What does 'BMT' stand for in Subway Italian BMT?

BMT stands for Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest — a name Subway created when they introduced the sandwich. Some customers believe it refers to the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit subway lines, but Subway has confirmed this is not the origin. The Italian BMT has been on Subway's menu since the chain's early days and remains one of their top three best-selling sandwiches.

What three meats are in a Subway Italian BMT?

The Italian BMT contains Genoa salami, pepperoni (spicy), and Black Forest ham. This combination of cured Italian meats gives the sandwich its characteristic savory, slightly spicy, salt-cured flavor profile. The meats are layered in an overlapping S-pattern at Subway to ensure even distribution across the full length of the bread.

What is the best bread choice for an Italian BMT?

Subway's Italian White Bread is the classic pairing — it's a soft, slightly chewy white bread with a faint sweetness. For homemade versions, a soft hoagie roll or Italian sub roll works best. Avoid baguette-style bread that's too crusty, as it fights with the soft deli meats. Martin's Potato Rolls hoagie buns are widely available and nail the right texture.

What sauce goes on Subway Italian BMT?

The most popular dressing for the Italian BMT at Subway is olive oil and red wine vinegar with a sprinkle of oregano — the classic Italian dressing. Many regulars also add yellow mustard or Subway's chipotle sauce for a kick. Avoid heavy mayo-based dressings, which mask the flavor of the cured meats rather than complement them. The oil-and-vinegar combination is what makes the sandwich taste distinctly Italian-deli rather than generic.

Subway Italian BMT

Name: Subway Italian BMT
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 sub rolls or Italian hoagie rolls (6-8 inches); 6 slices Genoa salami; 6 slices pepperoni; 6 slices Black Forest ham; 4 slices provolone cheese; 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce; 1 medium tomato, sliced; 1/4 cup sliced red onion; 8 banana pepper rings; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; Salt and black pepper, to taste

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 2 sandwiches

The Italian BMT has been Subway’s best-selling sandwich for decades. BMT officially stands for “Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest” — though it was originally named after the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit subway system. It’s a triple-meat Italian sub with Genoa salami, pepperoni, and Black Forest ham, and when you dress it properly with oil, vinegar, and oregano, it’s genuinely great.

The homemade advantage is buying quality deli meats instead of the thin, water-injected slices that Subway uses. Good Genoa salami from the deli counter has a completely different flavor than the pre-packaged stuff — more complex, fattier, with that characteristic white pepper bite.

Building a Better BMT

Quality deli meat matters. Hit the deli counter and get the meats sliced fresh. The difference between pre-packaged sandwich meat and freshly sliced deli meat is night and day.
Oil and vinegar is the move. Skip the mayo on an Italian sub. The classic Italian dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, and oregano is what makes this sandwich sing.
Don’t skimp on the banana peppers. They add a tangy, mild heat that cuts through the richness of the meats and cheese. They’re essential, not optional.

Sub Shop Savings

A footlong Italian BMT at Subway costs $9-12 depending on your location. Two 8-inch homemade subs with better quality deli meat cost about $8-10 total. Same amount of food, better ingredients, lower price.

More Subway Copycat Recipes

The BMT is built on great bread and a great sauce — here’s the rest of the lineup:

Subway Italian Herb and Cheese Bread — bake the sub rolls fresh at home. The herb-and-cheese crust and soft interior is what separates a homemade Italian sub from average deli bread.
Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce — the smoky, creamy sauce that pairs well with Italian cold cuts as a change from oil-and-vinegar. Two minutes and pantry staples.
Copycat Subway Meatball Marinara Sub — Subway’s other best-seller. Slow-simmered beef-pork meatballs in marinara, toasted and melted in a fresh roll.

See all Subway copycat recipes →

Subway Italian BMT