Griddled Rye Bread Sandwich with Pastrami, Swiss, and Pickled Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A classic Brooklyn diner-inspired sandwich featuring layers of peppery pastrami, melted Swiss cheese, and tangy pickled red onions on griddled rye bread. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs rye bread slices, sliced pastrami, Swiss cheese slices for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 40 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 American cuisine 550 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 rye bread slices
12 oz sliced pastrami
6 Swiss cheese slices
1 medium, thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp Dijon mustard
4 tbsp, softened unsalted butter
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp black pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add 1 medium thinly sliced red onion. Let cool and marinate at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Spread 4 tbsp softened unsalted butter evenly on one side of each of 8 rye bread slices.
Step 3: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place 4 bread slices butter-side down. Spread 1 tbsp Dijon mustard on the unbuttered side of each slice.
Step 4: Layer 3 oz sliced pastrami, 1 1/2 slices Swiss cheese, and a generous amount of pickled red onions drained from marinade on each. Top with remaining bread slices, butter-side up.
Step 5: Grill sandwiches for 4-5 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and cheese melts, pressing gently with a spatula. Slice in half and serve warm.