Last Updated 10-08-2024
Slow cooked pulled pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard, sandwiched between crusty bread slices and grilled to perfection.
My husband took one bite of these Slow Cooker Cuban Sandwiches and with his mouth full exclaimed, “This is good!” That’s how I know I have a winner!
When we went out for dinner the next night, he wanted to make sure we were still planning to use the leftovers. He couldn’t wait for his next Cuban sandwich!
“This sandwich was great, I have always bought Cuban Sandwiches, but now I can make them on my own and love it. I used spicy capicola in place of the ham and it was a nice change.”
Joe
Turns out, all three of my boys love Cuban sandwiches too. If we eat out and there is a Cuban sandwich on the menu, they will order it. But of course, nothing beats homemade!
I’m going to go out on a limb and says it’s all the meat. I mean, how can you go wrong with pulled pork and ham in one sandwich.
Oh, and lots of melted Swiss cheese, plus mustard and pickles. I guess it’s no surprise these are a family favorite!
Tips for making this recipe
- Give yourself plenty of time to make this recipe. The pork itself has to cook in a slow cooker for 6-8 hours before you even assemble the sandwiches. I like to make this recipe over a couple of days.
- If you’re feeding a small group, you can probably get two meals out of this recipe. Make some Cuban pork and rice bowls the first day, and use the leftovers to make the sandwiches.
I used Dijon mustard in my sandwiches, because that’s what I had on hand, but regular mustard or even honey mustard would work too.
If you have a George Foreman (or similar style) grill, it works great for pressing and cooking the sandwiches. But you can just grill them without pressing, or cook them between two heavy skillets. As long as you have all the delicious fillings, it really doesn’t matter!
We had enough pernil for about 8 sandwiches. So the good news is, unless your feeding three hungry teenagers, you’ll probably have leftovers.
And if you don’t feel like sandwiches, the pork is pretty tasty on it’s own. It makes a great filling for tacos, burritos or enchiladas.
If you’ve never had a Cuban sandwich, this Slow Cooker Cuban Sandwich Recipe is a great place to start. Enjoy!
What should I serve with slow cooker cuban sandwiches?
Traditional Cuban side dishes include beans, rice, and fried plantains. But we often just serve these sandwiches with our favorite potato chips.
These are some of our favorite side dishes to serve with these Cuban sandwiches.
FAQS
What is pernil?
Pernil is a traditional Latin American dish made with marinated, slow-roasted pork shoulder that’s especially popular at Christmas. Typically, the entire pork shoulder is used, including the skin and bone, and the meat is marinated at least a day ahead of time.
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what do I need to make this recipe?
- Pork roast – pork shoulder is traditional
- Garlic – minced
- Spices: salt and pepper, oregano or marjoram
- Olive oil – extra virgin
- White vinegar
- Swiss cheese – Manchego and Gruyere work well too
- Sliced ham – deli ham works well
- Pickles
- Mustard – yellow or Dijon
- Hoagie or sub rolls
Be sure to save this recipe for Slow Cooker Cuban Sandwiches to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Cuban Sandwiches (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
For the pork (pernil):
- 1 2 pound pork roast
- 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano or marjoram
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons salt
For the sandwiches:
- Sliced Swiss cheese
- Sliced ham
- Sliced pickles
- Hoagie or sub rolls
- Mustard
Instructions
- For the pernil: Combine 4 cloves garlic, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano or marjoram, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 2 teaspoons salt.
- Rub pork with garlic mixture and refrigerate overnight.
- Cook in a slow cooker for 8 hours on low.
- Remove from slow cooker and shred with two forks.
- To assemble the sandwiches, spread mustard on both sides of a roll.
- Layer Swiss cheese, ham, pickles, pernil, and a second slice of cheese on the bottom of a roll; top with other half of roll.
- Press sandwiches in a panini press or skillet until bread is crispy and cheese is melted.
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First : Adapted from Cassie Craves
Hello! I’m Danelle. Thanks for visiting.
Uptown foodie meets real life at Let’s Dish, where I share all my favorite recipes. Making meal time easy, but doing it in style!
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet
I love how simple this recipe is! Can’t wait to make it for my family. 🙂
Joe Willy
This sandwich was great, I have always bought Cuban Sandwiches, but now I can make them on my own & love it, I used spicey capicola in place of the ham & it was a nice change.
Monica H
I saw this recipe on Cassie’s blog and it made me drool. Now I want it even more. Looks amazing!
Siv Maria
Wow, I stumbled in here and plan on staying awhile. So much good food, I am getting fatter just looking at the pictures. I had forgotten all about cuban sandwiches, well now I am obsessed. Guess whats for dinner tomorrow, you got it :)))
Sinful Sundays
yum! as a native Miami girl with Cuban blood running through my veins, I give this an A+. I SLATHER mine with a ton of mustard whenever I eat a cubano. 🙂
Jenn
I love a good warm sandwich. These sound yummy.
Kat
Oh, yum. This is one of my favorite sandwiches!
kitchen flavours
Never tried a Cuban sandwich before, after looking at yours and Brenda’s, should really give them a try! Have a nice weekend!
Peggy
Well, we were gonna go out for Cuban food tonight, but I think we may stay in and make these sandwiches! They look super tasty!
claire
These will be a MUST! I am forwarding it to my mom as we speak.
Brenda
Mmmmm….I made Cubans last weekend (and the weekend before). They’re awesome, aren’t they? I had never had them before and now I want to eat them all the time!