This toasted steak sandwich is packed with flavor and ready in minutes. Loaded with white cheddar, tangy onions, and creamy horseradish.
Before You Cook, Read This!
💬 The Vibe: Cheesy, savory, and perfectly toasted. It’s your favorite steak sandwich, made at home with bold flavor and barely any effort.
🔑 What You Gotta Know: Thinly sliced ribeye is key for tender, juicy bites. Toast the bread, but don’t overdo it, just enough to hold up to the cheese and sauce.
🥪 Best Bite Alert: A swipe of horseradish sauce with the tangy pickled onions cuts through the richness of the steak and cheese. Don’t skip it!
This Toasted Steak Sandwich is loaded with thin-sliced juicy steak, melty white cheddar, tangy pickled red onions, and creamy horseradish sauce. It's all piled on a toasted ciabatta roll. Bold, cheesy, and full of flavor, just like the Panera Bread favorite, but made right at home.
Inspired by their Toasted Steak & White Cheddar Sandwich, this version is simple to make, deeply satisfying, and comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for a cozy lunch, game day, or a low-effort dinner that still feels indulgent.
Let's get started!
Why You’ll Love This Toasted Steak Sandwich
- Inspired by the beloved Panera classic.
- Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Easy to customize with different breads, sauces, or cheeses.
- Rich, flavorful, and hearty enough for dinner.
- Great way to use up leftover steak, too!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Ribeye Steak - Thinly sliced ribeye cooks quickly and stays tender. Use pre-sliced or thinly slice it yourself.
- Bread - Ciabatta rolls work beautifully, but hoagie rolls or crusty sourdough are great too.
- White Cheddar - Sharp or mild white cheddar adds creamy richness. Use slices for easy melting.
- Pickled Red Onions - angy, slightly sweet, and the perfect contrast to the rich meat and cheese. Make a batch with this recipe → Quick Pickled Red Onions.
- Horseradish Sauce - Adds creamy heat. Use a store-bought version or substitute with mayo if desired.
- Olive Oil or Butter – For sautéing the steak, either works well.
- Salt, Pepper & Garlic Powder – For simple, balanced seasoning.
👉🏾 See the recipe card below for exact quantities and full instructions.
How to Make a Toasted Steak Sandwich
Step 1 Cook the Steak: Heat oil or butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sauté for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned.
Step 2 Melt the Cheese: Divide the cooked steak into 3–4 portions in the skillet. Place white cheddar slices on top. Turn off the heat and cover briefly to melt.
Step 3 Toast the Bread: While the cheese melts, toast the ciabatta rolls until lightly golden and crisp.
Step 4 Assemble the sandwich: Spread horseradish sauce on the inside of each toasted roll. Top with a portion of steak and melted cheese, a generous pile of pickled red onions, and the top half of the roll. Enjoy warm with chips, fries, or a crisp green salad.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Make the pickled onions ahead, they get better with time.
- Not into horseradish? Swap in mayo or a garlic aioli.
- Try provolone, Swiss, or Havarti cheese for a different flavor profile.
- Use leftover steak or another grilled meat for an even faster version.
- Toast the bread just enough to hold up to the sandwich, not too hard.
What to Serve with Steak Sandwiches
- 🥔 Potato chips or sweet potato fries.
- 🥗 A simple green salad with vinaigrette.
- 🥣 Tomato soup or French onion soup.
- 🌶️ Dill pickles or pepperoncini on the side.
Want To Save This Recipe?
Want More Steak Recipes? Try These:
Got a question or want to share how you built your sandwich? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your take!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Sirloin, flank steak, or even leftover grilled steak will work. Just slice it thin.
It has a mild heat and zippy flavor, but it’s not overwhelmingly spicy. Use less or substitute in mayo if preferred.
You can prep the pickled onions and cook the steak ahead of time. Assemble just before serving so the bread stays crisp.
📖 Recipe
Toasted Steak Sandwich
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or braiser
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ribeye steak, thinly cut
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 slices white cheddar cheese slices
- 4 ciabatta or hoagie rolls, sliced in half
- 2 tablespoons horseradish sauce
- ½ cup prepared pickled red onion
Instructions
- Begin the recipe by grabbing a large skillet and placing it on the stovetop on medium-high heat. Add the 1 tablespoon oil into the hot pan followed by the 1 pound thinly cut ribeye steak.
- Season with ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. Cook and stir occasionally until all of the steak has browned.
- Carefully use a spatula to section off each serving (about 4) for equal amounts of meat per sandwich.
- Top with the 8 slices of white cheddar cheese and turn off the heat from the skillet. The residual heat will melt the cheese.
- Lightly toast the 8 halves of bread and evenly spread the 2 tablespoons of horseradish sauce on the inside of each piece of bread. Top with the portioned out steak and cheese mixture.
- Add the ½ cup pickled onions followed by topping with the other slice of toasted bread. Serve with a side of your favorite chips or a salad and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Make the pickled onions ahead of time, they only get better with age.
- Toast the bread until just golden, not too hard!
- Not a horseradish fan? Swap it for mayo or a creamy garlic spread.
- Use a cast iron skillet for a good sear on the steak.
- Prefer a different cheese? Provolone or Swiss also work great.
Original post date 02/23/2022. Updated 04/06/2025.
Chenée says
The toasted steak sandwich is my favorite sandwich from Panera, and now it's my favorite sandwich to make at home! Thank you so much for this recipe!
LaKita says
I feel the same way Chenée, it's such a great sandwich!!!
Jacqueline Debono says
This post made me hungry. Those steak sandwiches look so good. I love the idea of using pickled red onions and horseradish. On my to make list later this week! Want to make the pickled onions too!
LaKita says
Thanks Jacqueline, hope you get a chance to try it soon 🙂
Daniela Weiner says
I made the pickles a day ahead of time as suggested and wow - we couldn't stop snacking on them. Don't skip them when making this delicious toasted Steak Sandwich
LaKita says
Thank you Daniela! The pickled onions really do make this sandwich 🙂
Sharon says
This toasted steak sandwich came out so yummy! I love that the thinly cut steak cooked up quickly so it was perfect for lunchtime.
LaKita says
Thank you Sharon, it is such a great lunch option!
veenaazmanov says
Love the combination and love the spice and sauce flavors too. Perfect for any meal or snack box too.too.
LaKita says
Thank you so much, I completely agree!
Amanda says
This is such a delicious steak sandwich! I love the kick from the horseradish, and the steak came out so juicy and tender.
LaKita says
Thank you so much, the horseradish certainly adds a nice punch of flavor!
Anna says
This was a perfect sandwich to make and take to our family picnic! Everyone loved it, it was so easy to make too!
LaKita says
Thank you Anna, such a great picnic option 🙂
Mikayla says
A classic sandwich that is always good, the pickled onions and horseradish elevated to terrific.
LaKita says
Thank you so much, so many delicious flavors in one sandwich!
Cathleen says
This sandwich has my name written all over it! Can't wait to make this tonight, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
LaKita says
Thank you, hope you give it a try soon!
Dennis Littley says
your steak sandwich recipe was the hit of our household yesterday! My family loved them and made me promise to make them again soon!
LaKita says
Thank you! So happy to hear your family enjoyed the sandwich recipe!!