NYC Chopped Cheese Sandwich–browned ground beef with melty cheese and caramelized onions served on a toasted bun and topped with mayo, ketchup, lettuce and tomatoes. An Instant Pot version of the NYC chopped cheese sandwich.

NYC Chopped Cheese Sandwich
Looking for an easy and crowd pleasing dinner? Try these chopped cheese sandwiches! They are sort of like a cross between a cheeseburger and a philly cheese steak sandwich. They taste so good and are super quick to make.
The chopped cheese sandwich started in small bodegas in New York City. The NYC favorite is a chopped burger patty with caramelized onion. American cheese slices are melted on top before it’s transferred to a hero bun and topped with lettuce and tomatoes. My version utilizes the Instant Pot to quickly caramelize the onions and then cook the beef using the saute setting.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Sweet onion
- Olive oil
- Baking soda–to help the onions caramelize faster
- 85/15 ground beef
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- American or cheddar cheese
- Hero rolls
- Mayo
- Ketchup
- Sliced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
The Basic Steps
- Use the Instant Pot to quickly caramelize the onions.
- Brown the ground beef using the saute setting.
- Add the cheese on top and let it get all melty.
- Serve up the meat on toasted buns with mayo, ketchup, tomatoes and lettuce.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with potato chips or french fries and baked beans or fruit salad.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store the meat leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Instant Pot Sandwiches
Instant Pot Manna Sandwiches
Chicken sandwiches with swiss cheese and the most amazing sauce ever! An easy recipe that you can double or triple to feed a crowd. Make in the Instant Pot or the slow cooker.
Instant Pot Great Steak Sandwich
Round steak is cooked until tender in your Instant Pot and then served atop hoagie buns with melty provolone cheese.
Italian Bomb Sandwich (Instant Pot)
The Italian bomb sandwich has homemade marinara sauce (it’s easy with the Instant Pot!), sliced Italian sausages, garlic butter spread and melty cheese. Basically you’re going to love this sandwich.
Instant Pot Roseanne’s Loose Meat Sandwich
A mustard based loose meat sandwich on a hamburger bun. Satisfying and super easy to make!
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.


NYC Chopped Cheese Sandwich
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Browned ground beef with melty cheese and caramelized onions served on a toasted bun and topped with mayo, ketchup, lettuce and tomatoes. An Instant Pot version of the NYC chopped cheese sandwich.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1 pound 85/15 ground beef
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 (1 oz) slices American or cheddar cheese
- 4 hero rolls
- Mayo
- Ketchup
- Sliced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Pour water into Instant Pot. Add in onion. Drizzle oil over the onion. Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the onion.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Add in the ground beef with the onions. Break up the beef and brown and cook through for about 5 minutes. Add in the salt and pepper.
- Turn Instant Pot to keep warm setting. Place the cheese slices on top of the meat and let melt.
- Slice the hero rolls ¾ of the way through with a serrated knife. Toast the buns (I used oven’s broiler). Spread mayo on each of the buns. Drizzle ketchup on top of mayo.
- Use a spatula to transfer a quarter of the meat and cheese filling to each sandwich. Add sliced tomatoes and lettuce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
can this or any instant recipie be made another way? I have no instant and can not afford one.
Sure you could totally just make it on the stove
This was super fast, easy and even more delicious than I expected. Will definitely make it regularly!
★★★★★
Thanks Shaleen! I’m so glad to hear you loved it!
Hi, can you explain why the baking soda? I am guessing for the IP it’s so the water doesn’t get too foamy with the oil and onions.
Great simple recipe.
The baking soda helps the onions caramelize faster!
Recipe says 1 sweet onion, chopped. I have a terrible time figuring out what size onion or how many cups that means. I’ve made many of your recipes and they’ve all turned or good and many are in my repeat meals.
Thanks
I would do 1 ½ cups chopped onion
Thank you so much
Got recipe made 12 hoagies for unexpected
Friends to early Christmas they loved how
Fast they were made and deliciously awesome
You saved my Saturday no restaurant food
Merry Christmas to and family and your associates
Thank you 😊 aeil
10 of 10
★★★★★
Oh I love hearing this! I’m glad you all liked it. Thanks for the 5 stars!