Best Chopped Cheese Sandwiches (New York Style Chopped Cheese Recipe) (2024)

New York City’s Chopped Cheese Sandwich with chopped beef burgers, melted gooey cheese, caramelized onions, topped with tomatoes and shredded lettuces, and hugged by a toasted hero roll. This is the classic way to make the iconic NYC chopped cheese. It reminds me of Philly cheesesteak, but even better!

My family loves sandwiches and burgers like Travis Scott Burger, Zinger Burger, and this deliciouschopped cheese sandwich. This recipe is so easy to make and incredibly satisfying.

What is ChoppedCheese?

The chopped cheese sandwich originated from small one-stopshops known as bodega in New York City.

A Chopped Cheese is basically a burger turned into asandwich. It starts with beef burgerpatties and onions, which are chopped up while on the grill into smallpieces. American Cheese slices are added on top and melted before the mixtureis transferred to a hero bun and dressed with the toppings of your choosing(typically lettuce and tomatoes). It’s aquick and delicious on-the-go meal.

Ingredients for Chopped Cheese Sandwich

• Burger Patties
• Oil
• Onion
• Salt & Pepper
• American cheese
• Hero Rolls
• Mayonnaise, or to taste
• Ketchup
• Tomatoes
• Iceberg Lettuce

The Best Cheese forChopped Cheese Bodega Sandwich

Most bodegas from NYC use American cheese in their chopped cheese sandwiches. It’s considered the best choice as it melts much better than other cheese. You can use other types like Cheez Whiz or provolone. Even mozzarella will work for this recipe. Just make sure to cut slices thin enough that they will melt completely.

What Kind of BreadShould I Use for NYC Chopped Cheese?

The quality of the bread is crucial to chopped cheeseenjoyment. I recommend using the traditional hero bun or hoagie roll which issoft and fluffy on the inside, but slightly crusty on the outside.

How to Chop Burgers?

How to Make ChoppedCheese

Step 1: Prepare theBread

• Slice hero rolls 3/4 of the way through with a serrated knife.
• Toast the buns on a large skillet or grill pan.

Step 2: Make theFilling

• Sauté diced onions until caramelized. Set aside.
• Season the patties with salt and pepper. And cook them for about 4 minutes or until the bottom is nicely browned.
• Flip the burger and cook for 1 minute.
• Use 2 steel spatulas to chop the burger into small pieces.
• Add the cooked onions and keep chopping and stirring.
• Divide into 4 even portions and top each with 2 slices of cheese and turn off the heat so the cheese can melt properly.

Step 3: Assemble theSandwich

• Spread a thin layer of mayo on the hero roll. Drizzle ketchup ontop.
• Use a steel spatula and carefully transfer the filling into eachroll.
• Add sliced tomatoes and shredded iceberg lettuce on top of thefilling. Serve warm and enjoy!

Tips for the BestChopped Cheese

• Toast the bread: Toasting the bread will prevent it from getting soggy when you add on all the condiments. Either pop it in the toaster or place the sliced faces down onto the skillet before you add in your burgers.
• Chop the burger patties, NOT the cheese: While the name might imply the cheese itself is chopped, you’ll find yourself in a pretty literal sticky situation if you chop up patties with cheese on them. The best practice is to chop up the beef, arrange it in a pile in the skillet in a similar shape to your bun and then add the cheese on top.
• You can make it spicy: Bodegas have all the fixings to customize your Chopped Cheese, so don’t forget you can do that at home too! Add some of your favorite spicy seasonings to the ground patty, or top off your sandwich with some spicy condiments.

Chopped Cheese vs.Cheesesteak

The main difference between a Chopped Cheese and a Cheesesteak is the cut of the meat. In a way, a Chopped Cheese is almost like a Burger meets Cheesesteak. While the meat in a Chopped Cheese is finely chopped, a Cheesesteak is made up of thinly sliced beef. Cheesesteaks are also usually made with either Provolone cheese or Cheese Whiz.