The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (2024)

Published: by Sharon Farnell · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

This quick and easy Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe utilizes store bought ingredients and an (optional) homemade broccoli slaw for a super tasty classic deli sandwich you can whip up in under 20 minutes!

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A quick, easy and delicious Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe

Want a classic New York Deli style sandwich at home? Look no further than this easy Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe! Made with deli counter pastrami and Swiss cheese, with plenty of coleslaw, pickles and Russian dressing, this buttery, crisp and delicious sandwich is sure to curb your cravings, without the trip to New York City!

This is seriously the best hot pastrami sandwich, with plenty of melted cheese, pickle slices, and tender pastrami. The best part? You can grab all the ingredients at your local grocery store, making this easy recipe even easier!

This classic pastrami sandwich would be a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s day, or even national hot pastrami sandwich day (yes, that's a real thing).

The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (1)

Ingredients

This easy hot pastrami sandwich recipe comes together quickly and easily with mostly store bought ingredients, for a tasty, crispy sandwich that satisfies! Add homemade broccoli slaw for an extra crisp finish (recipe included in recipe card below!)

  • Rye bread. I love a good bakery style Jewish Rye for this recipe, but you can use any Rye bread you like, the sturdier the better. Marble Rye bread is also a great option. Hearty slices of rye bread make this sandwich extra tasty!
  • Softened butter. You'll use butter to crisp up the deli Pastrami, as well as for generously buttering the outside of each slice of bread, to ensure a crisp, golden exterior.
  • Russian dressing, for spreading on the inside of each slice of Rye bread. My go-to is Ken's.
  • Deli sliced Swiss cheese.
  • Sliced deli Pastrami.
  • Thinly sliced dill pickles, to taste.
  • Coleslaw. I love to use homemade broccoli slaw for these sandwiches (full recipe in recipe card below), but you can use any of your favorite coleslaws for this recipe.
The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (2)

How to make this hot pastrami sandwich recipe

  1. Butter outsides of each of the slices of bread with softened butter, coating the whole outside of the sandwich for even browning.
  2. Add 2 tablespoon butter to a large frying pan, and melt over medium-high heat.
  3. Add pastrami in a single layer, and cook 1 minute a side, until slightly browned.
  4. While pastrami warms and browns, spread Russian dressing on the inside of the bread.
  5. Add warmed pastrami to one side of bread on Russian dressing side, and reduce pan heat to medium-low.
  6. Top pastrami with coleslaw, pickles, and Swiss cheese.
  7. Top with bread, butter side facing out.
  8. Transfer sandwich to the pan and cook over medium-low until both sides of the bread are golden brown, 4-5 minutes a side.
  9. Slice and serve hot!
The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (3)
The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (4)
The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (5)
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The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (7)

Serving the sandwiches

These tasty, melty pastrami sandwiches go great with just about any classic sandwich accompaniment, from potato chips, to classic potato salad, pasta salad,or crispy french fries. If you're making the homemade broccoli slaw (recipe below), it makes a great side dish as well!

This is a big sandwich, so it also makes a great sandwich to split with a friend for lunch!

The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (8)

Substitutions and Additions

This tasty hot pastrami sandwich recipe is easily customized to your tastes, and what you have on hand. Here are some great substitutions and additions you can make to make this sandwich your own!

  • No rye bread? Try pumpernickel, marble rye, or even sourdough!
  • Not a fan of Russian dressing? Try Thousand Island dressing, or replace the dressing with a thin layer of spicy brown mustard or stone ground mustard.
  • Try provolone cheese in place of Swiss cheese, or even some pepper jack cheese for a little kick.
  • If you can't find pastrami meat at your local deli, you could substitute some deli sliced corned beef.
  • Add some tomato slices for a touch of freshness.
  • Swap the coleslaw for some tart sauerkraut.This would be like a pastrami twist on a classicreuben sandwich.
The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (9)

More delicious sandwich recipes

If you love this easy hot pastrami sandwich recipe, you'll love these delicious sandwich recipes, too!

  • Slow Cooker South Philly Italian Shredded Pork Sandwiches
  • Extra Crispy Fried Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
  • East Sloppy Joe Sliders
  • Cheesy Baked Hamburger Sliders with Everything Bagel Buttered Buns
The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (10)

The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (11)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe

This quick and easy Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe utilizes store bought ingredients and an (optional) homemade broccoli slaw for a super tasty classic deli sandwich you can whip up in under 20 minutes!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time12 minutes mins

Total Time17 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, lunch

Keyword: sandwiches

Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 2 slices Rye bread
  • 2 tablespoon salted butter, softened (plus more for bread)
  • 2 tablespoon Russian dressing
  • 2 thick slices deli Swiss cheese
  • 6 slices deli pastami
  • thinly sliced dill pickles, to taste
  • ¼ cup coleslaw or broccoli slaw (recipe below)

Instructions

  • **If making broccoli slaw (recipe below), make at least 1 hour ahead, and up to 2 days in advance of preparing the sandwich.

    1.Butter outsides of each slice of bread with softened butter, coating the whole outside of the sandwich for even browning.

    2.Add 2 tablespoon butter to a large frying pan, and melt over medium-high heat.

    3.Add pastrami in a single layer, and cook 1 minute a side, until slightly browned.

    4.While pastrami warms and browns, spread Russian dressing on the insides of both pieces of bread.

    5.Add warmed pastrami to one side of bread on Russian dressing side, and reduce pan heat to medium-low.

    6.Top pastrami with coleslaw, pickles, and Swiss cheese.

    7.Top with bread, butter side facing out.

    8.Transfer sandwich to the pan and cook over medium-low until both sides of the bread are golden, 4-5 minutes a side.

    9.Slice and serve hot!

