Chopped Cheese Sandwich

Our chopped cheese sandwich recipe in a slow cooker with ground beef is the ultimate New York comfort food. Served on hoagie buns with American cheese it is the ultimate Super Bowl meal you can make into Air Fryer Sandwiches too.

What is a chopped cheese sandwich?

A chopped cheese is a type of sandwich that originated in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City and is particularly popular in the Bronx. A simple flavorful sandwich typically made with ground beef, melted cheese, and various toppings, all served on a roll or hero bread. Gained a cult following in NYC but spread to other parts of the country recently.

You could start with cooking Crockpot Ground Beef until browned and then later in the day when it is done you can add all the other ingredients. I love making it this way when there’s a party because when done you can set to warm for it to be served for a good hour after.

If you don’t have that much time, or a stove, you can make Air Fryer Ground Beef real quick and then combine together in a large bowl, fold together and heat until warmed together in the microwave.

What is in a Chopped Cheese Sandwich

As for the meat there are a few choices but if you want to make it the most traditional style you want 80/20 ground beef. For a bit of heat you could integrate half spicy ground sausage if you wanted to.

Traditionally you want to incorporate some onion diced, yellow or white, into the mix. They will cook down and get nice and tender.

You want some liquid to create a bit of a rich sauce of sorts. This starts off with some Beef broth or stock works for this.

A bit of ketchup is the base for the sauce to make it richer and thicker too.

Worchestershire sauce gives the sauce a richer deeper flavor that is a must for those classic flavors.

What is the best cheese to use to make chopped cheese?

If you want the classic flavors to emerge you want good old American cheese like Kraft slices style unwrapped. These are the best to melt quickly adding to the flavor of the meat and become more of a sloppy joes texture to it.

If you feel like it is not as thick as you remember you can make a slurry of cornstarch + 2 tbsp water cold to thicken.

As for the bread there are many different choices. For chopped cheese sliders I would use Hawaiian rolls. That is a fun sweet and savory way to serve them, finger food style. With Bundtwich bread you should bake, slice and allow guests to fill fresh so it doesn’t get soggy sitting there prepared.

Variations

I will say these are a bit like our Big Mac Sloppy Joes. You could make the “special sauce” for on the side if you wanted options for how it is served when done. Originally served at the Blue Sky Deli, over the years this delicious sandwich has been tweaked many different ways.

Of course the toppings can vary but iceberg lettuce, pickles and additional American cheese slices on top are typically how they’d be served with your chopped beef. If you have ever had a sloppy joe they are kinda’ the same texture as those except with more stuff crammed into the bun.

Substitutions

You could use a variety of meat(s) but beef is most common for this or our Chopped Steak Recipe. Ground sausage would add some heat with a bit more fat, ground turkey or chicken would be leaner. No matter which you chose the process of making them beyond browning the raw meat is the same. You basically;

Should you warm buns for chopped cheese sandwich?

That is up to you. If you wanted the buns crisped just a bit I would suggest using your air fryer or Ninja foodi. You’d make the chopped cheese recipe as stated below. Use rolls or slider buns brushed with melted butter. Make them as desired and set inside your basket with a sprinkle of salt and garlic powder on the top just until browned at 400 for 1 minute or so.

How to save leftovers

If you do have leftovers they will save well in air tight containers in the fridge. When reheating in the microwave you want to stir every 30 seconds. You want to stir frequently so the whole thing is warmed evenly. If you feel like you are lacking in sauce you could fold in a bit of mayonnaise to make it creamier.

Stovetop Directions

Cook the Ground Beef patties or choice of protein in a hot skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. As it cooks, use a spatula to break it into smaller pieces or “chop” it into crumbles. Season with salt, pepper, and any preferred spices. Cook until browned and fully cooked through. Thin slices of steak can be used to make this Philly cheesesteaks style

1. Melt the Cheese once the meat is cooked. Place slices of American cheese on top. Allow the cheese to melt over the beef, and then mix it in, creating a cheesy beef mixture.
2. Prepare the Roll by splitting the hero roll or sub roll lengthwise, but not all the way through, creating a pocket for the filling.
3. Add Toppings to stuff the roll. You can also add toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onions for freshness and crunch. Feel free to customize with your favorite condiments, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, or hot sauce.
4. Close the roll and serve the chopped cheese sandwich immediately while it’s hot.

Variations exist, and some people add their own twists by incorporating different types of cheese, additional vegetables, or unique sauces. It’s a beloved street food that offers a satisfying combination of flavors and textures.

Slow Cooker Method

I provide how we like to make it in a Crockpot below, low and slow makes the flavors really amplify and deepen so it is our favorite hands down.

There are several other names these are called but they refer to the same mixture. If you are in Harlem or NY you may have heard this called;

What are Other Names for Chopped Cheese?

1. Chopped Cheeseburger emphasizes the ground beef patty aspect of the sandwich, and it’s often used when the sandwich includes a hamburger patty instead of ground beef crumbles.
2. Chopped Cheese Steak is dressed up similar to a cheesesteak.
3. New York Cheeseburger Sub is what this is called in some places, it may be referred to as a New York-style cheeseburger sub, especially when it’s served in a sub roll.
4. Harlem Cheeseburger emphasizes the sandwich’s origin in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.
5. Bronx Cheese Melt is also popular in the Bronx, you may hear it called a Bronx cheese melt. Sometimes served inside hot dog buns, it is the bomb.
6. NYC Bodega Sandwich is what you might see the sign say in some small convenience stores.
7. Chopped Sandwich is just omitting the “cheese” part.

Jump to the recipe card below and get started. If you always add something different let us know what you think is the yummiest together.