The Cheesecake Factory Cuban sandwich is really a pork lover’s dream. It has the delight of honey-glazed ham and roast pork. This sandwich surprises you with its rich, layered flavors and is served with fries and a green salad. You won’t find this delicious sandwich anywhere other than The Cheesecake Factory’s menu. But guess what! You can have it in your home too. I have this copycat recipe for The Cheesecake Factory Cuban sandwich for you.
The Cheesecake Factory’s Cuban sandwich features honey-glazed ham and tender roast pork, accompanied by Swiss cheese. The mustard mayonnaise adds a spicy and mustard-like flavor to the sandwich. You can use leftover pork for this recipe. I’ve also included instructions for roasting the pork (in case you don’t have leftover pork). You can add as many layers of cheese and pork as you want.
The recipe for The Cheesecake Factory Cuban sandwich is super easy and fun to try. You need simple equipment and a handful of ingredients to make this sandwich. You can also use prosciutto for the sandwich. You can also use prosciutto substitutes.
If you don’t have leftover pork, follow the instructions below to marinate and roast the pork. I’m sure you’ll love this recipe. But before you read out the entire recipe, check out other Cheesecake copycats from our website.
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- Avoid over-marinating the pork, as the marinade contains citrus juices that can turn the meat mushy.
- Make sure you slice the pork very thinly, as it can be layered perfectly in a sandwich. This helps in heating the sandwich evenly.
- Remove excess moisture from pickles, as it prevents the bread from turning soggy while still keeping the tangy crunch.
- Add a crisp touch to bread by applying a thin layer of butter before toasting it.
- Gently press the sandwich while grilling to keep the filling intact without breaking it.
Recipe Variation for Different Diets
- Keto Version: You can swap Cuban bread with keto bread. Also add monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar in the preparation. Make sure the dill pickle is sugar-free.
- Gluten Version: Swap Cuban bread with gluten-free bread. Make sure you double-check whether the ham and sauces are gluten-free.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 654 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Protein | 63 g |
| Fat | 38 g |
| Saturated Fat | 15 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 16 g |
| Trans Fat | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 209 mg |
| Sodium | 3918 mg |
| Potassium | 999 mg |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Vitamin A | 789 IU |
| Vitamin C | 34 mg |
| Calcium | 537 mg |
| Iron | 4 mg |
Storing And Reheating This Recipe
Storing
- Once the sandwich is prepared, wrap it tightly in cling film. Then place it in the fridge for 2 days.
- You can also store it separately for better results. Store the pork, ham, cheese, pickle, sauce, and bread separately in different containers.
Reheating
- Skillet: Warm the skillet over medium heat. Then heat for 3-4 minutes per side until bread is crispy.
- Microwave: Heat pork filling separately in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Microwave different parts, as heating the whole sandwich can make the bread soggy.
What To Serve With This Recipe
The Cheesecake Factory Cuban Sandwich Recipe can be enjoyed with Tater Tots or sweet potato fries, which is always a classic combination. You can also serve macaroni salad with the sandwich to keep it light yet filling.
Printable Version
The Cheesecake Factory Cuban Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In the bowl of the slow cooker, mix together the olive oil, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, pepper, and orange zest.
- Place the pork roast into slow cooker and turn to coat in the seasoning mixture. Once it’s fully coated, set the roast, fat side up, in the pot.
- Squeeze the juice from the orange into the pot and tuck the whole orange pieces (the halves that are left after squeezing out the juice) in with the roast. Add the lime juice to the pot.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours on high until the roast falls apart. (Time will vary depending on size of the roast. Test doneness by pulling at the meat with two forks – it will easily pull apart without effort when it is done.)
- Remove the roast from the slow cooker and trim the fat. Gently pull apart the sections and remove large pieces of fat and discard.
- Shred the meat and/or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- To assemble the sandwiches, slice open a bread roll. Spread one tablespoon of mustard on the insides of each side of the roll.
- Layer two slices of swiss cheese on each side of the roll (the cheese will melt and help “glue” both sides of the sandwich together.) Add pickles to one or both sides of the bread.
- On one half of the roll, mound several pieces of ham. On the other half, mound about ½ cup of the prepared pulled pork.
- Carefully close the two sides of the sandwich together. Spread mayonnaise or softened butter on the outside of the sandwich roll (both sides).
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Transfer the sandwich (you may be able to fit two at a time) into the hot skillet. Use another heavy pan or a spatula to press down the sandwich and cook until golden brown on one side.
- Flip the sandwich to cook the other side, and continue pressing down on the roll to make a grilled, compacted sandwich.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!More Recipes That You Can Try
The Cheesecake Factory Meatloaf Recipe
The Cheesecake Factory Steak Diane
Paula Deen Heart Attack Burger
FAQs About The Cheesecake Factory Recipe
How do I prevent the sandwich from becoming soggy?
The sandwich can be kept crispy by making sure the pickles are dry and by not adding too much sauce after you have assembled it; grill it immediately.
Why isn’t my sandwich crispy?
The sandwich isn’t crispy because the pan wasn’t warm enough or the bread wasn’t buttered properly. Cook over low heat until both sides are golden brown.
Why is my cheese not melting?
Heat the sandwich over medium heat rather than high. This way, the bread crisps well and the cheese also melts.
Why are my sandwich fillings sliding out?
If the sandwich filling slides out, it is probably because you have overfilled it. Next time you grill the sandwich, make sure you press it lightly to hold everything together.
Conclusion
Please let me know in the comments below if you enjoyed this sandwich. I’m sure you’ll like our other recipes too. Give them a try and enjoy the cooking experience!
