The Viral “Pregnancy” Sub (Tipsy Housewife Upgrade)
Not Just For Expectant Moms
You know that viral “pregnancy sub” everyone’s been making? I had to give it the full Tipsy treatment, so I made the Viral Pregnancy Sub with a Tipsy Housewife Upgrade. It is made with herb butter toasted bread, homemade sub sauce, and crispy baked Asiago cheese crowns for an experience that’s crunchy, creamy, tangy, and basically tastes like every craving decided to team up in one perfect sandwich.
I decided to make these subs because I was trying to think of something you could have on Fridays during Lent that wasn’t eggs AGAIN. I kept seeing videos of the viral pregnancy sub from Jersey Mike’s.
That one is loaded with deli meat, so I came up with this crispy Asiago cheese version instead and honestly it is absolutely excellent. Many people avoid deli meat during pregnancy because there is a small risk of listeria.
Listeria is a bacteria that can grow on processed meats if they are not handled or heated properly. While the risk is low, doctors often recommend either heating deli meat until steaming or skipping it altogether. This is why this meatless version feels like such a fun and safe way to satisfy that big sandwich craving.
Hoagie Spread For The Win – Again
Instead of using dried chili flakes in the sub sauce, I used the hoagie spread from Cento. This is something I also use in other recipes on here.
I love this especially on my open face Toasty Ham Sandwiches, another great sandwich recipe. I really love the flavor it gives.
If you don’t have it on hand, dried chili flakes work perfectly too. I also use it as the centerpiece of my Hye Roller Sandwiches.
Add Some Mozzarella
Another addition I made to this recipe was fresh mozzarella. I had little mini mozzarella balls on hand and they were already marinated.
This added an extra layer of flavor that worked beautifully with the tangy sauce and crisp vegetables. If you wanted to turn this into a fully toasty sub, you could melt the mozzarella on the bread first or maybe even over a few salted slices of tomato.
Layer the rest of the ingredients on top so you get those warm, juicy, cheesy layers balanced with the cool crunch of the vegetables.
If Pickles Are Your Passion
You could also add sliced pickles to this, which would be absolutely delicious. A question I get asked a lot on The Tipsy Housewife is what pickles I use.
Tipsy is tried and true, die hard Claussen pickle fan every single time. I love a good pickle moment and I would consider adding them sliced lengthwise.
If You Need The Meat
If you are not observing Lent or avoiding deli meat, this sandwich is incredible with added meats. Thinly sliced salami, capicola, prosciutto, turkey, or classic ham would all work beautifully layered over the mozzarella.
This should be added before adding the vegetables. If you want that true deli style experience, a mix of salami, ham, and turkey gives you that perfect salty, savory balance.
This goes great with the creamy sauce and crisp toppings.
The Viral “Pregnancy” Sub (Tipsy Housewife Upgrade)
This viral-inspired sub sandwich features herb butter and olive oil toasted bread, crispy homemade Asiago cheese crisps, and a tangy homemade sub sauce layered with fresh mozzarella and crunchy vegetables. It’s salty, creamy, crisp, and loaded with texture in every bite.
Ingredients
- 4 sub rolls
- 4 tablespoons softened butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups freshly grated Asiago cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Sliced cucumbers
- Pickled banana peppers
- Sliced roasted red peppers
- Shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce
- Fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place small mounds of the grated Asiago cheese about 2 inches apart and gently flatten them slightly. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until the cheese is melted bubbly and deep golden brown. Let the cheese cool completely on the pan so it crisps up.
- In a small bowl mix together the softened butter olive oil garlic powder Italian seasoning salt and black pepper until smooth.
- Slice the sub rolls in half and spread the herb butter mixture generously on the inside of the bread. Place the bread in the oven and toast for 5 to 7 minutes until golden and lightly crisp but still soft inside.
- In another bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Layer fresh mozzarella slices on the bottom half of each toasted sub roll so the warmth slightly softens the cheese.
- Spoon a generous amount of sub sauce over the mozzarella.
- Add red onion cucumbers banana peppers roasted red peppers and shredded lettuce.
- Top with one or two Asiago cheese crisps for extra crunch.
- Drizzle with additional sub sauce or olive oil if desired then close the sandwich slice and serve.