Leftover Pot Roast Grilled Cheese Sandwich

While recipe testing Yankee Pot Roast for a 2014 Yankee column (see Yankee Pot Roast | Recipe With a History), I got to thinking about the many ways to make good use of the dish’s inevitable leftovers (there are just two of us in my household), and a pot roast grilled cheese sandwich seemed like a good place to start. Thanks to its long, slow braising time, tender pot roast is on many people’s list of favorite comfort foods. Often served over buttery egg noodles or rice and paired with chunky vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes, and celery and topped with a rich gravy, it’s a one-pot meal that can feed an entire dinner party’s worth of guests…or house full of kids. This can be a lifesaver for the busy host or working parent, but if your household is on the smaller side, one good pot roast will yield enough leftovers for a few flavorful reincarnations like (just to name a few) Pot Roast Ravioli, Beef Miratoni,Pot Roast Pasties…or grilled cheese.

Since I am a firm believer in the power of grilled cheese, it seemed a natural starting point for pot roast, round 2. Start by shredding or “pulling” the leftover meat into chunks with a couple of forks, then arrange it on a slice of bread that’s been spread with good mustard and top with sliced Provolone. Of course, if you like you can spread the bread with a seasoned mayo instead instead of mustard or swap out the Provolone for another cheese…whatever pairing seems good. Just make sure the bread is sturdy but not sliced too thick. Before grilling, butter the outside of one of the slices of bread. In a skillet over medium heat, add a little butter or olive oil, and when it’s hot, add the sandwich, butter-side down. After about 5 minutes, butter the outside of the other slices of bread and give it a flip until both sides are golden brown.

Hot and crisp, the only thing this pot roast grilled cheese needed was a side of French fries, so I made some of those, too. Frozen fries baked in the oven might not taste as good as the ones from the drive-though, but they’re easy. If you prefer, you can skip the fries and add a salad or bowl of soup.

Thanks to the tender meat, melty cheese, and zip from the mustard, this sandwich earned rave reviews as pot roast grilled cheese perfection. What’s your favorite thing to do with leftover pot roast? This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated. 

GET THE POT ROAST RECIPE: Yankee Pot Roast