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Nashville Hot Sausage Subs

Melissa Jo Posted: Last Updated:
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A toasted sandwich bun filled with a grilled sausage topped with melted cheese, sliced pickles, and creamy coleslaw, served on foil.

If you’re looking for a bold, flavor-packed sandwich that’s messy in the best way possible… this Nashville Hot Sausage Sub is it. Juicy baked Hot Italian sausage, cooled down with creamy coleslaw, melty provolone, and a buttery homemade Nashville hot sauce all piled onto a toasted hoagie roll—unlike most Nashville hot sandwiches it’s got JUST the right amount of spice (more mild than hot), tangy, creamy, and completely irresistible. If you want something similar you have to try my Sicilian One-Pot Creamy Sausage Pasta, or my Easy Sicilian Sausage & Tomato Quiche.

This is one of those recipes that feels like a game day, weekend, or “I need something GOOD tonight” kind of meal—and the best part? It’s super simple and oven-friendly.

Bottles of Local Hive honey hot sauce and Bear & Burtons Breakfast Sauce varieties are displayed on a grocery store shelf, each with visible colorful labels and price tags below.

The hot sauce I used and got from Publix! 🙂

A hand pours olive oil from a white bottle over four raw sausages arranged in an orange baking dish on a kitchen counter.
A saucepan on a wooden countertop contains a stick of butter, brown liquid, and various seasonings. Metal tongs rest nearby, and a person in dark jeans stands behind the counter.
A hand stirs a pot of golden-brown caramelizing sugar with a metal spoon on a stovetop. The mixture is smooth and glossy, and the edges of the pot are coated with crystallized sugar.
A close-up of a sausage covered in melted cheese on a bun with coleslaw, as a spoon drizzles reddish-brown sauce over the top.
A sausage topped with melted cheese and coleslaw in a toasted bun is being drizzled with sauce from a spoon. Two similar sausage sandwiches are visible nearby on a foil-lined tray.
A smiling woman in a kitchen holds a tray with three large hot dogs topped with pickles, slaw, and sausages. The kitchen has white cabinets, a window, and various utensils in the background.
Four sausage hoagies topped with melted cheese, coleslaw, and pickle slices are arranged in a baking tray lined with foil.
Three toasted hot dog buns filled with sausages topped with melted cheese, coleslaw, and pickle slices, set on a foil-lined tray.

🤔 Common Questions

Can I make this less spicy?

Yes! Reduce the cayenne or swap for paprika.

Can I use pre-cooked sausage?

You can, but baking raw sausage gives you that flavorful oil for the sauce.

What’s the best bread to use?

Soft hoagie rolls like Martin’s hoagie rolls work best—they toast beautifully without getting too hard. In this recipe I toast them briefly for a soft yet never soggy bite.

🔑 Tips for Success

  • Don’t skip the broil — that melty cheese moment is everything
  • Watch closely under broil—it goes fast
  • Let the slaw sit in the fridge while the sausages are baking—it gets better as it chills
  • Use the sausage drippings—it’s KEY for authentic flavor
A toasted sandwich bun filled with a grilled sausage topped with melted cheese, sliced pickles, and creamy coleslaw, served on foil.

Nashville Hot Sausage Subs

Bold, a bit of spice, and loaded with flavor, these Nashville Hot Sausage Subs are made with oven-baked Italian sausage, creamy coleslaw, melty provolone, and a rich homemade hot butter sauce. Served on toasted hoagie rolls and topped with pickles, they’re the ultimate easy comfort sandwich.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 5 people

Ingredients
  

For the Sausage Subs:

🔥 Nashville Hot Butter Sauce:

Instructions
 

Bake the Sausage

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Place sausages in a baking dish and coat with about 4 tablespoons of oil, rolling them to fully coat.
  • Bake for 1 hour, flipping once halfway through, until fully cooked and golden.

Make the Coleslaw

  • In a bowl, combine:
  • Coleslaw mix
  • Marzetti’s dressing
  • 1 tsp hot honey (or hot sauce)
  • Mix well and refrigerate while sausages cook. This helps the flavor develop.

Make the Nashville Hot Sauce

  • Once sausages are done, remove them from the pan and pour the oil into a saucepan.
  • Add:
  • Butter
  • All seasonings
  • Heat over medium to medium-high until it begins to bubble.
  • Stir, then reduce heat—once combined, it’s ready.

Toast the Rolls

  • Increase oven to 400°F.
  • Place hoagie rolls directly on the rack and toast for 5–6 minutes, until lightly golden.

Assemble the Sandwiches

  • Layer each roll:
  • Coleslaw
  • Sausage
  • 2 slices provolone
  • Place under broil for 30–60 seconds until cheese is melted (watch closely!).

Finish & Serve

  • Remove from oven and:
  • Spoon Nashville hot sauce over the sausage
  • Top with Grillo’s pickles
Keyword nashville hot sausage subs
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

🗒 More Delicious Recipes

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store sausage and slaw separately in airtight containers.
Reheat sausage in the oven or skillet.
Assemble fresh for best texture


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