A mouthwatering roasted pork sandwich stacked with slow roasted pork loin, caramelized onions, and melted Provolone cheese on a crusty roll slathered with homemade honey mustard.
The fact that roasted pork sandwiches are not more popular is a gol-dang travesty. The fact that nobody says gol-dang anymore is also a gol-dang travesty. Well, hold on to your britches ladies and gentleman, because we are tackling the best gol-dang roasted pork sandwich I reckon your lil' ol' tastebuds ever fancied.
Best Cut of Pork for Sandwiches
The best cut of pork depends on the type of sandwich you wish to make. Pork shoulder is recommended for shredded pork sandwiches, like pulled-pork, however, you will want a much leaner cut for a roasted pork sandwich. Instead, a pork loin is ideal. It is flavorful, yet lean, less expensive than a tenderloin, and perfect for slicing. Though not truly authentic, you can even get away with using a pork loin for the Midwestern classic Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich too, just don't tell anyone I said that.
How to Roast Pork Loin
Pork loin can easily be roasted in the oven by baking at 350 degrees for about an hour. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the loin, so be sure to use a digital thermometer. It is done when it reaches 145 degrees.
My favorite way to roast pork loin for sandwiches is on the grill. Grilled pork loin isn't much more difficult than oven roasting, yet is infinitely more flavorful. I highly recommend giving it a try.
Roasted Pork Sandwich Toppings
You can certainly customize your roasted pork sandwich with the toppings of your choice, however, I will be happy to recommend a few of my favorites. The sweetness of caramelized onions really shine on this sandwich, though simply sauteing or grilling onions is delicious too. I love the flavor of stone ground mustard with pork so I made a stone ground honey mustard to pair with this recipe. However, I often use my Balsamic Peppered Mayo Burger Sauce on my roasted pork sandwiches too.
I think the best cheese for topping this sandwich is Provolone. It provides the creaminess you want, yet is mild in flavor so it will not overpower the other flavors. If you want to go in a completely different direction try Swiss cheese topped with homemade sauerkraut.
Best Bread for Roasted Pork Sandwiches
A crusty roll, like French Bread, is perfect for roasted pork sandwiches. The crisp exterior lends fantastic texture to the sandwich, and pork loin is a hearty enough protein to stand up to a bit of chewiness in the loaf. This pairing is worthy of the finest bistros!
How to Make Roasted Pork Sandwiches Better
Making a great sandwich is more than just piling ingredients on bread. Taking a few extra steps will really transform your sandwich into a restaurant quality meal. In particular, I recommend toasting the bread as it adds texture and warms the bread for better flavor. I also recommend quickly broiling the sandwich (open faced) to melt the cheese. Be careful to watch it though so it does not burn.
Roasted Pork Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 lb Pork loin
- 1 tablespoon Cooking Oil
- Fresh Ground Pepper
- Salt
- 1 medium Onion (see notes)
- ½ pound Provolone Cheese (sliced)
- Crusty French Bread (enough for 8 servings)
Stone Ground Honey Mustard
- ¼ cup Mayo
- 2 tablespoons Stone Ground Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- ⅛ teaspoon fresh Ground Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Rub the pork loin with cooking oil and dust with salt and pepper, or your desired seasonings.
- Place in the oven and roast until digital thermometer reads 145 degrees, approximately 1 hour.
- While pork is roasting saute, grill, or caramelized onions. (see note)
- Remove pork loin from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
- While pork loin is resting slice open the French Bread and lightly toast the interior until beginning to brown. This can be done in toaster, in a hot skillet, or under the broiler.
- Thinly slice the pork and place on the French bread, then top with Provolone cheese. With the sandwich lying open, place briefly under the broiler set on High until cheese is melted.
- Remove from the broiler and top with onions and honey mustard and serve immediately.
Stone Ground Honey Mustard
- Prepare the honey mustard while pork is roasting by combining mayo, mustard, honey, and ground pepper in a small bowl.
Notes
Nutrition
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Kerry
Would it work to start the loin on the grill for a short time to put some grilled flavor on the loin and than finish in the oven?
Fox Valley Foodie
Yes it will
Pam
We had leftover smoked pork tenderloin and I was searching for a sandwich recipe to make. This recipe was awesome! My husband loved it as much as me and we agreed that we would make it for company. It is on the agenda for tomorrow’s night dinner too! Thank you! We used a baguette versus French Bread as that is what we had on hand. Was tasty!!
Kelly Grant
Delicious! I marinated the meat in Allegro Smoked Marinade and cooked it in the oven. The sweet flavor from the mustard and onions made it so tasty!
Ardeith
This was a great sandwich! Such depth of flavor with the caramelized onions, the honey mustard sauce. Everyone in my family ate at least 1 1/2 sandwiches!
Karen
I’m trying this tonight! I’ll let you know what it ranks with my family of sworn carnivores!
Nancy
DO you cooked covered?
Fox Valley Foodie
No, you can just place it in a roasting pan or on a rimmed baking sheet.
Linda
This is definite “must try” recipe when we finally get some grilling weather! Love the unusual topping suggestions as well. My husband will LOVE this sandwich.
Jeff
Holy cow, this is a serious sandwich!