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My cheesy, easy meatloaf sandwich recipe is the best way to use up your leftover meatloaf. It's so good, you may even want to make meatloaf just to have more sandwiches! Using cooked meatloaf, it will take you just 15 minutes to assemble.
Meatloaf Sandwiches
I grew up enjoying meatloaf dinners, as I'm sure you might have, too! Between the tender meat, easy prep, and all of the delicious ways it can be made (more on that later), meatloaf is the meal equivalent of a lifelong friend.
You know what I love even more than meatloaf, though? The leftovers. Chief among them is my classic meatloaf sandwich recipe. It's hearty, it's cheesy, and it has all the best flavors a meatloaf sandwich could have. Needless to say, I am thrilled to share it with you!
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Meatloaf Sandwich Ingredients
- Hoagie Roll: Hoagie rolls are my favorite for these sandwiches. They're nice and sturdy, and have the perfect shape for meatloaf! However, you can also use your favorite sandwich rolls such as ciabatta or French bread. I avoid plain white bread, as it's not sturdy enough.
- Leftover Meatloaf Slices: My favorite is Italian meatloaf, which is my signature cheese-stuffed meatloaf! But you can use any meatloaf you'd like. I've included all my favorite meatloaf recipes below! Even better if it uses my seasoning for meatloaf.
- Olive Oil: You'll need just a little olive oil (or butter) for heating up the meatloaf and rolls.
- Cheese: This is where you can get creative! Use your favorite cheese, sliced or shredded. I like mozzarella cheese or pepper jack cheese the most for these sandwiches, but it's mostly just important that they melt well!
- Tomato Sauce: You can also use ketchup, or the sauce you served the meatloaf with! I love to use meatloaf sauce if I have spare, and tomato sauce if I don't.
- Tomato: A few slices of tomato add a great juiciness and fresh flavor to these sandwiches. Use in-season heirloom tomatoes if you can for the best flavor!
- Lettuce: A leaf or two of crispy lettuce brings a necessary fresh crunch to these sandwiches.
- Optional Toppings: You can add so many more great toppings as you see fit! Here are some of my favorites:
- Sliced Dill Pickles
- Thinly Sliced Onions
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Or even mustard mayo sauce!
- Bacon
- Hot Sauce
- Sauteed Mushrooms
Isabel's Top Tip
Hot or Cold? These sandwiches are delicious both ways! I like serving them hot by toasting them lightly in a pan. However, they'll be great cold meatloaf sandwiches, too, and work perfectly as packed lunch or picnic sandwiches!
How to Make Meatloaf Sandwiches
1: Saute the Meatloaf
Add the oil or butter to a nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add slices of meatloaf. Heat until golden brown and warmed through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
2: Top with Cheese
Once nicely toasted, top the meatloaf with cheese, and continue heating until melted. A lid can help make this process faster!
3: Toast the Buns
Set the toasted meatloaf aside, and add the sliced buns to the skillet, cut-side down. Heat until nicely toasted, about 3 more minutes.
4: Spread with Sauce
Once toasted, remove the buns from the skillet and spread tomato sauce on both sides. You can also use ketchup or meatloaf sauce.
5: Assemble
Top the bread with tomato slices, lettuce, and meatloaf, then close the sandwich.
6: Serve, and Enjoy!
Pierce the sandwich with a toothpick if desired, then serve and enjoy!
Sauces for Meatloaf Sandwiches
Easy Meatloaf Recipes
- Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf - my absolute favorite meatloaf I've ever tried, every time. Stuffed with melty, delicious mozzarella, this Italian-style meatloaf is packed with herbs and fluffy breadcrumbs for the best possible combination of flavors and textures.
- Slow Cooker Meatloaf - If you're short on prep time and need a set-and-forget meal, slow cooker meatloaf is here to save the day! This meatloaf is so easy and because it's slow cooked, it turns out extra juicy and moist.
- Air Fried Meatloaf - It's easy, fast, and absolutely delicious! Because it works like a convection oven, you can make meatloaf with the perfect crispy crust in the air fryer.
The great thing about a good meatloaf sandwich is that you can make it with any kind of meatloaf. Try this sandwich recipe with turkey meatloaf, too!
