Classic Club Sandwich
on Apr 16, 2024
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Layers of toasted bread, mayo, turkey or chicken, lettuce, bacon, and tomato create the perfect classic American sandwich!
There are few sandwiches as iconic and satisfying as a perfectly made club sandwich. A club sandwich is usually made with sliced roast turkey (sometimes chicken), layered with crispy lettuce, tomatoes, and crisp-cooked bacon. For most people, the mayonnaise is a must, and for some (like me) mustard is also added. The sandwich is made on sliced toasted bread, and often there is a third slice of toast in the middle of the sandwich, dividing the sandwich into two layers.
A classic club sandwich is usually cut into quarters, whether squares or triangles is up to you (though people have pretty strong opinions about which is right!). Often, these wedges are held together with a toothpick or a wooden skewer of some sort. I feel like almost all of the club sandwiches I have eaten were ordered at 1) a diner and 2) for a late dinner room service dinner when traveling for work. But when I pull together another batch of these sandwiches at home, the reception is so enthusiastic that I vow to make them more often!
Supposedly, the club sandwich originated at the Union Club in New York City in 1889 — well over 130 years ago, which is wild! Also, I just found out that Club might stand for Chicken and Lettuce Under Bacon….I’ll have to dig into that theory!
A pile of chips or fries is always welcome on the side of a club, or you can try crispy baked sweet potato fries, mayo-free potato salad, or a scoop of Brussels sprouts slaw.
Table of Contents
Club Sandwich Recipe: Layers of toasted bread, mayo, turkey or chicken, lettuce, bacon and tomato. Here’s how to make this perfect classic American sandwich!
Toasting Bread for Club Sandwiches
I like to spread both sides of the bread with mayonnaise before toasting it by browning the bread in a pan. The pan can be a grill pan or just a regular pan; cast iron is a good choice.
Just spread some mayo on both sides of the bread and griddle it up for about 1 1/2 minutes per side until lightly browned. You will add more mayo to the interior of the sandwich when you build it. But the mayo (thanks to the oil and the egg yolks) gives the bread a lovely flavor and enhances the browning when it’s toasted.
Club Sandwich Ingredients
This club sandwich recipe is very classic; pick great ingredients for the best club sandwich.
- Bread – You can use white bread for a classic club sandwich, or play around with other types of firm slicing bread like sourdough, rye, or whole grain bread. See toasting instructions above.
- Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise is used to toast the bread and give it a lovely golden color and richer flavor. It’s also used inside the sandwich, layered up with the rest of the ingredients. Pick a mayo you love!
- Mustard – You can skip the mustard if it isn’t your thing, but I think it bumps up the whole sandwich a notch. Use brown mustard, smooth Dijon, or coarse Dijon, your choice. Any mustard would be great.
- Sliced turkey – I like a club sandwich made with slightly thicker cut turkey, about 1/4-inch thick. If you can get freshly roasted turkey breast for this sandwich, it will make a big difference. At the least, do try to get freshly sliced turkey from a deli counter rather than pre-packaged turkey. You can also use chicken instead of turkey — both are fairly classic choices for a club sandwich.
- Tomato– Make sure your tomato is ripe but firm. Cut nice juicy slices, about 1/3-inch thick.
- Bacon – Thick-cut bacon is best for this sandwich. Make sure to cook the bacon —whether on the stove or in the oven — until crisp, and drain it well on a paper towel-lined plate. Air-fried bacon is another option.
- Lettuce – Romaine and iceberg are traditional in this sandwich but any crispy lettuce leaves will work. You can leave them whole or tear them into a few smaller pieces. Make sure your lettuce is washed and completely dry before adding it to the sandwich.
How to Make a Classic Club Sandwich
- Toast the bread: Spread both sides of all of the slices of bread with 2 tablespoons of the mayonnaise. Spray a large skillet or grill pan with nonstick spray and heat over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, toast the bread for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side until lightly browned. Remove from the pan.
- Prepare the toast: Spread 4 slices of the bread on one side with the remaining mayo, dividing it evenly. Season the toast with salt and pepper. Spread with the mustard, if using, on top of two of the mayonnaise-coated sides of the toast.
- Build the first layer: Place 1/4 of the lettuce on two slices of the mayo and (possibly) mustard-covered bread. Place the turkey on the lettuce, then place the simply toasted two pieces of bread on top of the turkey.
- Finish assembling the sandwiches: Stack the tomatoes and bacon on top of the toast, dividing them evenly. Then divide the remaining lettuce leaves on top of the bacon. Top with the last two pieces of toast with the mayo side down.
- Slice and serve: Cut the sandwich into 4 triangles or squares, skewer with toothpicks if using, and serve.
What to Serve With a Club Sandwich
Potato chips or French fries! And a pickle! Or, go with one of these…
More Classic American Sandwich Recipes
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Classic Club Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 6 slices firm white bread
- ½ pound sliced roasted turkey
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon mustard (brown or coarse Dijon; optional)
- 1 large ripe tomato (sliced)
- 6 thick bacon slices (cooked until crisp)
- 4 crispy lettuce leaves (torn into a few smaller pieces)
Instructions
- Spread both sides of all of the slices of bread with 2 tablespoons of the mayonnaise. Spray a large skillet or grill pan with nonstick spray and heat over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, toast the bread for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side until lightly browned. Remove from the pan.
- Spread 4 slices of the bread on one side with the remaining mayo, dividing it evenly. Season the toast with salt and pepper. Spread with the mustard, if using, on top of two of the mayonnaise-coated sides of the toast.
- Place 1/4 of the lettuce on 2 slices of the mayo and (possibly) mustard-covered bread. Place the turkey on the lettuce, then place the simply toasted 2 pieces of bread on top of the turkey. Stack the tomatoes and bacon on top of the toast, dividing them evenly, then divide the remaining lettuce leaves on top of the bacon. Top with the last 2 pieces of toast with the mayo side down.
- Cut the sandwich into 4 triangles or squares, skewer with toothpicks if using, and serve.
