Name: Ham & cheese breakfast sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Spain
Ingredients: 8 bread slices; Cooked ham; Sliced cheese; 20 g butter

Hot ham and cheese sandwich on sliced bread. A quick breakfast.

Ingredients

How many are you cooking for?

Original recipe for 4 servings

8 bread slices
Cooked ham
Sliced cheese
20 g butter

Step by step

Follow the timeline: technique icon, time and temperature when relevant.

Step 1 Cut

Spread a thin layer of butter on the outside of each bread slice; it helps browning and adds flavour without soaking the inside.
Step 2 Prep

Layer ham and cheese in the centre and press gently so the sandwich holds together.
Step 3 Pan 2 min

Heat a pan or sandwich press over medium-low. Toast 2-3 minutes per side until the cheese melts and the bread is golden. Cut on the diagonal and serve right away.

Storage

Best eaten the same day. Leftovers keep refrigerated up to 24 hours.

Chef tips

Low heat melts the cheese without burning the bread.
Cover the pan for 30 seconds to speed up melting if needed.
Swap ham for turkey or add thin tomato slices if you prefer.

Allergens

Gluten
Dairy
Egg

Diet

🥬 Vegetarian

Variations

Substitutions for a vegan version

Instead of: Cooked ham

Use: same amount of seitan strips, cooked brown lentils or sliced portobello mushrooms

Why: Meat provides chewable protein and fat; you need a substitute that survives long cooking and absorbs spices.

Tip: If using lentils, keep them whole for texture. With seitan, sear over high heat first. Adjust salt at the end.
Instead of: Sliced cheese

Use: same amount of grated vegan cheese or mix 2 parts nutritional yeast + 1 part ground almonds

Why: Cheese adds fat, salt and umami; nutritional yeast mimics fermented flavour in sauces and gratins.

Tip: Add off heat to melt. For gratin, use vegan cheese that melts well. Taste for salt before serving.
Instead of: Butter

Use: same amount of extra virgin olive oil or plant-based margarine

Why: Butter provides fat and dairy flavour; oil or vegan margarine cover the fat without animal products.

Tip: In baking use cold margarine cubes. In pans, olive oil over medium heat—do not burn.

Other variations

Add fresh fruit or nuts.

Quick summary

At-a-glance while you cook. Full details are in the step-by-step.

1 Spread a thin layer of butter on the outside of each bread slice; it helps browning and adds flavour without soaking the inside.
2 Layer ham and cheese in the centre and press gently so the sandwich holds together.
3 Heat a pan or sandwich press over medium-low. Toast 2-3 minutes per side until the cheese melts and the bread is golden. Cut on the diagonal and serve right away.