Crunchy, crispy, tangy, and hearty!

This sandwich has all the classic Cubano flavors, with some subtle Southern sweetness to boot.

It’s actually quite easy.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich on a plate to serve with a pickle and chips

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Learn how to make a Cuban sandwich at home.

What Is a Cuban Sandwich?

A classic Cuban sandwich, also called a Cubano, is a dressed-up ham-and-cheese sandwich.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich whisking together the mixture for the pork tenderloin

Pork marinade for Cuban sandwich mixed in a bowl with a whisk.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

But at its core, a Cuban is a ham and cheese sandwich.

Ingredients

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

3/4cuporange juice

1/4cuppickle liquidfrom jar (from 1 [16-oz.]

)soft French bread baguettesor Cuban bread loaves, ends trimmed and split horizontally

16(.38-oz.)

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich marinating the pork tenderloin

A pork tenderloin is in a zip-top bag with marinade.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

ultra-thinSwiss cheeseslices

12sandwich-cutdill pickles(such as Klaussen) (from 1 [20-oz.]

Marinate the pork tenderloin:

Pour orange juice mixture into a large ziplock plastic bag.

Add pork tenderloin; seal and toss to coat.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich cooking the pork tenderloin

A seared pork tenderloin in a cast-iron skillet.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Place in a shallow baking dish, and chill at least 8 hours or up to 12 hours.

Remove tenderloin from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.

Sear pork tenderloin:

Preheat oven to 400F.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich slicing the pork after cooking

A sliced pork tenderloin on a cutting board.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high.

Remove from oven, and transfer pork to a cutting board.

Cover with aluminum foil, and let rest 15 minutes.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich stirring together the honey and butter

Honey-butter mixture in a bowl.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Cut pork on an angle into 1/8- to 1/4-inch slices.

Prepare the Sandwiches:

Stir together butter and honey in a small bowl.

Spread mustard on cut sides of each bread slice (1 tablespoon per slice).

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich starting to build the sandwiches with mustard, cheese and pickles

Cheese, pickles, and mustard on bread for a Cuban sandwich.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Cover with top bread slice, mustard side down, and press to close.

Press the sandwiches:

Heat a panini press according to manufacturer directions.

Wipe panini press clean, as needed, between batches.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich finishing building the sandwich

Ham, pork, and cheese layered for a Cuban sandwich.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Transfer sandwich to a cutting board.

Slice in half, and serve immediately.

What Makes a Cuban Sandwich So Good?

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich spreading the honey butter on the outside of the bread

A Cuban sandwich with a spread of honey butter on the outside of the bread.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

The Cuban sandwich is beloved for different reasons by many.

(Our marinade lives up to this promise, too.)

Then there’s the bread: Cuban bread is slightly sweet and soft but with a crisp crust.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich pressing the sandwiches

Cuban sandwiches on a sandwich press machine.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

It’s somewhere between an egg loaf, like brioche, and a French baguette.

It’s worth seeking out if your standard grocery store doesn’t have it.

Who Invented the Cuban Sandwich?

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich cutting the sandwiches to serve

Cuban sandwiches cut into smaller pieces before serving.Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

The tales of the Cubano’s history are plentifuland not entirely clear.

It then worked its way down to Miami.

In Florida, two cities claim to make the best Cubans.

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich ingredients

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

In Miami, on the other hand, you won’t find any salami on a Cuban sandwich.

Key Cuban Sandwich Ingredients

This is a simple sandwich, and the ingredients all work together.

(Wrap the brick in aluminum foil first.)

Southern Living Cuban Sandwich cut and ready to serve with chips and beer

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

you’re able to place any of these heavy objects on top of the sandwiches while they cook.

Just be sure to warm them first, either in the oven or on the stove.

You need the warmth coming from both sides to get both a sandwich press and a searing heat.

Alternatively, you don’t have to heat the Cuban sandwich at all.

It’s fine toserve it cold.

But you could also pour up a beer alongside, or better yet, amojito.

Homemade roasted pork loin is the secret to the best Cuban sandwich.

It packs loads more flavor and can be customized to whatever you like in the marinade.

They’re the same thing.

There are two distinct Cuban sandwich styles.

South Florida Cubano eaters aroudn Miami like their sandwiches without the salami.