This classic club sandwich is stacked on toasted, buttered bread with creamy mayo, turkey, ham, crispy bacon, cheddar, juicy tomato, and crisp romaine. It’s a deli-style favorite you can make at home in minutes for lunch or an easy dinner.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- What Is a Club Sandwich: A club sandwich is instantly recognizable by its triple layers of bread, stacked high with deli-style ingredients, then cut into quarters and held together with toothpicks. It’s similar to a BLT but even heartier.
- Flavor: Each bite is a savory, smoky, and creamy combination with fresh, crisp notes from the lettuce and tomato, balanced by rich, buttery toasted bread.
- Why Make It: It’s a fast lunch or easy dinner that feels like a restaurant order, with minimal prep and only simple cooking for the bacon and toast.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve it with pickles and fries, chips, pasta salad, or a simple green salad for a classic pairing.
Club Sandwich Ingredients
- Bread: Use bread that’s toasted until golden for the best structure. Choose a sturdy white, sourdough, or whole wheat for the best structure.
- Mayo: Spread the mayo edge-to-edge to help “seal” the bread and keep it from getting soggy, or switch it up with an aioli or a light mustard-mayo blend for extra flavor.
- Turkey: Ask for medium-sliced deli turkey so it folds nicely without tearing, or swap in chicken for an easy alternative.
- Ham: Smoked or honey ham both work well, just pat it dry if it feels a little wet from the package to keep the sandwich from getting soggy.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds bold flavor, but you can easily swap in Swiss, provolone, or pepper jack for a different twist.
- Bacon: Crisp bacon adds the best crunch, and pre-cooked bacon is a great shortcut when you need to save time.
- Tomato & Lettuce: Use ripe but firm tomatoes, lightly salted and blotted to prevent slipping, and pair with shredded romaine for a crisp bite. Or swap in iceberg, green leaf, or even a crunchy slaw mix.
- Variations: Add avocado or thin red onion for extra flavor, swap cheddar for Swiss for a classic deli-style twist, or lighten it up with extra lettuce and tomato and less meat while keeping that great texture.
How to Make a Club Sandwich
- Toast bread and spread mayo on each (full recipe below).
- Layer turkey, tomato, and cheddar, then add the middle slice of bread.
- Layer ham, bacon, and romaine on top.
- Finish with the last slice of bread and cut.
Make Ahead and Storage
Club sandwiches are crispest right after assembling. But assembled sandwiches will keep for up to 1 day.
To make ahead, store ingredients separately (cooked bacon, sliced tomato, shredded romaine, deli meat, toasted bread) and assemble right before eating. Skip reheating once assembled.
Sandwich Shop Favorites at Home
Did you enjoy this Club Sandwich Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Ingredients
- 6 slices white bread or bread of choice, toasted and buttered
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 ounces deli sliced turkey
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- 1 ripe tomato sliced
- 4 ounces sliced ham
- 4 slices cooked bacon
- ½ cup shredded romaine lettuce
Instructions
- Arrange 2 slices of bread on a cutting board. Spread each slice with mayonnaise.
- Top with turkey, tomato slices and cheddar cheese.
- Spread mayonnaise on 2 more pieces of bread and place on the cheddar cheese.
- Top with ham, bacon, and lettuce. Spread mayonnaise on the final 2 slices of bread and place on top.
- Cut sandwich into halves or quarters. Serve with pickles.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Lunch
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The Club sandwich is like a BLT on steroids. They used to be so popular in my younger days, just don’t see them so much anymore.
Back in the day, I used to sometimes get these and they had roast beef as well as ham and turkey. Of course they always had bacon. Roast beef is optional but does make it better. Bacon and 3 slices of bread is mandatory, as well as lettuce, tomato, and 3 slices of bread. I love onions on a sandwich, but would leave them out on this one. Dill pickle spear on the side (or a whole deli-style dill pickle, yay!) goes well, but never pickle slices in the sandwich. As much as I hate mayonnaise, it is an absolute requirement. It is one of the things I will use mayo for, but still sparingly. I would also butter the bread after toasting and before spreading the mayo. Cheese is also a (preferred) option, and I would usually use a quality deli American for this. Provolone and/or Swiss also can work well. As much as I like all types of mustard, I would never put it on a Club. If you do, I would just go with the cheap American salad/hot dog style, nothing fancy, and again sparingly. Must cut into 4 pieces and use the toothpicks, too! If you use oversized bread and proportional ingredients for the larger bread, one will be enough for 2 people!!!
great recipe!! 10/10
Haven’t tried it yet but going to tonight.
Nice. But too dense and compact. Less is More ! Not as crisp and fluffy as an Classic club sandwich! Sorry
Best recipe
i need to know what kind of bread to use for the club sandwiches
We most often use white sandwich bread but they’re great with sourdough, whole wheat or even rye. Enjoy!
Can you make these the day before a luncheon?
I would be concerned the sandwiches might turn a bit soggy, especially if the bread is toasted. Can you make them the morning of?
No! It must be made fresh and to order! Freshly toasted bread and cooked bacon are KEY to making these outstanding. You could prep the other ingredients, but even cutting your tomatoes the night before will make them suffer a little (unless you buy pre-sliced tomatoes that are packed with preservatives). I could come up with some hacks, but it still wouldn’t be the same. Not a good choice for a large luncheon. Make something in the crockpot!
Thank you!
Its my best sandwich ever
Just the right amount of everything. I live these.
Ran this as a special at our little sub shop and got so many compliments, we are adding it to our menu! Delicious!
Wanted a good club sandwich and with this recipe a got one home made with everything on it.
I am making a classic club with a twist this week for my friends. It will have a tomato aioli and ham, turkey and roast beef with crisp lettuce and fried green tomatoes!
That sounds like a delicious twist Kimberly!
We are having the Club Sandwich on Rye
Delicious, Carmelita!
Had to make a quick last minute supper for DH. This was perfect. Simple staple ingredients yet so satisfying. Thank you. I love your site.
Glad you enjoyed it TK!
This made a excellent sandwich to serve at my daughters party.
Very nice!
Thank you Hugh!
I love Club Sandwichs, though I haven’t had one in years. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll be making one today. But, I have a question, on the middle slice of toast do you put mayo on both sides to hold the top ingredients on? Thanks again. Love it as written!
p.s. Whenever I’m looking for a specific recipe, your website is one of the first ones I check.
I would mayo both side of the center slice of toast but you could omit it if you prefered Janet! P.S. Thanks for the love Janet, we are so happy to be your go-to! :)
A club sandwich consists of bacon, tomato, lettuce, chicken and cheese. Not any of these other ingredients.
We love to prepare ours with a little extra flavor but that sounds delicious too Lynn!
Your site is Awesome and, I love a good Club.
Thanks Cindy! I totally agree, club sandwiches are delicious.
How about Thank you for a great looking sandwich
No kidding. Chicken Lettuce Under Bacon is literally what CLUBhouse stands for. This is way off