41 Must Try Hot Sandwich Recipes

Delicate cucumber sandwiches might be perfect for a picnic, but when you want some indulgent comfort food, they don't quite cut it. Throw some butter into a pan and grill thick slices of sourdough with a good amount of cheese melting in the middle, and you have yourself a must-try hot sandwich. You can make a basic grilled cheese to complex slow-cooked meats that you marinate overnight for a sandwich. Or you can add a smorgasbord of gourmet fillings that create so many different types of hot sandwiches to try. Some you grill in a cast iron pan, while others you might toast under the broiler or bake in the oven. Or maybe you have your own skillet or panini press. Think beyond an everyday sandwich and feel inspired to create a scrumptious snack or a fabulous feast between two slices of bread, from crusty ciabatta to soft hoagie rolls. 

Eat like a New Yorker with this Big Apple chopped cheese sandwich. The twist with this recipe is that you don't chop the cheese! Pan-fry ground beef in the shape of flattened logs and top with onions that you've already sautéed. Beef that's 80/20 has the right leanness and moistness. Then you add slices of American cheese; this is where you're supposed to mix it into the beef and onions. Let the heat work its magic, and the cheese will melt without any cheese chopping on your part.

Recipe: New York Chopped Cheese Sandwich

Panko elevates crispy cod into a deliciously crunchy sandwich. Add whatever seasonings you like to the breaded flakes, such as paprika or Old Bay. But don't just top with tomato and lettuce. A creamy tartar sauce tastes amazing, or use mayo or remoulade instead. And pickles give each bite a sour burst that transforms the whole recipe. In the style of a burger joint, serve your fried fish fillets on sesame seed buns rather than bread. Sandwich between whatever type of roll you like, or opt for a buttery brioche bun. 

Recipe: Fried Cod Sandwich

Ham and Gruyère is a sandwich match that's simply marvelous. But why stop there when you can create an IG-worthy hot sandwich that's gorgeously golden brown with a runny fried egg on top? A soft poached egg is good too, and that's not all you add on top either. Once you've grilled your sandwich, pour a béchamel sauce over the top, and more cheese, before broiling. Don't overheat the milk, or you might burn the white sauce, but make sure your pan and broiler are hot enough to melt the cheese.

Recipe: Croque Madam Sandwich

There are some pretty wild sandwich creations, but sometimes you can't beat classics like this Southern tomato recipe. Use any fresh tomatoes you like, but vine-on-tomatoes are wonderfully juicy, and heirloom varieties are fabulous. Making your own Cajun mustard mayo using pickle juice makes all the difference, as does marinating the tomatoes. If you don't have any malt vinegar for the marinade, use apple cider, balsamic, or red wine vinegar instead. The filling is cold, with some crunchy barbecue pork rinds sprinkled on top, but the bread is toasted and hot.

Recipe: Best Southern Tomato Sandwich

This sandwich recipe doesn't follow the rules with grilled cheese in the middle and crispy bacon on the outside. Lay strips across each slice of bread so that they wrap around to the other side and stay in place. Butter the bread if the bacon won't stick. Fry each side until the bacon is fully cooked, rather than flipping the whole thing back and forth. Grab some tongs to hold your sandwich upright to cook the bacon-wrapped sides. Use whatever cheese you like, and add mustard for a little kick. 

Recipe: Bacon Lovers Grilled Cheese

One story tells that the French dip came about after a chef accidentally dropped a sandwich in some sauce. Whatever the case, this hot sandwich classic with beef and melted cheese is so darned good when you dip it in juices from the slow cooker. You serve this in a pot on the side. This recipe calls for sirloin tip roast, but you can also use chuck roast or rump roast instead. It's fine to swap out the Swiss cheese for another type of cheese, too, such as cheddar or provolone. 

Recipe: Slow Cooker French Dip

It doesn't get much more iconic, in the hot sandwich world, than a hot pastrami on rye. The salty taste of the meat is perfect with the nutty flavor of the bread and the sourness of the pickles. This recipe also adds some Swiss cheese, creamy coleslaw, and tomatoes, with dill pickles, and lettuce. And stone ground mustard is a must. The best way to heat the salt beef is in a loose foil pouch in the oven. Use store-bought ingredients for this recipe so you can make it without delay. 

Recipe: Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich

A tuna sandwich is tasty, but add some cheese and create a hot melt, and it's transformed. The whole time you're chowing down on this sandwich, you'll be wondering how it can taste so good. You can't go wrong with simple ingredients, but adding red onion and celery creates some crunch. And lemon juice and dill lift the flavor of this flaky fish. Add more mayo if you want a super-creamy texture, and use hearty slices that will contain the tuna mix and cheese. Serve with a green salad for a healthy side.

Recipe: Simple Tuna Melt

Traditional as it might be, and as popular as it is in the U.S., a Cuban sandwich can be made in many different ways. If you can't find authentic Cuban bread, opt for French or Italian instead. While pork marinated in mojo might be a must, as well as the ham, you could leave out the salami. Add juices from the meat for extra flavor. Dill pickles and Swiss cheese are must-have ingredients, and spreading mustard on half of the bread and mayo on the other shouldn't be missed. Broil or pan-fry in a skillet. 

