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This coleslaw sandwich might be the best sandwich ever. Smothered with creamy Russian dressing and melty Swiss cheese, it’s over the top delicious.
OK, ready for one insanely delicious sandwich? I personally think it’s one of our best vegetarian recipes because everyone, I repeat, everyone who tries it loves it. According to Alex: it tastes like a healthy version of a Big Mac (yum).
What makes this coleslaw sandwich so savory and delicious? Well, start with my favorite easy coleslaw recipe, then add a melty cheese on top of a salty pretzel bun. What puts it over the edge is our secret sauce: Russian dressing, the star ingredient in a Reuben sandwich
What Is a Coleslaw Sandwich?
Here’s a bit more about where this coleslaw sandwich came from. Alex and I were in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a wedding and the advice we heard was: Go to Zingerman’s. This top of the deli has been around for years (since 1982!) and people just rave about it. So of course we wanted to try it for ourselves. We tried to go during the day, but the line was out the door.
So instead, we ordered takeout after the wedding! Imagine me in a hotel lobby with rumpled wedding attire, eagerly awaiting my sandwich from Zingerman’s. I love Reuben sandwiches, and the one I ordered had the vibe of a Reuben using Swiss cheese but coleslaw instead of sauerkraut, along with Russian dressing. Piled high atop delicious fresh rye bread, it was like biting into a little bit of heaven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You may have heard of the Rachel sandwich: it’s like a Reuben sandwich, but it uses turkey in place of corned beef and coleslaw in place of sauerkraut. So this coleslaw and Swiss melt sandwich is basically a vegetarian Rachel sandwich! (Aka the best sandwich ever.) Here’s what you’ll need:
- Russian dressing. This sauce is seriously one of our favorite things ever. It’s so savory, with the right balance of tangy and sweet. (And tastes kind of like that Big Mac secret sauce.)
- Easy coleslaw: I love creamy coleslaws, so the dressing uses less than the normal mayo with no refined sugar that tastes perfectly creamy and balanced. You can also use my Red Cabbage Slaw.
- Toasted pretzel bun. How can you not love the rich saltiness of a pretzel bun? It’s perfect for a satisfying vegetarian sandwich.
- Swiss cheese. Here I’ve gone with the broiling method: simply broil that cheese right onto the pretzel bun. It’s easier than the standard grilled cheese stovetop method (though I’ve added that below in case you’d like to do it with rye bread).
How to Make a Coleslaw Sandwich
- Make the components first. Whip up the coleslaw and Russian dressing so they’re ready to go. Both can be made ahead.
- Broil the buns and cheese. Place the pretzel bun bottoms on a baking sheet and lay a slice of Swiss on each. Add the bun tops to the sheet too. Broil 4 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the buns are toasted.
- Assemble. Pile the coleslaw onto the melted cheese, spread Russian dressing on the top bun, and close the sandwich. It’s so simple!
Serving Suggestions
Here are some fun sides for this sandwich:
- Add my crispy baked sweet potato fries or homemade French fries
- A scoop of classic pasta salad or dill pickle potato salad
- A pile of homemade pickles or quick pickled vegetables
- A simple green chopped salad or a dense bean salad for more protein
Storage Instructions
A coleslaw sandwich is best assembled and eaten fresh. But you can store the coleslaw and Russian dressing in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days.
Dietary Notes
This coleslaw sandwich recipe is vegetarian. For vegan, use vegan mayo and opt for a vegan cheese (there are starting to be some really great vegan cheese brands out there).
Coleslaw & Swiss Melt Sandwich
This coleslaw & Swiss melt sandwich might be the best sandwich ever. Slathered with creamy Russian dressing, it’s over the top delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Broiled
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups Best Coleslaw Recipe or Red Cabbage Slaw
- ¼ cup Easy Russian Dressing
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 pretzel rolls or 8 slices artisan or rye bread
Instructions
- Make the Best Coleslaw Recipe.
- Make the Easy Russian Dressing.
- Broiling instructions: Place the bottoms of the pretzel buns on a baking sheet and place a slice of Swiss cheese on top. Place the tops of the buns on the sheet as well. Broil for about 4 to 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the buns are toasted. Add the coleslaw and spread on the Russian dressing, then assemble the sandwich. OR
- Stovetop instructions (with bread): Spread butter on one side of each of the bread slices. Heat a griddle pan to medium high heat. Place 4 pieces of bread on the griddle, buttered side down. On each piece, add the cheese slices and coleslaw. Spread Russian dressing on the other side of the other 4 slices of bread and place them on top. When the bottom bread is browned, flip the sandwich and cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.
More Sandwiches To Try
Outside of this Swiss melt sandwich, here are some other vegetarian sandwiches we love:
This sandwich is absolutely delicious. Reading some of the comments, it is beyond me that someone could not love it. I had commented previously that the broil method left out steps and it was unclear when and where to put the slaw and Russian dressing on. Is it after the cheese melts, or before it melts and on top or under the cheese? After the cheese melts do I put the slaw on cold, and serve, or do I broil it some more? Please clarify. I add-libbed it but would like to know exactly how you do it, Sonja and Alex.
Great question and we’ve clarified the recipe accordingly! We broil just the bun with cheese, then add the coleslaw and Russian dressing (cold, but it picks up heat from the bun and cheese). Let us know what you did!
Made this today for lunch and we loved it even though I only had sesame seed burger buns! Great combination of flavors , and, fun to make! Thanks for the recipe.
Wanted to love it but didn’t. Followed everything exactly and each specific thing tasted great on its own but together left us both wanting something different
Fabulous sandwich. I had to change the dressing as Ketchup is a swear word in our house as we all hate it. So all I had was mayo and my homemade zucchini relish , mixed it together with lots of hot sauce and it turned out delicious.
This was phenomenal. I am vegan, but my husband is a carnivore through and through. So I roasted a large portobello mushroom and added. It made for an incredible addition to this already delish sandwich! I will definitely make again.
So glad you enjoyed it!
I want to try this but how can this satisfy you for long without hardly any protein in it? Is this really all you eat for your meal?
This is definitely a lighter grilled cheese sandwich. I’d serve it with a large salad or side of beans.
This was not my favorite recipe; it was very savory and had too many similar flavors at play. I ended up slicing up an apple to put on there and that crunch and sweetness really helped.
Fantastic recipe – made it the other night and was reminded me of an In & Out Burger! I know, I know…it may be a sin to say such a thing, but I think it was due to the homemade Russian recipe. Gotta love the shallots! My husband and I both eat meat, but we love trying new things and this recipe intrigued us. A very satisfying sandwich. We will definitely make it again! Ps. this is my first comment ever on a website – if that is any indicator to how good it is!
Hahaha! That’s amazing and I’m so glad you love the sandwich as much as we do :)
This was awesome. Made last night. I still do eat meat, but not much. However, I did not miss the meat. This is completely satisfying and delicious.