Pastrami Sandwich Recipe: The Classic New York Deli Favorite 2026

The pastrami sandwich is a New York deli classic that has traveled far beyond its hometown and now shows up on tables everywhere, tweaked to suit each eater's taste. This version keeps things simple and satisfying: tangy mustard, creamy butter, crisp pickles, thinly sliced pastrami and a blanket of melted Emmental.

Rye bread is the traditional choice here, and for good reason. Its distinctive, slightly sour flavor stands up beautifully to the rich, peppery pastrami and the sharp bite of the mustard. It is the kind of bread that makes every bite taste like more than the sum of its parts.

Everything comes together in about fifteen minutes, which makes this a perfect quick lunch or a fuss-free dinner when you want something hearty without a lot of work. A short spell in a hot skillet melts the cheese and crisps the outside of the bread just enough.

If you use cheese, as we do here, a gentle warm-up in the pan is what brings the whole thing together. The result is genuinely delicious, with gooey cheese pulling between the layers and warm, savory pastrami in every bite.

Ingredients for Pastrami Sandwich

This makes 1 generous sandwich.

• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 10 g butter, at room temperature
• 2 slices rye bread
• 20 g pickles
• 100 g pastrami
• 40 g grated Emmental cheese

How to Make Pastrami Sandwich Step by Step

1. Mix the mustard and butter

In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of mustard with 10 g of butter at room temperature. Stir until you have a smooth, spreadable mixture that blends the sharpness of the mustard with the richness of the butter.

2. Spread the bread

Lay 2 slices of rye bread on a plate and spread the mustard and butter mixture over one of them, covering it evenly right to the edges. The other slice stays plain for now and will go on top later.

3. Add the pickles

Distribute 20 g of pickles over the mustard-coated slice. Slice them thinly or chop them, whichever you prefer, so they scatter evenly and add a bright, briny crunch in every bite.

4. Add the pastrami

Pile 100 g of pastrami on top of the pickles, folding the slices loosely rather than pressing them flat. That way the meat stays tender and the sandwich keeps a nice, generous height.

5. Finish with the cheese

Sprinkle 40 g of grated Emmental cheese over the pastrami as the final layer. Then cover with the second slice of rye bread, plain side down, to close the sandwich.

6. Heat the sandwich and serve

Warm the sandwich in a skillet over moderate heat so the cheese melts and the bread picks up a little color. Serve it immediately, while the cheese is still gooey and the pastrami is hot.

Tips for the Best Pastrami Sandwich

Choose the right bread

Rye bread is the classic pick, and its characteristic flavor partners perfectly with the rest of the ingredients. If you cannot find it, a similar firm, flavorful loaf will work, but avoid anything too soft or sweet.

Let the butter soften

Room-temperature butter blends into a smooth spread with the mustard. If yours is straight from the fridge, give it a few minutes on the counter first so the mixture does not turn lumpy.

Warm it gently for melted cheese

A light warm-up in the skillet is what melts the cheese and brings the sandwich together. Keep the heat moderate and turn the sandwich once so the bread toasts without the cheese leaking out.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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