Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the hoagie rolls lengthwise, keeping one edge intact if you prefer a hinge. Spread about 1 tablespoon of softened butter on the cut interior of each roll. Place rolls open-faced on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5–7 minutes, or until lightly golden and slightly crisp. Remove from oven and set aside.

Meats & Cheese

Layer meats

Arrange the roast beef evenly over the bottom half of each toasted roll, followed by the ham, then the turkey. Aim for even coverage so each bite contains all three meats (about 6 oz roast beef, 4 oz ham, 4 oz turkey total per sandwich as listed).

Add cheese

Top the stacked meats with the mozzarella slices or evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella (about 4 oz). If you prefer melted cheese, return the assembled sandwich (without sauces) to the oven for 3–4 minutes or use a broiler for 1–2 minutes until cheese is just melted — watch closely to avoid burning.

Sauces & Toppings

Add pizza sauce

Spoon about 1/4 cup pizza sauce over the cheese and meats on each sandwich (0.5 cups total divided between 2 sandwiches). Spread gently so it covers evenly but does not oversaturate the bread.

Add thousand island dressing

Drizzle or spread about 2 tablespoons (per sandwich) of thousand island dressing over the pizza sauce layer (0.25 cups total). This provides the sandwich's characteristic tangy, creamy finish.

Optional toppings and seasoning

If using, scatter pepperoncini or banana pepper rings and a few slices of red onion over the dressings. Lightly season with 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper per sandwich.

Close and serve

Close the sandwich with the top half of the roll. For a warm melded sandwich, wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place back in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes. Slice each hoagie in half, serve immediately, and provide extra thousand island or pizza sauce on the side if desired.