An easy Cuban Sandwich or “Cubanao” is a classic, flavorful, buttery sandwich with both sliced ham, pulled pork, and plenty of tangy mustard.
The next time you are making Pulled Pork or Slow Cooker Cuban Mojo Pork, be sure to reserve a couple cups of leftover meat for one of the best next-day Sandwich Recipes you will ever make!
Sabrina’s Cuban Sandwich Recipe
There’s no need to travel to Florida to get a delicious, authentic Cuban Sandwich. If you’ve never had this classic Tampa lunch counter favorite, be prepared to have your mind blown! With the melty cheese, creamy mustard sauce, layer of pickle slices, and crispy pan-fried bread, this is like a grilled ham and cheese on steroids. It’s hands down the best way to use pulled pork leftovers!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- 2 loaves Cuban bread
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 large dill pickle slices
- 6 slices ham , thinly sliced
- 2 cups pulled pork
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- In a small bowl stir mayonnaise, mustard and hot sauce.
- Cut the ends off the bread and split in half.
- Spread mayo-mustard mixture over the inside of the bread.
- Layer with Swiss cheese, dill pickle, ham, pulled pork, more Swiss cheese and the top of the bun.
- Heat butter on a griddle on medium high heat.
- Add sandwiches and top with a heavy skillet or bacon press.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until sandwiches are crispy and filling is hot.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
Chef’s Note: Pulled Pork Swaps
You don’t need pulled pork, swap in leftover Ultimate Garlic Pork Tenderloin slices and it will be just as delicious! While this sandwich is easiest to make with leftovers, you can quickly make plain pulled pork in the Instant Pot with the guide below. If you like to meal plan ahead, make pulled pork and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you are ready to make the sandwiches, simply thaw the pork overnight and drain any liquid before cooking.
Ingredients
- Bread: This recipe is using classic Cuban bread which is a white bread similar to French bread or Italian bread.
- Ham: Pick your favorite ham slices for this. It’s extra delicious if using leftover slices from a ham dinner.
- Pork: Yes, there are slices of ham as well as roasted pork on this sandwich.
- Cheese: Swiss cheese has a sweet and nutty flavor and adds a lot of depth to this recipe.
- Pickle: Presliced, or sliced yourself, you’ll want the thick slices to complete this amazing sandwich.
- Mustard: Yellow mustard is what is traditionally used. Dijon mustard is just fine.
- Mayo: You’ll want regular mayonnaise for this recipe.
- Hot Sauce: While this optional ingredient is highly recommended, it’s still delicious without it.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, make the sandwich and wrap it tightly in foil, and refrigerate it up to 1 day.
How to Store
- Serve: Sandwiches are best served hot and fresh. You can keep them at room temperature for up to 2 hours before they need to be stored in the refrigerator.
- Store: Cool sandwiches, wrap in aluminum foil, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, keep wrapped in aluminum foil and heat in the oven on low temperature until warmed through or reheat in a skilled.
- Freeze: Once cooled completely, wrap individual sandwiches in plastic wrap and place them in a sealed freezer-safe bag with all the air squeezed out. Freeze the sandwiches for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before reheating in a skillet or wrap in aluminum foil and heat in the oven.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Chop 2 pounds pork shoulder roast into 4 inch chunks. Season with salt and pepper.
- Turn Instant Pot to sauté and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Sear pork chunks on both sides until browned, 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off pot, deglaze with ½ cup chicken broth, scrape off browned bits, then add another 1 cup broth.
- Close lid, seal valve, and cook on manual high pressure for 40 minutes, natural release pressure 10 minutes.
- To increase amount – Add 20 minutes cook time and 5 minutes release time per 1 pound
Frequent Questions
The only special ingredient in the sandwich is the Cuban bread, and you can usually find it in most grocery store bakery sections. It’s a long loaf of bread, similar to a baguette, that is crispy on the outside but with some give (unlike a baguette or ciabatta). The inside is tender and fluffy.
The sandwich is a flattened, toasted sandwich similar to a panini or grilled cheese. You can make it in a panini press if you have one, but there is no need to buy fancy equipment if not. I just use a heavy cast-iron skillet and carefully press down. For an old-school method, try a foil wrapped brick that’s been cleaned thoroughly.
Variations
- Bread: Substitute a bread that has a crispy crust but isn’t too crunchy, for example a baguette would be too crusty for the sandwich. Bolillo rolls, Italian bread loaves, and the bakery fresh French bread loaves are all good swaps for Cuban bread.
- Cheese: Instead of Swiss cheese, try sliced Colby jack, Havarti, Smoked Gouda, or Provolone.
- Pulled Pork: You can usually find pre-made pulled pork at the grocery store if you don’t want to make homemade. Try this recipe with Pulled Chicken or Leftover Pot Roast too!
- Ham: The best ham is Black Forest ham, but you can use any smoked ham for authentic taste. Swap in roasted turkey breast slices, chicken breast, or other cold cuts like salami for the ham slices. Bacon makes everything better, so add a couple slices cooked bacon to your Cubano Sandwich!
- Veggies: A traditional Cuban Sandwich doesn’t have a veggies, but you can always add tomato slices, onions, spinach leaves, or lettuce. Instead of dill pickles, you can use sweeter bread and butter pickles or fresh cucumber slices.
More Delicious Sandwiches
Photos used in a previous version of this post:
Outstanding!
This was delicious and super easy! A great way to use our leftover ham!! Highly recommend…also did it with leftover Turkey and was just as delicious! Do yourself a favor and make this asap!
Cubanos do not use hot sauce ever on Cuban sandwiches or pull pork. Not from Cuba that’s for sure. I know born and raised in Cuba until Castro came.
oh my. No offense intended. Perhaps my Cuban sources can’t be trusted!!
Really good. Cooked in George Forman grill,
Excellent! Made this tonight and it’s fast and easy. We all enjoyed it.
Question. I did use the hot sauce but was I supposed to use cayenne pepper too? It didn’t mention that in the ingredient list.
Nope it was just hot sauce, sorry for any confusion! I am so glad you enjoyed the sandwich!