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The famous Chopped Cheese (also known as Chop Cheese) is New York’s finest bodega sandwich. Seasoned ground beef hits the hot griddle with onions and cheese. Scooped into a soft hero roll and topped with ketchup, lettuce and tomato. The ultimate sandwich!
I am a lover of sandwiches. A few years ago I did a sandwich series and it was my all-time performing content. I made everything from the BEST BLT to the Grinder Sandwich and of course, a Chopped Cheese. It was a new-to-me sandwich. And it was absolutely delicious.
Where Does the Chopped Cheese Originate
The chopped cheese is from New York. Its exact origination in the city is up for debate. Most say it’s from Harlem. Some say it’s from the Spanish Harlem. Others will say it’s from the Bronx. All can agree it’s NYC’s best sandwich.
What is a Chopped Cheese
A chopped cheese is like a hamburger on a hero roll. It usually is from a pre-shaped patty, topped with Adobo seasoning and sautéed with onions. It’s broken up into pieces and topped with American cheese. When the cheese is melted, it’s placed on a roll (hero or kaiser) that’s been smothered with a bit of mayo and ketchup. Then it’s topped with shredded lettuce and slices of tomato.
Ingredients to Make a Chopped Cheese
- Ground beef. I like to buy pre-formed patties for this–it’s traditional.
- Adobo. You need this sazon seasoning for an authentic vibe.
- Onions. The beef is sauteed with a handful of onions.
- American cheese. You can use cheddar too. But I like the meltability of American cheese.
- Lettuce. We’re going with iceberg for crunch.
- Tomatoes. We want these on the thinner side.
For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe index card below!
How to Make a Chopped Cheese
1. Over medium-high heat, add the oil to a cast iron skillet. When hot, add in the onion and add a pinch of salt. When slightly softened, add in the beef patties and sprinkle with Adobo seasoning.
2. When meat is cooked, add slices of American cheese. Mix throughout until melted.
3. Smother inside of bread with mayonnaise. Add some ketchup. Add the meat/cheese mixture. Top with the thin slices of tomato and a few handfuls of iceberg lettuce. Slice in half and enjoy.
Recipe Tip
Bread Options. The other type of bread that is commonly used is a kaiser roll–feel free to swap that in!
Meat Options. Feel free to swap in ground chicken, ground turkey or vegan meat for different meat varieties.
Cheese Options. American cheese is authentic to this sandwich but if you want more flavor, use a medium or sharp cheddar.
Recipe FAQs
Umm…everything. A Philly cheesesteak is shredded beef (similar to say a French Dip Sandwich) cooked with provolone cheese (and sometimes onions and mushrooms). A chopped cheese is almost like a deconstructed hamburger.
Many say that Hajji’s Deli (also known as Blue Sky Deli) invented the chopped cheese sandwich.
More Cozy Recipes
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Chopped Cheese
Equipment
- 1 cast iron skillet or griddle
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2 pieces Hero baguette bread, (warmed in the pan)
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil, (such as avocado or vegetable oil)
- 1/4 yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 (4-ounce) beef cut of meat patties
- 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning, (you can eyeball this)
- 3 slices American cheese cheese
For Assembly:
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- 1 tomato, thinly sliced
- 1/4 wedge iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
Instructions
To Cook the Filling:
- Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Start with warming the bread. I like to cut it in half and place it cut side down in the warm pan. You don't want it toasted–just warmed. Repeat this with the roll.
- Pour in the oil and when it's hot, add in the onion and a pinch of salt. When slightly softened, add in the beef patties and sprinkle with Adobo seasoning. Begin to "chop" it using a spatula. You want it to be into chunks of ground beef.
- When meat is cooked, add slices of American cheese. Mix throughout until melted.
To Assemble the Sandwich:
- To the rolls, add some mayonnaise. And then add some ketchup. Divide the meat/cheese mixture among the two rolls. Top with the thin slices of tomato and a few handfuls of iceberg lettuce. Slice in half and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
