This chopped cheese sandwich recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner to whip out at a moment's notice. It's made with seasoned ground beef, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese piled high on top of toasted buttery rolls. Gah, it's so good! And you'd never guess the chopped cheese takes just 15 minutes to make!
Table of Contents
The Best Chopped Cheese Sandwiches
If you love a good Philly cheesesteak, then you are going to love this chopped cheese sandwich. The chopped cheese sandwich originated in the one and only New York City, yet it has become a staple along the entire east coast - and really, most of the US too.
Now, the two main differences between a classic Philly cheesesteak and a chopped cheese sandwich are the meats and cheeses used to make them. A Philly cheesesteak is made of thinly sliced steak and provolone cheese, whereas chopped cheese sandwiches are made with ground beef and cheddar cheese.
Personally, I prefer this New York style chopped cheese recipe over the Philly cheesesteak.
The seasoned ground beef and caramelized onions with the melty cheddar cheese on a toasted roll is such an underrated combination. Then, the chopped cheese is topped off with classic additions like lettuce, tomato, and mayo to make the ultimate sandwich!
Honestly, this sandwich is in another universe of deliciousness.
By the way, if you want to make a complete meal out of this recipe, it pairs perfectly with these cheesy mashed potatoes, air fryer potato wedges, or even these sweet potato patties. When we make these sandwiches, we always pair them with a potato, and the combination is always a hit with the entire fam.
Ingredients
Ok, so to make this chopped cheese combo, you really need just a couple of simple ingredients. Most of which - maybe all of which - you have at home already.
With that said, here's what you'll need to make chopped cheese sandwiches:
- 4 Hoagie Buns (or sub rolls)
- 1 tbsp. Butter
- ½ lb. Ground Beef
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
- ½ Onion, sliced
- 4 Cheddar Cheese Slices
- ¼ cup Mayo
- 1 Tomato, cut into thin slices
- ½ cup Lettuce, cut into slices
See what I mean by simple?
Now, when it comes to your toppings, feel free to get creative. Occasionally, I will add bell peppers to the caramelized onions and use this McDonald's breakfast sauce instead of the mayo.
As for the cheese, if you don't have cheddar, yellow American cheese slices, provolone cheese, or pepper jack cheese, all work great too!
By the way, if you love sandwiches and want a cold sub-style sandwich, you can use some of these ingredients to make this grinder sandwich next!
How To Make a Chopped Cheese Sandwich
Alright, so as I mentioned before, this recipe for chopped cheese sandwiches requires just a few easy steps and a few minutes to make.
The results are four mouthwatering-good chopped cheese sandwiches, so there will be enough for the entire family!
Anyway, let's not waste another minute and jump into how to make chopped cheese sandwiches!
Step 1: Cook The Onions
First, put a non-stick skillet over medium high heat and melt the butter in it.
Once the butter melts, add the sliced onions to it and cook them for about 5 minutes or until they start to brown.
Step 2: Cook The Beef
Once the onions are cooked, push them to the side of the pan. Then season the ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and add the beef to the pan with the onions.
Now let the meat cook for 5 minutes without touching it, then use a wooden spoon to break the beef apart into four equal parts. Then flip each one of the parts and top with the onions and cheese.
Next, let the beef cook on the other side for 5 more minutes and allow the cheese to melt completely.
Step 3: Prep The Buns
While the beef is cooking, you can prepare the buns. To do that, first cut the hot dog buns or sub rolls in half and spray each one of them with cooking spray or brush with melted butter.
Then toast them in the toaster oven until crisp and golden brown.
Step 4: Assemble The Sandwiches
Once the cheese melts and the beef is cooked, take the toasted buns and spread some mayo on top of each one.
Then add the beef with the onions and cheese on top, and add some lettuce and tomato to finish off the chopped cheese.
Finally, serve warm and enjoy!
How To Store And Reheat Chopped Cheese Sandwiches
As I mentioned, this recipe for chopped cheese will make 4 sandwiches. And they're definitely best enjoyed fresh, so you'll only want to make the amount you're planning on eating.
