The Spicy Italian is the most straightforward sub on the menu: pepperoni and Genoa salami, nothing else. No turkey, no ham, no chicken. That simplicity is why regulars love it and why it is the highest-fat cold sub Subway sells — two cured pork products stacked on bread is not a light lunch, and it was never trying to be.
What's on it
Standard build: pepperoni and Genoa salami, cheese, and your vegetables and sauces, cold or toasted. The meat count is typically eight slices on a 6-inch and sixteen on a Footlong, split between the two. Compared with the Italian B.M.T., which adds ham, the Spicy Italian is fattier, saltier and more assertively flavoured — the B.M.T. is the balanced version, this is the punchy one.
Calories, fat and sodium
| Build | Calories | Fat | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-inch, cheese, veg, no sauce | ~470–510 | ~24 g | ~1,500 mg |
| 6-inch with oil and vinegar | ~520–560 | ~29 g | ~1,500 mg |
| Footlong, standard | ~940–1,020 | ~48 g | ~3,000 mg |
| Salad or No Bready Bowl version | ~350–390 | ~28 g | ~1,400 mg |
Sodium is the real headline: a Footlong is above the entire recommended daily intake for most adults. If you eat this sub regularly, the 6-inch is the version to settle on. See our nutrition guide for how it compares.
Price
Typically $6.50–$8.50 for a 6-inch and $10.50–$13.50 for a Footlong, and it appears in the Sub of the Day rotation at many stores — historically a Friday or Saturday slot — which makes it one of the best-value hot subs going. Ranges vary by franchise; see the price guide.
The build regulars use
- Italian herbs & cheese bread, toasted with provolone. Warm salami is a different sandwich.
- Lettuce, tomato, red onion, banana peppers, jalapeños.
- Oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano. The classic finish — no mayonnaise.
- Ask for it double-toasted if you want crisp edges on the pepperoni.
- Add spinach for bulk without water, which keeps the bread intact.
Creamy sauces fight cured meat. If you want heat rather than tang, chipotle southwest is the only one worth using — details in our sauce ranking.
Frequently asked
Is the Spicy Italian actually spicy?
Mildly. The heat comes from the pepperoni's paprika and pepper, not chilli. Jalapeños and chipotle southwest are how you make it genuinely hot.
Spicy Italian or Italian B.M.T.?
B.M.T. if you want a fuller, more balanced cold cut sub; Spicy Italian if you want pepperoni forward and usually a slightly lower price.
Is it halal or pork-free?
No — both meats are pork. The turkey-based options in our turkey guide are the alternative.
Nutrition figures are approximate US values for standard servings and vary by store. Confirm current information in the Subway app.
