Choose the best cut of beef for steak sandwiches. It’s best to use a tender cut like a New York Strip or Rib Eye, since you plan to slice it into medium-thick pieces. For the breading, pair thinly sliced yellow onions and red bell peppers with freshly ground muffin crumbs for a crunchy outside and moist inside.
How to make Perfect Steak Sandwiches
Learn how to make Perfect Steak Sandwiches with these tips on how to make tender, juicy, flavorful, thinly-sliced slow roasted beef and a range of different fillings to create a hearty, scrumptious steak sandwich, that’s perfect for lunch or dinner!
A good steak sandwich is second to none. As much as I like a nice salad for lunch, every now and then, I want a damn steak sandwich! A fresh, juicy, hearty, flavor-packed, scrumptious steak sandwich that’s perfect for lunch or dinner – now that’s a Perfect Steak Sandwich!
Whenever there’s a good deal on a beef roast at my local grocery store, I like to make spice crusted slow roasted beef. A juicy, perfectly cooked roast beef imparts plenty of flavor and is the base for a great steak sandwich, along with a good bread bun or bread slices. All the other additions are entirely up to you and that’s what makes a steak sandwich deliciously versatile as well.
SLOW ROASTED BEEF COOKED RARE, CARAMELIZED ONIONS, AND SWEET AND SPICY PEACH RELISH
WHAT MAKES A PERFECT STEAK SANDWICH?
Bread, steak, salad leaves (or coleslaw), a creamy spread like butter or mayonnaise, and a little extra something to kick it up another notch. For me, that extra something is caramelized onions and a sweet and spicy fruit relish, like this yummy peach relish!
WHAT TYPE OF BEEF CUT IS BEST FOR STEAK SANDWICHES?
Ideally, you want a tender cut of beef or beef roast. Leftovers from a prime rib are perfect. But a good sirloin steak cooked specifically for a steak sandwich is my absolute favorite! BUT, sirloin steaks are dang expensive. If I’m paying good money for a sirloin steak, you know I’ll be grilling that baby for dinner!
Having said that, these cuts are also great to make good steak sandwiches –
- top sirloin roast
- tenderloin
- top round roast
- eye of round roast
- tri-tip roast
- flank steak
But, fear not. You can make perfect steak sandwiches with cheaper cuts of beef too. I usually buy chuck roast or rump roast when they are on sale and always make some amazingly flavorful steak sandwiches.
So today I’m going to show you guys how to make perfect steak sandwiches with ANY kind of roast beef! This will help you make the juiciest, most tender and flavorful beef roast that’s perfect for a hearty steak sandwich!
SPICE PASTE FOR THE BEEF ROAST
The not-so-secret secret of course is slow roasting your beef roast so that you get some tender, thinly sliced beef for your sandwich. What’s even better than slow roasting is if you can sous-vide your beef roast. That slow and long cooking process makes any cut of beef incredibly tender and juicy, while not overcooking the meat at all.
SOUS-VIDE BEEF ROAST
HOW DO YOU PERFECTLY SLOW ROAST BEEF?
Just like sous-vide, this method of cooking is also low and slow, and yields very tender, juicy steak that works really well for steak sandwiches. It’s not as slow as sous-vide, so it won’t be as tender, but still plenty flavorful!
When slow roasting beef, I prefer to coat the meat with a good spice crust first, so that the spices impart flavor into the meat even while it’s cooking.
I also absolutely recommend a meat thermometer if you’re looking to slow roast beef for your steak sandwich. This really gives you fool-proof results every single time. I use this thermometer right here, so I can simply insert the probe into the meat and set a timer for the right temperature. This way, I know exactly when the meat is perfectly cooked. You could alternatively check the temperature every 30 minutes, using a meat temperature probe that cannot be kept inside the oven (but is cheaper) while the roast is cooking.
Here are the temperatures to use for your roasts to make steak sandwiches
133°F – for rare roasts (like I’m showing here which we prefer)
138°F – for medium roasts
145°F – for medium to well-done roasts (still pink in the middle)
WHAT’S THE BEST KIND OF BREAD FOR A PERFECT STEAK SANDWICH?
A nice crusty bread is my bread of choice for perfect steak sandwiches. I like any kind of bread that stands up to being part of a hefty sandwich. Ciabatta rolls, baguettes, sour bread or any kind of roll or bread loaf with some substance should work well!
So do avoid flimsy breads which won’t stand a chance against a hearty steak filling like this!
You can also make your own bread like my easy homemade hot dog buns pictured here!
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO MAKE PERFECT STEAK SANDWICHES?
- Mustard butter (my mom makes killer lamb roast sandwiches with mustard, so I absolutely need to have mustard butter on a standard steak sandwich).
- A creamy spread adds plenty of flavor to the sandwich. Mayonnaise would be the popular addition, but you can add sour cream, Greek yogurt, or flavored mayonnaise (like aioli, spicy mayonnaise, sriracha mayonnaise etc). If you’re having a warm sandwich, you can add some cheese too!
- Something crunchy – for me this is salad leaves and sometimes chips/crisps. But you can definitely get creative with this.
