Growing up in Miami, Cuban sandwiches were just part of life. Right up there with ham croquetas, un cafecito, and pastelitos de guayaba, a Cuban sandwich with a batido de trigo at a Cuban restaurant was my idea of the best thing ever. I still have a Cuban bakery right across the street from my house, so let’s just say I’ve eaten my share.

At its heart, a Cuban sandwich is a roast pork sandwich. Juicy mojo pork gets layered with sweet ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and yellow mustard, then buttered and pressed on Cuban bread until the outside is crispy and the cheese melts into everything.

Let me show you how to make it!

Cuban sandwich sliced in half on a cutting board with chips

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Cast iron pans are slow to heat up but retain heat longer which makes cast iron ideal for pan-frying and roasting.

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How To Make Cuban Sandwich

This Miami-style sandwich is a straight-up homemade Cuban recipe. And it all starts with the pork. That’s where all the flavor lives. I marinate a pork tenderloin in mojo and Cuban complete seasoning, then roast it, which is a lot quicker than a full roast. Got leftover lechon asado or pernil? Even better. Use that.

Now, the bread. Real Cuban bread is soft and pillowy inside, and nothing compares. If you can’t find it where you live, skip anything crusty and look for a soft loaf. Italian bread is your best bet, and a soft French bread works in a pinch. A reader in Brooklyn swears by the Italian bread from her neighborhood bakery.

A raw pork tenderloin for a Cuban sandwich marinating in a yellow liquid inside a white rectangular baking dish.
Slices of cooked pork tenderloin for a Cuban sandwich arranged on a white rectangular platter.
Ingredients for a Cuban sandwich, including a loaf of bread, sliced ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, a pickle spear, and a bowl of mustard.
Two halves of a Cuban sandwich roll spread with yellow mustard on a wooden cutting board.
Two open halves of a Cuban sandwich roll on a wooden board, one spread with yellow mustard and the other topped with two slices of Swiss cheese.
Open-faced Cuban sandwich on a wooden board with one half spread with yellow mustard and the other topped with ham and cheese.
A Cuban sandwich on a wooden board, featuring one piece of bread spread with yellow mustard and another topped with ham, cheese, and pickle slices.
An open-faced Cuban sandwich on a wooden board, featuring a mustard-spread baguette on one side and ham, sliced pork, and pickles on the other.

A Cuban sandwich is a meal on its own, but I won’t stop you from adding mariquitas.

A stacked Cuban sandwich with ham, pickles, cheese, and mustard on sliced bread sits on a wooden board. Crispy potato chips and extra pickle slices accompany the Cuban sandwich, with a blurred plant in the background.
4.77 from 13 reviews

Miami-Style Cuban Sandwich Recipe (Cubano)

Jamie Silva
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Marinating: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Learn how to make a Cuban sandwich recipe (Cubano) in the authentic Miami style! This pressed sandwich is a South Florida staple, and features sliced Cuban roast pork, sliced sweet ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickle chips, and yellow mustard, served on buttered and pressed Cuban bread.
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb pork tenderloin, silverskin trimmed off
  • 1 cup mojo marinade
  • 1 tablespoon complete seasoning
  • 2-3 loaves Cuban bread, (cut into 8-inch long pieces)
  • 1/2 cup yellow mustard
  • 8 slices Swiss cheese
  • 16 slices sweet ham, from the deli
  • Dill pickle slices
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions
 

  • With a knife or fork, poke holes into the pork tenderloin. Place the pork tenderloin in a baking dish and pour mojo marinade on top along with the Cuban seasoning. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight. The longer the better.
  • Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the pork tenderloin from the marinade and place it on the baking sheet.
  • Roast for 20-30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 150º. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing on a bias.
  • To assemble the sandwich, slice the Cuban bread loaf in half lengthwise. Spread 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard on each side. Layer the bottom half of the sandwich with 2 slices of Swiss cheese, 4 slices of ham, 2-3 dill pickle slices, and 2-3 thin slices of pork. Repeat for the remaining sandwiches.
  • Spread 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter on the outside of both sides of the sandwich. Place the sandwich on a sandwich press or a hot skillet. Press down on the sandwich until both sides are golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 5-6 minutes total.
  • Transfer to a cutting board and slice the sandwich in half on the bias. Serve and enjoy!
Serving: 1sandwich, Calories: 429kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 49g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 143mg, Sodium: 1742mg, Potassium: 809mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 24IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 33mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cuban
Keyword: cuban sandwich, cuban sandwich recipe, cubano, cubano sandwich, how to make cuban sandwich, miami cuban sandwich, miami cubano
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