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Classic Club Sandwich

Featured in: Snacks and Appetizers for Every Gathering

This American favorite is easy to make at home. Stack three slices of toast with layers of thin chicken slices, bacon, Emmental cheese, lettuce, and tomato. The trick? Spread mayo over each slice, layer neatly, and use a sharp knife for a clean cut into quarters. Each of the four sandwiches makes four triangles, ready in 15 minutes. Pair it with fries, chips, or salad for a meal everyone will enjoy.
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Updated on Wed, 07 May 2025 18:24:51 GMT
A sandwich featuring crisp bacon and fresh lettuce. Pin it
A sandwich featuring crisp bacon and fresh lettuce. | tastefullyrecipe.com

Every bite of the American Club Sandwich brings together amazing textures and tastes in perfect harmony. This special sandwich layers three pieces of toasted bread with juicy chicken, crunchy bacon, and crisp veggies, making it a filling meal that really hits the spot. It first showed up in fancy New York clubs back in the late 1800s, and there's a good reason why people still love it today.

I tried making club sandwiches for the first time during a Saturday get-together with my buddies. Everyone around the table couldn't get enough of the toasty bread spread with mayo, topped with thin chicken slices and that perfectly crispy bacon. It was such a hit that I now make it whenever I have people over.

Top-Quality Ingredient Guide

  • Wholegrain or white bread: This forms your base—cut off the crusts for a fancy touch and toast it till it's nice and golden.
  • Rich mayonnaise: Spreads a smooth layer that helps everything stick together.
  • Chicken breast cut super thin: Makes for better stacking without taking over the other flavors.
  • Bacon cooked till crunchy: Gives you that smoky flavor and satisfying snap.
  • Lettuce torn into bits: Adds a nice fresh crunch to break up the richness.
  • Emmental Swiss cheese: Brings a slight nutty taste that works great with both the chicken and bacon.
  • Tomatoes picked when ripe: Cut them thin and add a pinch of salt for juicy freshness.

Expert Stacking Directions

Getting Your Bread Ready:
Toast the bread slices until they turn golden and let them cool completely on a rack.
Starting Your Base:
Spread mayo all over one side of your first bread slice to keep it from getting soggy.
First Meat Addition:
Lay your thin chicken slices on the mayo, fluffing them up a bit for better texture.
Adding Some Greens:
Sprinkle your torn lettuce evenly over the chicken, then place a cheese slice on top.
Middle Layer Work:
Put the second bread slice on the cheese, mayo side down. Then spread more mayo on the top side.
Second Meat Placement:
Line up your crunchy bacon strips so they slightly overlap and cover everything evenly.
Last Veggie Layer:
Add your thin tomato slices, with a little salt and pepper sprinkled on top.
Finishing Touch:
Top it all with your last bread slice, mayo side facing down.
Cutting It Right:
Use a bread knife to cut diagonally, making four triangle pieces. Stick in some fancy toothpicks to hold it all together.

My grandma always told me to use bread that's a day old when making club sandwiches. It's a bit firmer and stands up to toasting way better, giving you the perfect base for all those yummy layers.

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

Fantastic Side Dish Options

Pick the right sides to go with your club sandwich. Try making your own potato chips with sea salt for an extra crunch, or whip up a cucumber and dill salad with vinegar for something light and tangy. If you want something more filling, a classic mustard potato salad works great with all those sandwich flavors.

Tasty Twists

You can switch things up in so many ways with this sandwich. Try swapping chicken for roast beef and use mayo mixed with horseradish for extra kick. Make it Mediterranean style with some prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and green pesto. If you don't eat meat, grilled portobello mushrooms and sweet red peppers make an awesome substitute.

Keeping It Fresh

You can make these sandwiches up to four hours ahead. Just wrap them in parchment paper first, then aluminum foil before putting them in the fridge. If you want to enjoy them the next day, keep all your ingredients separate and put everything together right before you eat.

Using Up Leftovers

Don't waste leftover sandwich stuff! Chop everything up for a quick salad, blend it all into a tasty spread, or throw the leftovers into your morning eggs for a breakfast that'll keep you going all day.

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

I love adding avocado slices with a splash of lemon juice right on top of the bacon. That buttery smoothness takes this sandwich from great to absolutely mind-blowing. Whether you're just making lunch or feeding friends, this American favorite always delivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What makes a club sandwich unique?
It's unique for its triple layer of toast and the way ingredients like chicken, bacon, cheese, and fresh veggies are stacked. Cutting it into bite-sized triangles with toothpicks adds to its charm.
→ Can turkey replace chicken in a club sandwich?
Absolutely, turkey is a great alternative. Just swap out the thinly sliced chicken with similar slices of turkey.
→ How do I slice a club sandwich cleanly?
A sharp bread knife is your best bet. Gently press down and use a sawing motion to slice through without squishing the layers. Add toothpicks to secure the slices after cutting.
→ Why should toast cool before assembling a club sandwich?
Cooling the toast keeps the veggies like lettuce and tomato fresh and crisp, avoiding any wilting from the heat.
→ What are good sides for a club sandwich?
Go classic with chips, fries, or pickles. Potato salad, coleslaw, or even a green salad are great lighter options too.

Classic Club Sandwich

This sandwich stacks crispy bacon, tender chicken, cheese, lettuce, and tomato on toasted bread for a tasty, layered favorite.

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


Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (16 mini triangle sandwiches)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Bread & Spreads

01 16 teaspoons of mayo, divided
02 12 pieces of bread, toasted (crusts trimmed if you'd like)

→ Proteins

03 8 crispy bacon slices (cut in half if needed)
04 4 slices of your favorite cheese (Emmental works nicely)
05 12 thin chicken slices, layered lightly

→ Fresh Ingredients

06 A handful of shredded lettuce
07 A tomato, sliced thinly
08 Salt and pepper (add as you like)

Instructions

Step 01

Lay the first slice of toasted bread on a flat surface. Put a dollop of mayo and spread it thinly. Add a few pieces of chicken, fluffing them to make it look fuller. Sprinkle on a bit of lettuce, then layer with cheese (trim it to size if it hangs over).

Step 02

Spread mayo on one side of another slice of toast and place it mayo-side down onto the cheese. Slather the upper side with a bit more mayo. Lay out the bacon neatly before topping with tomato slices. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste. Add another layer of crunchy lettuce on top.

Step 03

Coat one more piece of toast with mayonnaise and press it mayo-side down over the lettuce layer. Slice the sandwich into four smaller triangles using a sharp knife. Press gently as you cut so the layers don’t spill over. Secure each triangle with a cocktail stick, and serve with fries, chips, or pickles for a simple but satisfying treat.

Notes

  1. You’ll need three pieces of toast, a couple slices of bacon, three thin chicken pieces, and about four teaspoons of mayo to build one portion of this layer-packed Club.
  2. To keep the sandwich intact as you cut, use a sharp knife and saw gently instead of pushing down hard.
  3. Let your toast cool before building so the veggies stay crisp and fresh, not soggy.

Tools You'll Need

  • 16 cocktail sticks or toothpicks
  • A sharp knife for cutting bread

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains bread (gluten)
  • Mayonnaise has eggs
  • Includes cheese (dairy)

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