- More umami please –
- I love adding a fruity relish, like this sweet and spicy peach relish, or a mango relish. This adds a fruity freshness and sweetness to your steak sandwich.
- Caramelized onion
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Tomato slices or tomato relish
- Anything pickled – dill pickles are a must for my husband’s steak sandwich, whereas I love pickled jalapenos. The salty, sweet, pickled flavor goes really well in a steak sandwich
So there you have it my friends. This is my perfect steak sandwich, but it can be whatever you want it to be! 🙂 Just make sure to get that tender, juicy steak and bread right, and the world is your oyster! Or steak.
15 Minute Steak Sandwiches
This is steak sandwich recipe is designed to get on the table fast but you’d never know it by the big beefy taste. This is our version of the Philly cheesesteak, with absolutely none of the fuss.
15 Minute Steak Sandwiches
We like our steak around here but most weeknights the smoker or grill takes too much time. I love to cook but find that I am firmly in a 15-minute prep-to-table season of my life.
What Steak Should I Use for Steak Sandwiches
To keep dinner time preparation short and sweet, I look for ways to simplify when I am in the grocery store. You can use lots of different cuts of beef for steak sandwiches. But the goal is to have a nice, tender slice of beef you neither need to gnaw or cut with a knife.
More expensive cuts like beef tenderloin, filet, or sirloin make FABULOUS steak sandwiches. But they are spend-y.
You can get a tender steak sandwich with less expensive cuts like flank steak or skirt steak. The trick is to cut against the grain and at an angle. If you REALLY want to create a shortcut, just ask your butter to cut the steak thin so you can sauté the beef for steak sandwiches.
Every grocery store has a butcher, you don’t have to be at a specialty meat shop. And it doesn’t matter if the meat is already wrapped up and in the cooler. If you carry it to the counter and ask the butcher to help, they have specialty equipment that will handle your thin cuts in minutes. And they are happy to wrap it again for you.
Don’t rule out a good looking beef roast. They cut beautifully into slices too!
Steak Sandwich Marinade
The marinade for these steak sandwiches is super simple and made with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry.
While this recipe says marinade for 30 minutes, my aim is to be at the table eating my own sandwich in under 15 minutes.
Remember when I mentioned having the butcher slice your steak? When I head home from the grocery store, as I put my groceries away, I toss all of the marinade ingredients into a freezer bag and shake them up until they are emulsified. I add the already sliced beef, seal the bag and stick it in the freezer.
Then when I am ready for this steak sandwich recipe, I pull it out and let it thaw. The meat marinades as it thaws so all I have to do is drain the beef and toss it in the hot skillet!
How to Make Steak Sandwiches
When it is time for dinnner, make sure you have your ingredients prepped because we are serious about this going on the table in 15 minutes.
Preheat your oven and your skillet. You will butter your bread and pot it in the oven to toast.
Toss in your mushrooms and let them begin cooking. Drain your beef and add it to the mushrooms. You’ll cook the steak until it reaches your desired temperature. For me that’s 4-5 minutes depending on how thinly I cut the beef.
Lots of people love caramelized onions on their steak sandwiches, personally, I can’t get enough mushrooms and cheese on mine. But if you love onions, try slicing a red onion super thinly and tossing it in the pan with a little olive oil or butter before cooking your mushrooms. As they begin to soften, add mushrooms and continue with the recipe.
How much time do you normally have to cook dinner for your family? Anyone else in a 15-minute season of life like I am??! Make these beef sandwiches for your family and post a picture on Instagram with #mynourishedhome so that I can share your photos in stories!
15 Minute Steak Sandwiches
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Get a delicious, hearty dinner on the table fast with these awesome steak sandwiches!
Course: Soup, Salad & Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 15 Minute, beef, sandwich, steak
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 852.53 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds thinly sliced beef
Marinade
- ¼ Cup Olive oil
- ¼ Cup Soy sauce
- ¼ Cup Red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp onion flakes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Sandwich Ingredients
- 6 Hoagie rolls
- 6 Tbsp garlic butter
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 6 Slices Cheese (provolone, swiss, Monterey jack)
Instructions
- Mix marinade ingredients together. Place beef in a zip lock bag or baking dish and pour marinade overtop. Allow to marinade at least 30 minutes, up to several hours.
- When ready to serve:
- Spread garlic butter on each half of the hoagie rolls and place under a broiler or face down on a griddle to toast.
- Place mushrooms and 2 Tbsp butter in a medium skillet and saute on medium heat until lightly browned
- Drain beef and place in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Cook for about 5 minutes until cooked through.
- Place a pile of beef on each bun, then add a slice of cheese and top with the sautéed mushrooms.
Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Steak Sandwiches
Amount Per Serving
Calories 852.53Calories from Fat 516
% Daily Value*
Fat 57.38g88%
Saturated Fat 26.61g133%
Cholesterol 161.76mg54%
Sodium 1294.58mg54%
Potassium 675.12mg19%
Carbohydrates 39.9g13%
Fiber 1.78g7%
Sugar 8.6g10%
Protein 45.36g91%
Vitamin A 769.72IU15%
Vitamin C 2.34mg3%
Calcium 281.89mg28%
Iron 5.45mg30%