This Chopped Cheese Sandwich is crispy and cheesy, and a flavorful nod to the New York-style bodega. Featuring seared ground beef spiced with adobo, melty American cheese, and fresh toppings like tomato and iceberg lettuce, rolled in a toasted hero bun – it's iconic for a reason.
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I was first introduced to chopped cheese on a trip to New York City in 2018. It wasn’t a couple of years later that the bodega-style chopped cheese gained popularity and I had a “Big Mac-style” version at a local dive bar in Toronto. That’s when I understood the impact this New York staple had on sandwich culture.
But what is a chopped cheese sandwich? Well, we can tell you what it’s not. It’s not a cheeseburger on a hoagie bun, which many refer to it as, nor is it similar to a Philly cheesesteak. Chopped cheese sandwiches reign supreme (yup, we said it), and are the must-make game day recipe or gourmet Super Bowl food.
Our take on the New York-style chopped cheese sandwich skips the usual pre-made hamburger patty and instead uses loose ground beef for even more of a crispy sear chopped with onion and seasoned with adobo. Topped with American cheddar cheese until melted and then laid atop a toasted hero bun, this bodega chopped cheese recipe is served with mayo, ketchup, fresh tomato, and crisp iceberg lettuce for the ultimate sandwich perfection.
Bits of seared, crispy ground beef and a cheesy, melty texture served on a toasted bun and fresh toppings make for the perfect bite. Serve our bodega chopped cheese sandwich with our Crispy Oven Baked French Fries, or as a main to our The Ultimate Fully Loaded Nachos with Lentils or Mexican-Inspired Crispy Chicken Wings.
Ingredient List
- Buns: Hero, hoagie, or other white submarine bun.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin, alternatively use avocado oil or butter.
- Ground beef: Use the freshest best quality ground beef that is accessible to you.
- Onion: Farm fresh eggs if available, large or extra-large.
- Caribbean Adobo: We like to make our own adobo spice, but Goya is the most popular store-bought brand of adobo spice.
- Salt: Sea salt or kosher salt for cooking.
- Cheddar Cheese: American style, medium cheddar, pre-sliced if available.
- Mayonnaise: We use avocado mayonnaise, but use what you prefer.
- Ketchup: Use your favorite ketchup brand.
- Iceberg Lettuce: Shredded as finely as possible.
- Tomato: Vine-ripened tomatoes provide the best sized slices for chopped cheese.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Big Mac Style: For the assembly in step 5, spread Homemade Big Mac Sauce Recipe on the bottom bun, and top with the chopped cheese, diced onions, pickle slices, shredded iceberg, and more Mac sauce.
- Meat Alternative: Ground chicken, turkey, or sausage can all be used instead of ground beef as an alternate option.
- Spicy: Add raw or pickled jalapeno slices along with the onions in step 2.
Recipe Steps: How to Make a Chopped Cheese Sandwich
1. Toast the buns.
Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet and fry the buns, cut side down, until golden with dark edges, and set aside.
2. Sear the ground beef.
Return the pan to heat and lightly drizzle with oil. Portion the ground beef and place in the pan. Arrange onion slices on top and season with adobo spice and salt. Sear until the patties are crisp and caramelized.
3. Flip it and chop it.
Flip the patties and cook for another minute. Use the edge of a metal spatula to chop up the meat and onions into small pieces.
4. Melt the cheese.
Tighten the meat into portions and top with cheese slices. Remove from heat once the cheese is melted and crisp on the edges.
5. Transfer the chop cheese.
Slather the buns with mayonnaise. Transfer a portion of the chopped cheese to the bun.
6. Assemble and devour.
Drizzle with ketchup. Arrange tomato slices and shredded lettuce on top, close the bun, and devour!
Chef's Tip
Pull the ground beef out of the fridge just before cooking and leave it as loosely packed as possible. This allows the fat to render out of the meat slowly, resulting and a crisp sear on the meat.
Recipe FAQs
Chop cheese, as it’s also known, originated in a Spanish Harlem bodega called Hajji's Deli, also known as Blue Sky Deli. It can be found in bodegas throughout New York City, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
Adobo has many variations and uses throughout the world, most commonly associated with Filipino and Mexican cooking, which are both wet marinades. A chopped cheese uses a dry spice which is commonly associated with Carribean adobo.
While using similar ingredients like beef, cheese, and onions, Philly cheesesteaks use thinly sliced beef, peppers, and provolone cheese vs. American.
If you tried this Chopped Cheese Sandwich Recipe or any other recipe on our website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe Card
Chopped Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 hero buns (sub bun)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoon adobo seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 slices American cheese (medium cheddar or Colby)
- 4 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce shredded
- 1 tomato thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium. Place the buns in the pan, cut side down, and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until golden with dark edges. Set aside.
- Return the pan to medium-high heat and lightly drizzle with oil. Divide the ground beef into 2 portions and loosely form into long patties. Place the meat on the pan, arrange onion slices on top, and season generously with adobo spice and salt. Sear the beef for 2-3 minutes, until the patties are crisp and caramelized.
- Flip the patties and cook another minute. Use the edge of a metal spatula to chop up the meat and onions into small pieces.
- Arrange the meat into portions the size of your buns and top with cheese slices. Lower the heat on the pan and remove from heat once the cheese is melted and crisp on the edges..
- Slather both sides of the buns with mayonnaise. Top with a portion of the chopped cheese and drizzle with ketchup. Arrange tomato slices and shredded lettuce on top, close the bun, using the edge of a bread knife to hold in the toppings if necessary. Slice the chopped cheese sandwich in half and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Ensure your skillet or frying pan is very hot to get the best sear on the meat.
Alex Levine says
I've never heard of this sandwich until now but I always cook my onions into my meat for burgers. But this sandwich is next level – hoagie buns all the way!
Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai says
Onions into your meat for burgers?! Sounds delicious. Definitely agree that hoagies help make this sandwich!
Cammy J says
I’ve never heard of chopped cheese but I saw this and had to have it. The cheese gets crispy which is surprisingly very good. I think I liked it better than a cheeseburger.
Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai says
You wouldn't be the first to say that!