Today, we’re taking a New York classic – the chopped cheese – and flipping the script. I’m bringing you two versions: the OG style and my personal spin using mild Italian chicken sausage. My version? It’s lighter, full of flavor, and packed with sautéed veggies and seasonings that hit hard. This is where classic meets AB-style flavor!
Ingredients
For the Classic Chopped Cheese:
- 2 lbs ground beef (preferably 80/20)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 packets Sazón seasoning
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- 4 hoagie rolls
- Mayonnaise (for toasting buns)
- 8 slices American cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato slices
For AB’s Chicken Sausage Chopped Cheese:
- 2 lbs mild Italian chicken sausage (removed from casing or pre-ground)
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1-2 tsp minced garlic (optional but recommended)
- AB’s A-Rub seasoning or your favorite chicken/veggie seasoning
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 8 slices provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 4 hoagie rolls
- Mayonnaise (for toasting buns)
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato slices
Get the 17 inch Castiron I used on Amazon!
Instructions
1. Prep Your Ingredients
- Dice onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
- Split hoagie rolls and set aside.
- If using whole sausages, remove the casings.
2. Classic Chopped Cheese
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and begin to break it up with a meat masher.
Add diced onions and sauté until they soften.
Season with Sazón, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Cook until beef is fully browned and nicely crisped.
Add American cheese directly to the beef. Cover with a lid or foil briefly to let the cheese melt into the meat.
Toast hoagie rolls with mayonnaise in a separate skillet until golden and crispy.
Build the sandwich: add the chopped beef and cheese mixture to the roll, top with shredded lettuce and tomato slices. Serve hot.
3. AB’s Chicken Sausage Chopped Cheese
Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the chicken sausage and press it into a flat layer (like a patty) to form a crust on the bottom.
Once browned on one side, break it up using a meat masher.
Add diced bell peppers, onions, and optional garlic. Stir and cook until softened.
Season with AB’s A-Rub, black pepper, and a couple of pinches of salt.
Spread the meat and veggies evenly in the pan and top with provolone or mozzarella cheese. Cover to melt the cheese thoroughly.
Toast hoagie rolls using mayo in a skillet until golden.
Load the cheesy chicken mixture into the toasted hoagie rolls, add lettuce and tomato, and serve.
Pro Tips from AB
- Mayo for toasting? Don’t knock it until you try it. It gives a beautiful golden crust and better flavor than butter.
- Meat Master Tool: Get yourself a good meat masher – a game-changer for breaking up meats evenly.
- Bell peppers and onions bring freshness and sweet-savory balance. Don’t skip them on the AB version.
- Want to take it to the next level? A couple teaspoons of minced garlic in the chicken version will put it over the top.
- For extra crisp, toast both sides of your hoagie roll.
Variations
- Swap chicken sausage with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles.
- Use pepper jack cheese for a little kick.
- Add pickles, jalapeños, or hot sauce for extra zing.
- Try it with a garlic aioli spread instead of plain mayo.
What to Serve With It
- Crinkle-cut fries
- Waffle fries
- Tater tots
- Potato wedges
- Macaroni and cheese
- Coleslaw
- Pickle spears
- Garden salad
- Cucumber salad
- Corn on the cob
- Sweet potato fries
- Baked beans
- Fried green tomatoes
- Honey butter cornbread
- Mozzarella sticks
Storage Tips
- Store leftover filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat on the stovetop or microwave before serving.
- Toast fresh buns before assembling leftovers to keep that crunch.
Make It Ahead
- You can prep the filling (meat, veggies, seasoning) a day before.
- Just reheat in a skillet, add your cheese, and toast fresh rolls when ready to serve.
Chicken Sausage Chopped Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken sausage casing removed
- 1 small onion diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 slices American cheese
- 4 hoagie rolls or hero sandwich rolls split
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 tomato sliced
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 tbsp ketchup optional
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard optional
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until translucent and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 7–8 minutes.
- Shape the sausage mixture into 4 mounds in the pan. Place a slice of cheese over each and cover the pan to let it melt, about 1–2 minutes.
- Toast the rolls lightly if desired. Spread mayo on each side and add ketchup or mustard if using.
- Spoon the cheesy sausage mixture onto each roll. Top with shredded lettuce and sliced tomato. Press gently to close.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
