian sausage on crusty Italian bread sandwich holds a special place in my family’s heart.
My dad first had this sandwich when he and my mom moved to St.Louis back in 1977.
St. Louis has a very prominent Italian district that’s still around today called The Hill. There was a small Italian delicatessen just south of The Hill called Grassi’s and one of their signature sandwiches was called The Bomb. The Bomb was served on a poor boy type bun, with lengthwise sliced Italian sausages, pepper jack cheese, red sauce, wrapped in foil and toasted. Our version is still much the same.
This has been a favorite family dinner in my family for so long I can not even remember how old I was when I had it for the first time. I know my children can say the same, because I’ve been making them myself since my husband and I were married.
How to make The Bomb Italian Sausage Sandwich
In our version as a family dinner, we use 2 large loaves of Italian crusty bread, preferably the authentic stuff from The Hill, our Italian district.
Homemade Red Sauce makes the absolute best version of The Bomb Italian Sausage Sandwich that we have ever had. This is the sauce that I use for my Chicken Ricotta Meatballs, Pizza Sloppy Joes, pizza, pasta, lasagna, and so much more.
While your Red Sauce is simmering, place 10 Italian sausage links on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees, flipping once until cooked through and brown on both sides.
Can I use premade marinara or red sauce instead?
Yes, just make sure to purchase the best quality possible.
When the sauce and sausages are done cooking, set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
Slice a pound of pepper jack cheese into thick slices. When the sausages are cool enough to handle, slice lengthwise and then across for a total 4 pieces per sausage link.
After slicing the Italian bread lengthwise and placing on a cookie sheet, spread the Homemade Red Sauce on both sides of the Italian bread.
The cheese slices go on the top half of the loaf and the sausage link pieces will go on the bottom half of the loaf. Now the slightly tricky part. Very carefully place the top part of the loaf with the cheese onto the bottom half of the loaf with the sausages to make a sandwich. Cover the cookie sheet with the two loaves placed side by side tightly with foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is melted.
Using a bread knife, slice into sandwich size sections and serve with an Italian salad for a simple supper or slice into narrow pieces to serve as an amazing Game Day or party treat. I hope this will be a family favorite like it is in our home. Enjoy!
Make sure to try a few of my other favorite sandwiches, easy Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches and Pizza Sloppy Joes!
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Tried this? Leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
The Bomb Italian Sausage Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 large loaves Italian bread sliced lengthwise
- Recipe for Homemade Red Sauce in Less Then 40 Minutes! See link in recipe notes
- 10 sausage links
- 1 pound pepper jack cheese sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Prepare the Homemade Red Sauce in Less Then 40 Minutes! as directed.
- Place 10 Italian sausage links on a cookie sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes turning once until cooked though and brown on both sides.
- Slice sausages lengthwise and across for 4 pieces per link.
- Slice pepper jack into thick slices.
- Slice Italian bread loaves lengthwise.
- Sauce the insides of both halves of the bread and lay them side by side on a large cookie sheet.
- Lay the cheese slices on the sauce on the bread half that will be the sandwich top.
- Place the sausage link pieces on top of the sauce on the bread half that will be the bottom of the sandwich.
- Carefully place the top of the sandwich on top of the bottom.
- Cover the sandwiches on the cookie sheet tightly with foil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Using a bread knife, slice into sandwich size pieces and serve.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Mother, Gardener, Book Devourer, and Food Obsessor. I love being inspired with fresh, seasonal ingredients and relish every opportunity to elevate my home cooking. Join me!
Vicky
Having grown up Italian, this sandwich really speaks to me. It reminds me of the kind of thing that we’d get at feasts and festivals that were on the East Coast.
Jennifer Grissom
Thanks, Vicky! Hope you enjoy it!
Ellen
This is the bomb! My teenage boys will devour this sandwich!
Jennifer Grissom
Love it! Thanks, Ellen.
Elaine Benoit
Oh my! This looks amazing. When I saw how long the bread was, I was thinking PARTY!! I bet it is super popular on game day as it looks satisfying and delicious!
Jennifer Grissom
Thanks, Elaine! The Bomb is a regular visitor in our simple supper dinner line up & and at parties.
Haley D Williams
Now that is a sandwich! I have to make this asap!
Jennifer Grissom
Thanks Haley, Let me know what you think!
SHANIKA
This Italian Sausage Sandwich looks so good! Yum!
Jennifer Grissom
Thank you!
Jessica
This was delicious! Just because i love ooey gooey cheese I put slices on the top AND bottom of the bread! Thanks for a quick weeknight dinner!
Jennifer Grissom
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! The Bomb is one of our favorites:)
Alicia
This looks delicious!! Do you use raw sausage links or already cooked?
Jennifer Grissom
Thanks Alicia! You build the sandwich with cooked Italian sausage links. So, you can use links you have cooked yourself or purchase pre-cooked Italian sausage links.
Michele
Hi! Can you recommend a certain brand of Italian sausage to use?
Jennifer Grissom
I usually go with my local butcher store made Italian sausage. I would just choose your favorite. The beauty of this recipe is you can use a sweet to spicy Italian sausage based on your preference, and it will taste great.
Mel
This was a delicious recipe. I used to make bombers with a jar of sauce, but the sauce for this turned out amazing. I did omit the celery due to my husbands strong dislike for it. Otherwise, I followed the recipe to a T. I was a little nervous that putting the sauce on the bread and baking would make the bread soggy, but not at all. The bread had this wonderful crispiness on the outside that really made the sandwich. Thank you!
Jennifer Grissom
Very happy to hear how much you liked it and that you made the Homemade Red Sauce. It really does add to it:)
Mafrilyn
This is pretty close to The Bomb I used to get at Grassi’s. I worked at Uncle Bill’s next door and we would often get food from there. I’ll never forget that huge bowl of Greek salad at the beginning of the line. And I’ll never forget The Bomb.. We had two cleaning ladies who also did food prep over at Grassi’s and would tell us how to make things.. Jim and Gerry were very good to us, too.. The only difference I see with The Bomb they made was that each sandwich went into the oven individually wrapped and with pepper cheese..
Pamela
Can’t wait to try this. Sounds amazing! I was thinking roasted mini peppers would taste great on this sandwich. What are your thoughts?
Jennifer Grissom
Sounds good to me too!