Tasty Club Sandwich

Featured in Meals That Make the Table Happy.

This sandwich is a flavorful American classic. It's made with three slices of toasted bread, layered with chicken, crispy bacon, smooth cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Add mayo to each slice, cut carefully into quarters using a sharp knife, and keep it held together with toothpicks for the perfect look. In just 15 minutes, you can have four sandwiches (16 triangles) ready to go. Serve with fries or chips for a quick and satisfying lunch or dinner.
A woman wearing a chef's hat and apron.
Updated on Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:19:45 GMT
A delicious sandwich packed with crispy bacon and fresh lettuce. Pin it
A delicious sandwich packed with crispy bacon and fresh lettuce. | mecooking.com

Every bite of the American Club Sandwich brings together amazing textures and tastes. This standout sandwich layers three pieces of toasted bread with juicy chicken, crunchy bacon, and crisp veggies, making it a filling meal that'll leave you totally satisfied. It first showed up in fancy New York clubs back in the late 1800s, and there's a good reason this food favorite has stuck around for so many years.

I tried making club sandwiches for the first time during a get-together with friends. Everyone loved how the warm toast with mayo, thin chicken slices, and crunchy bacon came together. It was such a hit that it's now what I always make when people come over.

Top-Quality Ingredient Guide

  • Wholegrain or white bread: Forms your base—cut off crusts for a fancy touch and toast until it's nice and golden.
  • Regular mayonnaise: Gives you that smooth layer that helps flavors blend together.
  • Chicken breast cut thin: Makes stacking easier and won't overpower everything else.
  • Bacon cooked until crisp: Adds that smoky taste and satisfying crunch.
  • Lettuce torn into bits: Brings freshness and a nice contrast to the meats.
  • Emmental Swiss cheese: Gives a nutty flavor that works great with both the chicken and bacon.
  • Ripe tomatoes from the vine: Cut thin and sprinkled with seasoning for juicy freshness.

Expert Stacking Directions

Getting Your Bread Ready:
Toast bread pieces until golden and let them cool completely on a rack.
Starting Your Base:
Spread mayo across one side of your first bread slice to keep it from getting soggy.
First Meat Layer:
Put thin chicken slices across the mayo, fluffing them up a bit for better texture.
Adding Veggies:
Scatter torn lettuce over the chicken, then place a cheese slice on top.
Middle Section:
Place the second bread slice with mayo side down onto the cheese. Add mayo to the top side.
Second Meat Layer:
Lay your crispy bacon strips side by side with a little overlap for full coverage.
Last Veggie Addition:
Add thin tomato slices with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Finishing Touch:
Top with your last bread slice, mayo side facing down.
Cutting It Right:
Use a serrated knife to cut diagonally into four triangles. Stick in fancy toothpicks to hold everything together.

My grandma always told me to use bread that's a day old for club sandwiches. It's a bit firmer and stands up better to toasting, which makes the perfect base for all those tasty layers.

Two sandwiches with lettuce and tomato. Pin it
Two sandwiches with lettuce and tomato. | mecooking.com

Perfect Side Dish Options

Round out your club sandwich with some tasty sides. Try making your own potato chips with sea salt for that extra crunch or mix up a cucumber and dill salad with vinegar for something fresh and tangy. If you want something heartier, a classic potato salad with mustard dressing works really well with the sandwich.

Fun Twist Ideas

Switch things up with different versions of this classic. Try swapping chicken for roast beef and using horseradish mayo for something with a kick. Go Mediterranean with some prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil pesto. For your veggie friends, grilled portobello mushrooms and roasted red peppers make a great meat-free option.

Keeping It Fresh

You can put these together up to four hours before you plan to eat. Just wrap them in parchment paper first, then aluminum foil and keep in the fridge. If you want to enjoy them the next day, store all the parts separately and put them together right before eating.

Using Leftovers

Don't waste leftover sandwich stuff! Chop everything up for a quick salad, mash it into a tasty spread, or toss it into your morning eggs for a breakfast with a twist.

Two sandwiches on a table. Pin it
Two sandwiches on a table. | mecooking.com

I love adding avocado slices with a squeeze of lemon juice right on top of the bacon. That buttery richness takes this sandwich from really good to absolutely amazing. Whether you're making lunch for yourself or feeding guests, this American favorite always hits the spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why is a club sandwich unique?
The club sandwich stands out with its three slices of toast stacked with chicken, bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Its triangular cut held together by toothpicks also adds to its charm.
→ Is turkey a good swap for chicken?
Absolutely, turkey is a great substitute. Just switch out the chicken slices with thinly sliced turkey for a tasty twist.
→ How do I cut a club sandwich neatly?
Use a really sharp bread knife and slice gently without pushing down. Go with a steady sawing motion and finish by securing the pieces with toothpicks.
→ Why cool the toast before assembling?
Letting toast cool avoids wilting the veggies like lettuce and tomato. This keeps the sandwich fresh and crunchy.
→ What sides go well with a club sandwich?
Pair with chips, fries, pickles, potato salad, coleslaw, or even a light green salad. They all work great!

Classic Club Sandwich

This hearty sandwich has layers of chicken, crunchy bacon, cheese, fresh tomato, and crisp lettuce between toasted bread—an all-time classic treat.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
~
Total Time
15 Minutes
By: Mariana

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (16 triangle pieces of sandwich)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Bread & Spreads

01 16 teaspoons of mayonnaise
02 12 pieces of crustless toast (optional)

→ Proteins

03 4 slices of Emmental or another cheese you like
04 8 cooked bacon strips, crunchy
05 12 thin pieces of chicken, sliced finely

→ Fresh Ingredients

06 Season with salt and pepper as needed
07 Sliced tomato
08 Lettuce, shredded

Instructions

Step 01

Put a piece of toast on your surface. Add a teaspoon or so of mayo, spreading evenly. Lay down the thin chicken slices, fluffing them up for a nice look. Sprinkle some shredded lettuce on top and finish with one cheese slice (trim it to fit, if needed).

Step 02

Grab another toast piece and put mayo on one side. Stick it mayo-side facing down onto the cheese. Then add mayo on the top side of this toast. Lay the crispy bacon on this layer (break to fit if needed), add lots of tomato slices, and finish with another touch of salt, pepper, and shredded lettuce.

Step 03

For the last toast, spread mayo on one side and place it, mayo-side down, to top off your sandwich. Using a sharp bread knife, cut the sandwich into four triangles gently, pressing slightly to hold all the layers in place. Pop a toothpick into each triangle, and you're ready to enjoy! Consider pairing with chips, fries, or pickles.

Notes

  1. This tall, layered sandwich uses pan-toasted, crust-trimmed bread. You’ll need three slices per sandwich, along with four teaspoons of mayo, two bacon rashers, and three chicken slices.
  2. For neat slices, go for a sharp bread knife. A light back-and-forth motion works better than forcing it down, so nothing squishes.
  3. Let the toast cool off fully before building the layers. It stops veggies from wilting and keeps everything fresh.

Tools You'll Need

  • A sharp knife for slicing bread
  • 16 picks or cocktail sticks

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Bread has gluten
  • Cheese contains dairy
  • Mayonnaise contains eggs

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 618
  • Total Fat: 42 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 41 g
  • Protein: 19 g