With that said, if you can't finish the sandwich, just store it in the fridge in an airtight container. It'll stay good for up to 4 days stored like this.
Now, as far as reheating this chopped cheese sandwich, it's pretty simple. Just cook the ground beef - with a little extra cheese - in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes until warm. Then, reassemble your sandwiches with new buns.
FAQs About This Chopped Cheese Sandwiches Recipe
What kind of bread should I use for a chopped cheese?
If you want to make a traditional New York style sandwich, a hero roll is the best bread to use. With that said, any sub roll or hoagie roll will work just as well!.
Is a chopped cheese a cheesesteak?
Chopped cheese is not quite a cheesesteak. A chopped cheese sandwich is made with ground beef and topped with cheddar and an assortment of veggies. A cheesesteak, on the other hand, is made with thinly sliced beef, typically steak, and provolone cheese.
Why is it called chop cheese?
Supposedly, it is called chop cheese because the sandwich is supposed to be like a cheeseburger, but instead of being a patty with cheese on top, ground beef is combined with melted cheese and it's served on a roll instead of a bun.
Who invented the chopped cheese sandwich?
The chopped cheese sandwich was invented by Carlos Soto in New York City at the Blue Sky Deli. It is a staple sandwich in the Bronx and Harlem, but it's quickly migrating around the US and other places around the globe.
My Final Thoughts On This Recipe
Well, that's how to make a chopped cheese sandwich at home!
This simple sandwich recipe stands out, despite being made with such basic ingredients.
It's perfect if you need a quick dinner everyone will love or if you have a pack of hungry kids coming over for lunch. And the best part - in addition to how easy it is to make - is that it'll take well under 20 minutes to make these deli-style sandwiches.
With all that said, if you enjoyed this recipe, leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Also, be sure to follow us along on Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok, for more fun and easy recipes like this one.
More Recipes
If you want to give some more delicious recipes like this one a try, we have a ton on the blog!
Check out all of these easy recipes next:
- Applebee's Quesadilla burger
- McDonald's spicy chicken sandwich
- McDonald's snack wraps
- Panera sierra turkey sandwich
- Outback mac and cheese
- Chick Fil A chicken nuggets
- Italian breaded chicken
Chopped Cheese Sandwich
This chopped cheese sandwich recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner to whip out at a moment's notice. It's made with seasoned ground beef, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese piled high on top of toasted buttery buns. Gah, it's so good! And you'd never guess the chopped cheese takes just 15 minutes to make!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
4 Hoagie Buns
1 tbsp. Butter
½ lb. (250g) Ground Beef
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper
½ Onion, sliced
4 Cheddar Cheese, slices
¼ cup Mayo
1 Tomato, cut in thin slices
½ cup Lettuce, cut in slices
Instructions
- In a non-stick pan, melt the butter and add the onion, cooking it for around 5 minutes or until it starts to brown.
- Season the meat with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Push the onions to one side of the pan and place the beef in the pan, trying not to break it too much.
- Let it cook for 5 minutes, then use a wooden spoon to break it into 4 parts.
- Flip each part of the meat and top each part with onions and with cheese, and cook for 5 more minutes or until the cheese melts.
- Cut the buns in halves, spray them with cooking spray and toast them in the oven until golden brown.
- To serve the buns, brush each with mayo, add the beef, onions, and cheese and add tomato and lettuce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 21
- Protein: 19
Keywords: chopped cheese, chopped cheese recipe, chopped cheese sandwich, easy chopped cheese sandwich, chopped cheese sandwich recipe, how to make chopped cheese sandwich, authentic chopped cheese sandwich recipe,
Phoebe
I had a chopped cheese sandwich in NYC a few years ago and LOVED it. This chopped cheese recipe reminded me of it to a t. I'll be making it a bunch! Thanks!!
★★★★★
Steph Wittiker
Your chopped cheese sandwich recipe was a hit with my kiddos!! We will make it regularly!
★★★★★