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Chopped Cheese Sandwich

Seasoned chopped beef, melted cheese, and bodega-style toppings on a hero roll — Harlem’s iconic sandwich.

⏱ 10 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 2Servings
🏷 LunchCategory
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New York bodega chopped cheese sandwich on a hero roll

The chopped cheese is New York’s underground sandwich legend — a bodega staple born in Harlem, where seasoned ground beef is chopped on the griddle, melted under American cheese, and piled onto a hero roll with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. It’s everything a street sandwich should be: messy, cheap, and unforgettable.

Chef Emily presents Chopped Cheese Sandwich

Harlem’s legendary bodega sandwich

Seasoned ground beef chopped on the griddle, melted American cheese, and all the fixings on a toasted hero — New York street food at its finest.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and onion and cook, breaking up the meat, about 5 minutes.
  2. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then start chopping the beef with a spatula into small pieces. Cook until browned and crispy at the edges.
  3. Pile the beef into a rough mound, lay the cheese on top, and let it melt for about a minute. Fold the cheesy beef over itself a few times.
  4. Split and toast the hero roll cut-side down on the griddle.
  5. Spread mayo on the bottom of the roll, add the chopped cheese, then top with ketchup, lettuce, and tomato. Cut in half and serve.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Chop the beef as it cooks with the edge of a spatula so it gets those crispy bits. Toast the hero roll cut-side down on the griddle — it soaks up the beef juices.

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Recipe details

Prep10 min
Cook10 min
Servings2
CategoryLunch
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →