Remember grabbing a quick sub at Kmart’s lunch counter? Those simple, no-frills sandwiches had a certain charm that kept people coming back. Although you won’t find them in stores anymore, this authentic copycat recipe allows you to recreate that nostalgic lunch counter experience at home. The secret? A simple press-and-wrap technique that melds all the flavors together perfectly.
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Why This Recipe Works
While you won’t find Kmart subs served at any of the chain’s remaining stores, many older customers fondly remember these distinctive sandwiches. They were streamlined, unpretentious, and definitely not what anyone would call gourmet, but maybe that was part of their charm.
Simple and satisfying, Kmart sandwiches had just a few slices each of cotto salami, bologna, honey ham, and American cheese, topped with crisp veggies on a soft roll spread with tangy yellow mustard. With this Kmart Sub recipe, you can relive those lunch counter days in your own kitchen.
Kmart sandwiches ingredients and their roles
For this Kmart Sub recipe, you’ll need:
- Super soft sub rolls or hoagie rolls – give these Kmart sandwiches a nostalgic lunch counter vibe. The pillowy softness suggests a time when artisanal bread was not a thing.
- Yellow mustard – adds a tangy, sharp flavor that balances the rich fattiness of meat and cheese.
- Cotto salami – brings garlic and other spices to the sandwich.
- Bologna, thinly sliced – offers mild flavor and the nostalgic taste of childhood.
- Honey ham, thinly sliced – adds a sweet and salty element that enhances the complexity of the sub.
- American cheese, sliced – lends a bit of creaminess without being too sharp.
- White onion, sliced paper-thin – contributes a little crunch and understated sharpness due to the thin slices.
- Iceberg lettuce, shredded – cool and crisp, the shredded lettuce adds crunch and fills up the bread.
- Tomatoes, sliced thin – keeps the sandwich from being too dry.
How to make a Kmart Sub
To prep the ingredients:
- Cut the deli meat and cheese in half and set the pieces to the side.
- Use a serrated knife to carefully slice the roll in half, the long way. Cut four-fifths through the roll and gently open.
- Rinse and dry the vegetables.
- Thinly slice the iceberg lettuce into shreds.
- Cut the tomatoes into thin slices. Reserve for later with the shredded lettuce.
To assemble an old-school sub the Kmart way:
- Place the open roll on a cutting board.
- Spread the yellow mustard on both the cut sides.
- Place a single layer of ham on one half of the roll.
- Repeat with the bologna and salami.
- Top the meat slices with American cheese.
- Sprinkle a few slices of onions over the cheese.
- Add two slices of tomato and a handful of shredded lettuce. Close the sandwich.
- Now comes the secret to what makes Kmart sandwiches so special: the press and wrap. With both hands, gently but firmly press the top of the sandwich to smush it. Then wrap tightly in plastic.
- Place the wrapped sandwich in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
What to serve with Kmart subs
Back in the day, you could get a sub, a bag of chips, and a can of soda for less than four bucks. Not fancy, but perfect for a quick lunch. Since you are making the subs at home, why not upgrade your sides and try one of these recipes, too?
Starbucks’ Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso – Iced lattes are today’s milkshakes, and this version is something special. The chilled espresso is blended with creamy oat milk and flavored with cinnamon, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla for an unforgettable taste.
Wingstop’s Voodoo Fries – There are cheese fries, and then there are Voodoo Fries. After being tossed with Cajun seasonings, they get a ladle of creamy homemade cheese sauce and a drizzle of ranch dressing. Top with chopped green onions for a bit of color, and you have a side so much better than chips.
Chocolate Cream Pie – A slice of pie is a great way to end a meal, and this vintage Chocolate Cream Pie recipe features a decadent yet easy-to-make homemade filling. One taste and you’ll never use instant pie filling again.
Storage instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: For optimal results, keep wrapped sandwiches refrigerated for 1-3 hours. Can store up to 6 hours, but the bread texture suffers after 3 hours.
- Make-Ahead Strategy: Assemble in the morning for lunch or early afternoon for dinner. Do not store overnight, as bread will become soggy.
- Freezing: Not recommended. The vegetables will release water when thawed, which can make the bread soggy.
- Reheating: These subs are meant to be served cold. Do not heat or toast.
More copycat sandwich recipes
- Buc-ee’s Brisket Sandwich
- Burger King Royal Crispy Sandwich
- Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich
- McDonald’s Bacon Ranch McCrispy Sandwich
- Popeyes Blackened Chicken Sandwich
- Subway Meatball Sub
- Subway Tuna Sub
Find lots of easy recipes for sandwiches and the best fast food copycat recipes on CopyKat!
Kmart Sub Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 supersoft sub rolls or hoagie rolls
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 8 thin slices ham cut in half
- 8 thin slices bologna cut in half
- 8 slices cotto salami cut in half
- 6 slices American cheese cut in half
- 1 small white onion very thinly sliced
- 2 small tomatoes thinly sliced
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
Instructions
- With a serrated knife, carefully slice each sub roll horizontally without slicing all the way through. Make sure the “hinge” of the bread remains intact and the roll doesn’t tear into two pieces.
- Spread yellow mustard generously on the top and bottom interior surfaces of each bun. Then layer the remaining ingredients on each bottom bun in the following order: 4 pieces of ham, 4 pieces of bologna, 4 pieces of salami, 3 pieces of cheese, a few onion slices, a few tomato slices, and 1/2 cup of lettuce.
- Close the subs and gently press them to compact the fillings. Wrap each sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or foil.
Everything looks good!
Aww man! I worked at Kmart in the deli in the early 90s. I made so many of these sandwiches.
I grew up eating these subs, they are the best.
You’re missing two ingredients (mild pepper rings and dill pickle slices) and that the ham should be honey ham, as that is what they sold at the same counter where they made the subs. Also, the onions need to be paper thin.