    Broccoli slaw:

    •½ lb broccoli slaw mix

    •¼ cup mayonaise

    •½ tablespoon milk (use what you drink)

    •½ tablespoon sugar

    •1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (preferably organic)

    •¼ teaspoon celery seeds

    •¼ teaspoon poppy seeds

    •cracked pepper and sea salt, to taste

    •A dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

    1.Add all ingredients to a bowl, and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour prior to serving.

© Jawns I Cooked. All images & content are the sole property of Jawns I Cooked. Please ask permission prior to using my photos. If you would like to share one of my recipes, please link back to this post and re-write the instructions in your own words.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen says

    The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (16)
    I was in the mood for a hot pastrami sandwich and searched for a recipe that used coleslaw and was similar to what I wanted and I found yours. Your photo caught my eye. I had to swap for a few ingredients, which I try not to do the first time and is a no-no for some, however, my sandwich was absolutely delicious! I ended up using sourdough bread, deli coleslaw, Muenster cheese, and thousand islands dressing because that’s what I had. I absolutely will make this again and will try it with pumpernickel rye and Swiss. Thanks for posting this recipe!

    Reply

    • Sharon Farnell says

      So happy to hear this, Jen!

      Reply

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The Best Homemade Hot Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the best cheese for pastrami sandwich? ›

Add provolone to one slice and Swiss to the other slice. Grill until bread is toasted and cheese has melted, approximately 5 minutes, then remove from the flattop.

What's the best condiment to put on a pastrami sandwich? ›

Good quality smooth mustard for pastrami. Brown or yellow, but it should be smooth. For sliced (roasted) beef, horseradish sauce ( or mayonnaise mixed with finely grated horseradish). If you can't stand horseradish, use plain mayonnaise.

What is the best way to heat pastrami for a sandwich? ›

STANDARD OVEN HEATING

Remove Pastrami from all packaging and wrap loosely in tin foil. Place it on a pan and put it in a preheated 350-degree oven for approximately 5 minutes. Place a cup of water inside the oven to prevent drying. Because each oven has hot spots, check it frequently.

What goes well with pastrami in a sandwich? ›

You can use dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, or any other type of pickles you like. Cheese: Swiss cheese is a popular choice for pastrami sandwiches, but you can also use cheddar, provolone, or any other type of cheese you prefer. Sauerkraut: Sauerkraut is a traditional topping for pas.

What does Katz put on their pastrami sandwich? ›

Here at Katz's, we serve our pastrami on seedless rye bread with a healthy schmear of deli mustard. It's best eaten hot while etc... If this sounds like a lot of work…. well you're right, it is!

What's the difference between a Reuben and a pastrami sandwich? ›

A Reuben is corned beef + Swiss cheese + Russian dressing + sauerkraut. You can ask for a "pastrami Reuben" and they'll figure it out. A pastrami sandwich would just have pastrami. Or you can ask for a Rachel, which is pastrami + Swiss cheese + cole slaw + Russian dressing.

What animal does pastrami come from? ›

» Type of Cuts

While beef is the common meat source for corned beef and pastrami, they have different types of cuts. Usually, brisket is used for corned beef. It is the lower area of a cow's chest. Meanwhile, brisket for pastrami comes from the beef plate, shoulder, or cow's naval area.

Do you put mayo on pastrami? ›

Add 1/4 pound of pastrami, a slice of Baby Swiss, shredded lettuce and 2 tomato slices. Spread 1 tablespoon each of mayonnaise and spicy mustard on a third slice to top off the sandwich.

What makes pastrami taste like pastrami? ›

Pastrami is made from beef brisket that has been cured, coated in spices, cold smoked and then steamed. Pastrami's thick coat of spices typically includes crushed black pepper, coriander, mustard seeds, garlic and other spices that might be included in a pickling spice mixture.

Is pastrami good for you? ›

While incorporating pastrami in your diet in a balanced amount helps build and repair muscles, and gives you potential health benefits, consumption of excessive amounts of pastrami leads to weight gain, elevates blood pressure, and eventually contributes to cardiovascular disease.

How do you keep pastrami moist? ›

Creating a high-humidity environment will prevent evaporation and will help us bypass the “stall.” Cook the brisket at 250°F, or up to 275°F (121°C up to 135°C) in your oven with the pastrami set on a rack in a roasting pan with a shallow pool of water in it. (Use pre-heated water in the bottom of the pan.

What is a New York pastrami sandwich? ›

Pastrami on rye is a sandwich comprising sliced pastrami on rye bread, often served with mustard and Kosher dill pickles. It was popularized in the Jewish delicatessens of New York City and has been described as New York's "signature sandwich".

What is traditional NY pastrami sandwich? ›

Method. Cut 2 slices from the bloomer, or bread of your choice, and spread a little mustard over one slice. Top with the pastrami beef, Swiss cheese or other hard cheese, tomato slices and a few lettuce leaves. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the other slice of bread and put on top of the sandwich.

What is the best meat for pastrami? ›

The traditional approach is to use brisket, but round or rump roasts also work great for pastrami. I've even seen adventurous BBQers make pastrami whole beef ribs.

Does pastrami and cheese go together? ›

My loaded pastrami included nutty Swiss cheese, crisp shredded lettuce for crunch, diced pickles for sharpness, mayo and, of course, the mustard. My go-to favorite has always been the Maille Dijon Originale and it added the perfect flavor punch to all these ingredients.

Does pastrami taste good with cheese? ›

Pastrami is a Jewish-American cured meat similar to corned beef, but smoked and steamed instead of stewed, making it tender and easily sliceable. You've likely seen pastrami between rye stacked with Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing for a Reuben, which is a classic and delicious way to enjoy the sliced meat.

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