Meatloaf Sandwich

When you have leftover meatloaf, the best thing you can make for dinner is a meatloaf sandwich, and it’s the ultimate comfort food recipe.

Imagine a thick slice of homemade meatloaf stacked between two pieces of toasted bread, broiled with melted cheese, topped with thick juicy tomatoes, and smothered with a tangy sauce.

Recipe Notes

Sandwiches are a blank canvas. The only two ingredients required are meat and bread. The rest is up to you.

What Goes Into A Meatloaf Sandwich

• Leftover meatloaf. Sliced into thick slices.
• Toasted bread. I like to use a large loaf or ciabatta or french bread and then slice it into sandwich-sized pieces and then slice in half. Then I butter and toast it. So yum!
• Cheese. This sandwich is excellent with either American cheese or Munster, but you can use whatever you like.
• Meatloaf sauce. Sweet, tangy meatloaf sauce or the traditional ketchup and mustard.

How To Make Meatloaf Sauce

Meatloaf sauce, AKA meatloaf glaze, is made with ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar. I like to add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice as well.

Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a saucepan. Heat on medium-high until the sauce starts to thicken and turn a deeper brown.

Meatloaf sauce is somewhere in between ketchup and barbecue sauce. You can use it to glaze your meatloaf and then slather leftovers on your meatloaf sandwich.

Tips for The Ultimate Meatloaf Sandwich

1. Pan-sear the meatloaf in a skillet to get a toasty crispy crust on the slice of leftover meatloaf.
2. Add your favorite toppings. Melted cheese, freshly sliced tomatoes, lettuce or arugula, sliced red onion, meatloaf sauce, or a sweet onion jam.

Recipe Variations

With Bacon + Onion Jam

This was the first version of my meatloaf sandwich recipe, and it’s also one of the first recipes that I posted on Foodology Geek.

I served this version on toasted french bread and topped it with my sweet onion jam, tomato jam, and a thick slice of bacon. I added a little bit of arugula as well.

With American Cheese + Meatloaf Sauce

I had honestly never thought of adding a slice of cheese to a meatloaf sandwich but, I’m glad I tried it. Something is terrific about the salty melted American cheese + the sweet and tangy meatloaf sauce that makes this sandwich a winner.

For this sandwich variation, I used toasted ciabatta. I found the ciabatta bread a bit too hard and chewy from my liking on this sandwich, and it was hard to eat. Biting through the chewy ciabatta bread caused the meat and all the topping to smoosh out of the sandwich when I was munching it.

This sandwich gets an A+ for the cheese and sauce combination: but I would use a different bread next time.

With Muenster Cheese + Bacon Onion Jam

For the third version of my meatloaf sandwich, I decided to use a softer sandwich roll, buttered and broiled, and muenster cheese.

I prepared two sandwiches; one for my husband, who loves the meatloaf sauce, and mine with a big dollop of onion jam. I wanted to taste the difference.

My favorite for sure was the version with onion jam.

Italian Mealtloaf Sandwich

I haven’t tried this version yet, but it’s on my list to make the next time I have leftover meatloaf. I can already imagine the flavors.

Start with toasted sourdough or a simple Italian loaf add melted provolone and marinara sauce. What could be easier?

FAQs and Expert Tips

What To Serve With Meatloaf Sandwiches

Here are a few of my favorite side dishes to eat with this sandwich.

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