Name: Cubano Sandwich
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 505 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: For the Pulled Pork; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice; ¼ cup fresh orange juice; 1 tablespoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried basil; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 3 to 3½ pound boneless pork shoulder or pork butt; Italian bread sub rolls or thick sliced Italian bread; Unsalted butter for the bread; Shredded pulled pork; Thinly sliced honey ham; Slice Swiss or mozzarella cheese; Sliced dill pickles; Thinly sliced red onion; Yellow mustard; Slow Cooker; Mandoline slicer for the red onion, optional

Mains

Cubano Sandwich

Author: Mary DiSomma

I always know when football season has arrived because the volume in my house goes way up. I love being in the kitchen, but I also like to join in on the fun and don’t want to miss out on game day! So, if you’re like me and are looking for an easy sandwich recipe to add to your Super Bowl spread this year, look no further. This Cubano sandwich recipe is made in the slow cooker, giving you plenty of time to make additional Super Bowl snacks and actually enjoy the game with your guests!

Ingredient Tips

Cubano sandwiches are traditionally made with pork. Pork shoulder or pork butt (also known as Boston butt) are both great choices for a slow-cooker. Believe it or not, these two cuts of meat actually come from the same front leg of pork. Pork butt is cut from closer to the neck and is fattier than pork shoulder, which is cut from lower down on the leg (closer to the actual shoulder). I use boneless pork shoulder for this recipe and flavor it with spices, garlic, and a kick of citrus. Slow cooking a leaner cut of meat makes it perfectly tender and juicy!

The Cubano comes from—you guessed it—Cuba! It is also called the Cuban sandwich or the mixto. In Cuba, it’s sometimes just called a sandwich. I love how this sandwich is so popular and authentic that it’s become THE sandwich. Traditionally served in cafes as a quick and easy meal, this simple sandwich is made from a base of bread, pork, and cheese—a combination that never fails. Different recipes will call for different condiments, toppings, or in my case, a blend of savory spices that will have your mouth watering!

Preparation + Preservation Tips

A pressed sandwich with the griddle lines has a certain visual appeal. The easiest method to achieve this look is to use a panini press. But if you don’t have a panini press, don’t worry! You can press a sandwich without a panini press. Yep, you heard me right—you can make a panini without a panini press! A grill plate or a cast iron skillet is all you’ll need.

After you assemble your sandwich, use a cast iron pan or grill plate and place a heavy pan on top. This method helps the sandwich keep its shape without compressing it too much—a perfectly pressed panini without the panini maker! However, I do love using my panini maker to make a good Cubano. It toasts the bread perfectly and you know the cheese is going to be melty and gooey. If you’re looking for a new kitchen gadget, maybe a panini press is it!

You can definitely assemble a Cuban sandwich ahead of time. That means more game time for you! After assembling, wrap your sandwiches loosely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you want to press or grill them so that the meat comes up to room temp. This will ensure you get a perfectly toasty, melty sandwich.

Extra Tips

I love this recipe for so many reasons. The most obvious one is that homemade Cubanos are absolutely delicious. Oh, and they smell great, too. Everybody loves how the house smells when they walk in! The slow-cooker method also frees me up to throw together some appetizers and whip up some cocktails for my company. Plus, there's just something about serving a piping hot, hearty sandwich.

There are a lot of other Cubano recipes on the internet, and I find that they often have the same list of ingredients. When I put this recipe together, I was craving something a little different. A Cubano sandwich with even more flavor! What makes my recipe special is the additional spices that you won’t find in other recipes. Yum!

I also like to marinate and rest the pork overnight—so it gets super infused with deliciousness! Another tip for this recipe is to not skimp on bread. Using high-quality bread absolutely makes a huge difference. I LOVE the sub rolls from Turano Baking Company for this easy slow cooker sandwich recipe. Specialty Italian bread, pulled pork bursting with flavor, and melty cheese… oh my gosh, I’m drooling already!

For the bread, my recommendation is Italian sub rolls or thick cut Italian bread slices. If you’ve seen some of my other sandwich recipes, you might know I love Turano Baking Company, their sub rolls are the perfect size to pile on the shredded slow cooked pork, mustard, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickle slices, and thinly sliced red onion. Yum! If you want more recipes with Turano’s amazing breads, check out my Muffuletta a la Mary with Turano's Italian Round Bread Loaf recipe!

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