Meatloaf Sandwich Ideas
- Make a toasted, pressed sandwich by placing the fully assembled sandwich back in the skillet and weighing it down with another skillet on top! I recommend doing this before adding lettuce so it doesn't wilt.
- Take your pick on the sauce you add! When I use Italian meatloaf, I like to use tomato sauce. But when I've made a classic meatloaf, I prefer meatloaf sauce, BBQ sauce, or ketchup!
- If you plan to make these sandwiches ahead of time, protect the bread from getting soggy by placing lettuce on both sides of the bread and spreading the sauce on the lettuce instead of the bread itself.
- You can use any kind of cheese; Swiss, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Mozzarella are my favorites, but so long as it's a good melty cheese, the type is up to you! (My grandkids like cheddar cheese the most, go figure!)
Easy Dinner Ideas
Make-Ahead Meatloaf Sandwiches
You can easily make these sandwiches ahead of time for packing into lunches perfect for taking to school or work, or preparing for a picnic ahead of time!
- For cold sandwiches, skip heating the meat and buns. Assemble the sandwich by adding lettuce to both sides of the bread first, then add the sauce on top of the lettuce to keep the bread from getting soggy. Wrap tightly in foil or plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
- For hot sandwiches, assemble as directed, but skip adding the lettuce. Instead, pack the lettuce separately with the sandwiches and add it after reheating them as desired.
Meatloaf Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Hoagie roll - or roll of choice
- 1 slice Meatloaf
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- ½ cup Shredded cheese - or cheese slices
- ½ cup Tomato sauce - or ketchup, or meatloaf sauce
- 1 slice Lettuce
- 1 slice Tomato
Instructions
- Add the oil or butter to a nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add slices of meatloaf. Heat until golden brown and warmed through, about 2-3 minutes per side.1 slice Meatloaf,1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- Once nicely toasted, top the meatloaf with cheese, and continue heating until melted. A lid can help make this process faster!½ cup Shredded cheese
- Set the toasted meatloaf aside, and add the sliced buns to the skillet, cut-side down. Heat until nicely toasted, about 3 more minutes.1 Hoagie roll
- Once toasted, remove the buns from the skillet and spread tomato sauce on both sides. You can also use ketchup or meatloaf sauce.½ cup Tomato sauce
- Top the bread with tomato slices, lettuce, and meatloaf, then close the sandwich.1 slice Lettuce,1 slice Tomato
- Pierce the sandwich with a toothpick if desired, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Make a toasted, pressed sandwich by placing the fully assembled sandwich back in the skillet and weighing it down with another skillet on top! I recommend doing this before adding lettuce so it doesn't wilt.
- Take your pick on the sauce you add! When I use Italian meatloaf, I like to use tomato sauce. But when I've made a classic meatloaf, I prefer meatloaf sauce, BBQ sauce, or ketchup!
- If you plan to make these sandwiches ahead of time, protect the bread from getting soggy by placing lettuce on both sides of the bread and spreading the sauce on the lettuce instead of the bread itself.
- You can use any kind of cheese; Swiss, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Mozzarella are my favorites, but so long as it's a good melty cheese, the type is up to you! (My grandkids like cheddar cheese the most, go figure!)
Nutrition
Leftover Meatloaf Sandwich FAQ
You can slice the meatloaf to any thickness you desire, based on how you like your sandwiches! Due to how thick the bread is on hoagie rolls, I prefer nice thick cuts of meatloaf.
Absolutely! To make meatloaf sandwiches in the oven, just assemble them fully (aside from the lettuce) and wrap them in foil, then place them in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil, and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until browned and toasty. This is a great way to make multiple sandwiches at once if you're cooking for a crowd!
I find that rolls like ciabatta, hoagies, and French bread are the best. Slices of bread tend to be too thin to stand up to the sauce and heavier ingredients, resulting in a sad, soggy sandwich!
Easy Sandwich Recipes
- Pressed Italian Sandwiches
- Pot Roast Sandwiches
- Philly Pork Sandwiches
- Pinwheel Sandwiches
- Roast Beef Sandwiches
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