What Cheese Goes Best with Cold Roast Beef Sandwiches? 10 Options

The classic cold roast beef sandwich has been a favourite among many people for decades.

But deciding what cheese goes best with it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.

Not knowing what type of cheese will pair perfectly with that delicious, juicy beef can be quite the dilemma.

From aged cheddars to creamy bries, there’s an array of possibilities that could make your sandwich exponentially more delectable.

Determining which one will work best for you is key to taking it up a notch next time.

What Cheese Goes Best with Cold Roast Beef Sandwiches? 10 Options

If you’ve ever tried a cold roast beef sandwich with the wrong cheese, then you know it can make or break the entire meal.

With so many delicious varieties of cheese out there, choosing the right one for your sandwich can seem daunting.

But don’t worry — we’ve put together a list of 10 cheeses that all go amazingly well with cold roast beef sandwiches:

1. Gouda

Gouda is a semi-soft cheese typically made from cows’ milk, although it can also be made from goats’ or sheeps’ milk.

It has a rich, buttery flavor and firm but smooth texture.

Gouda becomes more flavorful and often sharper with age.

The flavor of the cheese complements the roasted beef in this sandwich with its richness and creaminess.

The distinct bite of a gouda cheese makes it the perfect pairing for beef sandwiches.

2. Cheddar

Cheddar is one of the world’s most popular cheeses, and it certainly pairs well with roast beef sandwiches.

Cheddar has a slightly sharp and salty flavor that works perfectly with thinly sliced, savory roast beef.

Choose cheddar for a classic cheese sandwich, or add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce for an even more dynamic flavor.

For the best taste, use extra-sharp cheddar from England – the flavor will be brighter and more complex.

3. Provolone

Number three on our list of cheeses that go best with cold roast beef sandwiches is provolone.

A semi-hard type of cheese, it has a sharp, tangy flavor and is made from cow’s milk.

This cheese comes in two varieties with slightly different flavors: aged provolone (smoother and milder) and sharp provolone (intensely tangy).

Aged provolone is aged for six to nine months, which gives it a firmer texture and a nuttier flavor than sharp provolone.

Provolone goes great on sandwiches as it melts easily and quickly when heated.

Just add thinly sliced into your preferred sandwich recipe and enjoy the distinctive flavor of this fine Italian cheese.

4. Swiss Cheese

Swiss cheese, also known as Emmental cheese, is a mild yellow cheese that often comes with large holes.

It’s best used in melted form and brings a creamy texture and sweet-nutty flavor to many dishes.

This cheese is often the go-to when getting cold roast beef sandwiches, as it melts easily and doesn’t overpower the sandwich with an intense flavor.

As with any melted cheese sandwich, adding pickles can make this even more flavorful.

5. Havarti

Havarti has a semi-soft texture, small to medium-sized holes, and comes in many flavors from mild to strong.

It’s buttery, slightly tangy flavor makes it an excellent choice for a roast beef sandwich.

You can find it as a creamy white cheese or a more intense yellow version made with added annatto giving it both a stronger flavor and an orange hue.

Havarti melts beautifully, making it the perfect topping for hot sandwiches.

For extra oomph add slices of tomatoes and crispy lettuce leaves to your roast beef sandwich before topping with Havarti.

6. Mozzarella

A popular cheese that is mild and creamy with a unique soft texture, mozzarella makes an excellent addition to a cold roast beef sandwich.

Made from cow or buffalo’s milk, it can be flavored in many ways.

Whether you choose to use fresh mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, or even one of the newer varieties such as burrata, this cheese is sure to add a flavorful hint to your sandwich.

Adding some freshly-grated parmesan cheese at the end will help bring out the full flavor of the meal.

7. Pepper Jack

Pepper Jack is a type of cheese that is traditional to the United States.

It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow milk, and it typically has a mild to sharp flavor.

This cheese is characterized by its spiciness, getting its flavor from jalapeno and habanero peppers as well as other spices.

The addition of these pepper ingredients produces areas of yellow, orange and red mottles throughout the cheese.

Due to its spice level, Pepper Jack goes incredibly well with Roast Beef sandwiches that have been sitting on rye bread for a few days.

The spice mixes with the saltiness of the sandwich to produce flavors that will make your taste buds sing.

And due to its semi-hard texture and smooth texture, it is easy to cut into slices or spread onto your sandwich without breaking apart or becoming too dry.

Pepper Jack adds an excellent kick of heat while rounding out the cold roast beef flavor beautifully.

8. Gruyere

Gruyere is a semi-hard Swiss cheese made from cow’s milk.

It has a rich and creamy flavor, with distinct sweet, nutty aromas.

When fully aged, it takes on a salty flavor.

Gruyere pairs perfectly with any variety of cold roast beef, adding an extra boost of flavor and a luxurious creaminess.

The cheese melts well when heated and is a great addition to sandwiches as well as cheeseboards and fondue dishes.

9. Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is a strong flavoured and crumbly cheese with a salty taste.

Its signature smell and flavour come from being inoculated with cultures of the mold Penicillium, contributing to its distinctive green-blue veins.

Blue cheese is best when served at room temperature as colder temperatures will diminish its flavours.

Its creamy texture and sharp flavour make it an ideal complement to the savoury beef in a cold roast beef sandwich.

When shopping for blue cheese, be sure to grab one that is young for the strongest flavour possible.

Popular varieties include Bleu d’Auvergne, or Stilton if you’re feeling fancy.

10. Brie

Brie cheese has a wonderful creamy texture and an earthy, nutty flavor that make it a great addition to roast beef sandwiches.

It is a type of soft ripened cheese made from cows’ milk, with a bloomy white rind and buttery interior.

When brie is paired with roast beef on a sandwich, the salty flavors of the beef balance perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the cheese.

Brie should be served slightly chilled to best preserve its delicate flavor; serve it at room temperature when adding to sandwiches.

Conclusion

When it comes to a classic cold roast beef sandwich, it’s important to pick the right cheese to make it extraordinary.

Using one of the ten suggested cheeses can take your meal from ordinary to extra special.

From traditional options like cheddar and Swiss, to less common cheeses like gouda and boursin, there are plenty of ways to jazz up your cold roast beef sandwich.

In conclusion, topping a cold roast beef sandwich with any one of the ten recommended hard and soft cheese makes for a mouth-watering combination.

We encourage you to experiment with some of these cheeses to find the one that best complements your favorite cold roast beef sandwiches.