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

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!

This quick and easy chopped cheese is one of my favorite sandwiches for a simple lunch. You can make them at home in less than 30 minutes! It tastes just like the authentic chopped cheese sandwich from NYC.

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

What Is Chopped Cheese?

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

A Chopped Cheese is basically a burger turned into a sandwich. It starts with beef burger patties and onions, which are chopped up while on the grill into small pieces.

American Cheese slices are added on top and melted before the mixture is transferred to a hero bun and dressed with the toppings of your choosing (typically lettuce and tomatoes). It’s a quick and delicious on-the-go meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Burger Patties or Ground Beef: If you make burger patties from scratch with ground beef, we recommend 80/20 ground chuck beef for a moist, juicy burger. This ground beef is 80% lean, 20% fat – perfect for burger patties that won’t dry out, but aren’t too fatty, either.
• Oil: For frying the onions. You can use vegetable oil or olive oil.
• Onion: It Adds caramelized flavor to the sandwich.
• Salt and Pepper: For seasoning.
• American Cheese: We recommend using American cheese for an authentic taste. Alternatively, you can use other types of cheese such as cheez whiz, mozzarella, or cheddar cheese.
• Hero Rolls: Use hero rolls for the best result, but you can substitute hoagie buns or other bread rolls. Looking for bread that’s crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.
• Mayonnaise: Spread a thin layer on the bread to boost the flavor of the sandwich.
• Ketchup: This recipe calls for ketchup, which adds a nice sweet and tart flavor to the sandwich.
• Tomatoes: Adds some healthy nutrition and bright color to the sandwich.
• Iceberg Lettuce: We love to use iceberg lettuce for this recipe. Feel free to use another type if you wish.

How To Make Chopped Cheese

Step 1: Prepare The Bread

• 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 The Filling

• 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 The Sandwich

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

Tips For The Best Chopped 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.

The Best Cheese to Use

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.

Best Ground Beef: 80/20

An authentic chopped cheese needs the right ground beef and the consensus is 80/20, meaning 80% lean meat and 20% fat. This ratio provides the ideal richness and moisture for the sandwich.

What Kind of Bread Should I Use?

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

How To Chop Burgers?

The key to chopping your burger patties is to let them cook for a few minutes so they’re easy to cut through.

This is especially important if you’re using a frozen patty as the bodegas do. A steel spatula will be the easiest. You’ll need to chop it up lengthwise and widthwise until it looks like ground beef.

Now, if you’re wondering, “why not just use ground beef?”, you absolutely can! For bodegas to cook quickly, the burger patties are already portioned out. But if you’re at home cooking for the family, this recipe can totally be made using ground beef, and you may even have some leftovers!

How To Serve Chopped Cheese Sandwich: Hot Or Cold?

Most people enjoy chopped cheese hot and fresh, just like a Philly cheesesteak. However, that’s not to say it isn’t still delicious at room temperature. In fact, you can even refrigerate it and enjoy the next day.

How To Store Chopped Cheese

If you have leftovers, you can let cool down to room temperature first. Then place the sandwich into individual zip-loc bags. Store them in the fridge and they’ll last for 4-5 days.

You can also store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How Long Does Chopped Cheese Last

A chopped cheese can last up to 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge. However, it’s generally best when made fresh, like most sandwiches.

Make It Ahead

The chopped cheese is best served hot and we recommend making it right before serving. But if you’d like to meal prep ahead of time, follow the storage guide above and reheat using the oven until cooked through.

Chopped Cheese Vs Philly Cheesesteak

There is a friendly rivalry between New York and Philly over their sandwiches. In spite of some similarities, there are distinctions that need to be made. 

The chopped cheese uses ground beef and a hoagie roll, whereas the Philly cheesesteak uses shaved beef and a steak roll.  

Variations

While the traditional chopped cheese includes ground beef, onions and cheese, some people add bell peppers, jalapeños or even bacon as well. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference

FAQs

What is the History and Origins of Chopped Cheese?

The chopped cheese traces back to the bodegas and delis of Harlem in the 1990s. There is some speculation it was invented by a deli worker with a nod to the Arab specialty dagha yamneeya. The late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain confessed he had never heard of chopped cheese back in 2014, which only increased its notoriety.

Why Do They Call it Chopped Cheese?

Chopped cheese refers to the process of chopping the beef, onions and cheese together on the grill.

Is It Healthy?

Chopped cheese is not particularly healthy, as it’s high in fat, sodium and calories. It’s best enjoyed in moderation.

Where to Find the Best Chopped Cheese?

You can find chopped cheese at many deli restaurants and takeouts across New York, so try different spots to find your favorite. 

What condiments and toppings are typically used on a Chopped Cheese?

Some people like to add condiments such as ketchup, mayo, mustard, lettuce and hot sauce. However, other people find chopped cheese is good on its own without any toppings.

More Sandwich Recipes

• Zinger Burger
• Travis Scott Burger
• Corned Beef Sandwich
• Chicken Patty Sandwich