Recipe: Cuban Sandwich

If you want to make more of a meal out of a hot sandwich, then you can literally add a dish inside bread. Pile meatballs in a marinara sauce into a hoagie roll and top with mozzarella, and you've got a pretty hearty serving. Parmesan and herbs flavor the ground beef and pork; just be sure not to mix too vigorously or long as this will overwork the meat. Use the rind of the Parmesan to add extra taste to the sauce, and keep an eye on your roll while the cheese melts.

Recipe: Homemade Meatball Sub

Talk about creamy. This magical hot sandwich is made with four types of cheese, including cream cheese. As if that isn't enough, you add heavy cream to make the grilled cheese creamier. The result is a strong flavor and a silky texture, which is a dream combination. It's not just what's on the inside that counts either, as the dream pairing for the outside of the bread is mayonnaise and minced garlic. This tastes amazing and helps the bread brown as you can heat it at a higher temperature than butter. 

Recipe: Authentic Disney Grilled Cheese

A stuffed roll made by Germans in Russia that came to the U.S., this bierocks hot sandwich rocks. Traditionally made with beef and cabbage, add whatever seasonings you like to give the meaty middle a flavor boost. Caraway seeds, paprika, and nutmeg go well. The key to getting this recipe right is to make sure the milk is just the right temperature to activate the yeast. Don't overfill the dough, either. You want to pinch and gather it around the filling without any leaking out. These are delicious with a cold German beer.

Recipe: Authentic German Bierocks

What's great about air fryer grilled cheese is that the bread crisps up without overdoing so that the cheddar can completely melt. There's nothing worse than a hot sandwich with cold cheese in the middle that hasn't turned deliciously gooey. Simple as this sandwich is, you can change the bread and the cheese. Choose a cheese that melts well, such as pepper jack, Gruyère, or mild Havarti. If you love the flavor of blue cheese or Parmesan, then you can mix a little into a strong-tasting Monterey or Sonoma Jack.

Recipe: Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

To create this classic beef and horseradish hot sandwich, make your own version of weck rolls by adding caraway seeds and salt to kaiser rolls. If you're not taking a shortcut to the deli, you'll need round beef or rump roast for this recipe. If you don't want to slow cook the meat in dark beer, then choose a non-alcoholic version instead. Onion soup mix is a great ingredient to add to the stock too. Serve with the juices in a pot on the side for hot sandwich dipping.

Recipe: Crock Pot Beef On Weck

When you want to rustle up a batch of hot sandwiches, these roast beef sliders are the ultimate tasty bite. Add the deli meat and Swiss cheese to joined-up sliced buns without separating them. What makes them super tasty, too, is brushing the bread with melted butter. Use this on top of the rolls before sprinkling on Italian seasoning before baking. As the cheese melts, the meat doesn't dry out, and you've got plenty of moreish finger food bites. Serve with a hot mustard dip. Watermelon pairs surprisingly well too. 

Recipe: Easy Roast Beef Sliders

Why go for one comfort food when you can go for two in one? And you use garlicky Texas toast, so it's more like three in one. Or you can make your own garlic butter and spread it on thick slices of bread before grilling. Add mustard and ketchup to give your beef a tangy taste, or add to ground turkey or a vegetarian mince instead. A spoonful of the mix goes on top of the slices of American cheese. Cover the pan while you cook this hot sandwich. 

Recipe: Tasty Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joe

Torta is a classic Mexican hot sandwich made with steak and refried beans. Get some bolillo or telera rolls that are soft in the middle but tough enough on the outside to hold all the fillings. Flattening and breading a round or sirloin steak creates a thin meaty layer, and if you buy a slender piece, it'll probably still need to be pounded and cut. To make your sandwich start with the heated refried beans, then add sour cream and the panko-coated steak. Add avocado, hot sauce, onion, tomato, lettuce, or whatever you like. 

Recipe: Torta

One of the most renowned sandwiches has to be a straightforward ham and cheese one. But if you want to make this combo more interesting, then turn it into a hot sandwich instead. Swiss cheese melts perfectly, while honey-roast ham adds a subtle sweetness. What really elevates these sliders is adding chopped pickles on top and a little pickle juice on the bread mixed with mustard. The tangy taste is a game-changer, and brushing the top of the rolls with melted butter before baking enhances the taste of the toasted bread. 

Recipe: Ham And Cheese Sliders

This chef-inspired recipe is given a twist, and unlike a classic Cuban sandwich, you use turkey breast instead of pork. Another difference to the traditional hot sandwich is you don't just marinate the meat in a mojo marinade but in a herb, rum, white wine vinegar, and orange juice overnight in the fridge first. To add taste, sear the sliced cooked turkey and thick slices of ham before adding to the toasted French loaf slices. Swiss cheese, mustard, and dill pickle slices are a must before toasting in a pan. 

Recipe: Babish's Chef-Inspired Cubanos

Don't you just love a three-ingredient recipe? Turn a lean pork loin into a flavorful pulled pork by slow cooking it with beef broth and onion soup mix. To make this a hot sandwich, you'll also need some soft rolls and whatever condiments you like. Barbecue sauce goes well with the shredded meat. Use forks to pull the pork apart or the paddle attachment of your stand mixer. If you love a French dip sandwich, then keep the juices and serve them in a little pot on the side. 

Recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches