Frozen Pretzel Sandwiches

These Frozen Pretzel Sandwiches are a snap to make.  Kids will love the whimsical pretzel “bun”  adults will stay for the creamy parmesan Dijon sauce and cordon blue style filling.  And best of all, it is weeknight fast while being just fancy enough to seem special.

Ingredients in Frozen Pretzel Sandwich

It all starts with the pretzel bread, or in this case, soft pretzel.  You could buy these fresh from your favorite local vendor, or simply use the frozen variety, which is what I did.

Next add some gather some deli sliced ham, chicken or turkey and some baby swiss cheese.  And, if you like, a bit of Dijon mustard.  

To make the sauce, you will need:

• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Chicken bouillon
• Dijon mustard
• Texas Pete (or your favorite hot sauce)
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Salt and pepper

Pretzel Sandwich Directions

• Begin by making the sauce:
  • Melt the butter and stir in the flour.  
  • Add the milk, bouillon, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, grated parmesan and salt and pepper.
  • Continue to stir until the sauce begins to thicken.  Remove from the heat.  
• For the Pretzel Melt Sandwiches:
  • Heat the panini press for a few minutes.  No panini press?  No worries!  You could use (as I did, a George Foreman grill), a waffle iron or any hot press that works for you.
  • Assemble the sandwiches:
    • Top one pretzel with the ham, half of the swiss cheese, the dijon mustard, the remaining swiss cheese, the turkey or chicken, followed by the remaining pretzel.  
    • Place on the panini press (no need to defrost the pretzels first), and press down lightly to seal the edges.  Cook 3-4 minutes.  Flip the pretzel melts and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted.
• Note:  you can also make the sandwiches first and then the sauce.  If the sauce happens to thicken too much while the sandwiches are cooking, or if you were to make it in advance, reheat the sauce, which should help it thin a bit.  

Make Pretzel Sandwiches in Advance

• For the sauce:  you can definitely make the sauce in advance; however, keep in mind, it may thicken too much as it sits.  Warming the sauce again will help to loosen the sauce and make it more ready for dipping.
• The pretzel melts really won’t do well being made too far in advance.  The pretzels will tend to get overly dried out, especially if you attempt to re-warm them.  Fortunately, the melts cook very quickly, so you should not need to make them in advance. 

What to serve with an Air Fryer Frozen Pretzel Melt Sandwich?

• These Lemon Roasted Mixed Vegetables would be a nice, fresh accompaniment to these sandwiches.
• The sauce also works great on baked potatoes, which would be another simple side dish.
• A basic salad of kale or iceberg lettuce with a few additional veggies would be nice.
• A fruit salad, especially some melon would be a perfect side dish.

Ways to customize an Air Fryer Frozen Pretzel Melt Sandwich?

It is really hard to go wrong with the recipe as written; however, preferences and picky eaters being as they may…here are some options:

• The pretzels can be frozen, as used in the recipe.  If you prefer, you can buy them fresh at your favorite local pretzel store, or even use homemade pretzels.
• Don’t like the ham, chicken or turkey?  Any one can be omitted and swapped with additional of another.
• Dijon, is totally optional.
• The Swiss cheese could be traded for your favorite cheese, just keep in mind you want to use something that will pair well with the creamy parmesan dijon sauce.
• Not a fan of the sauce, feel free to swap your own!  Options might include: nacho cheese sauce, garlic butter, ranch, mustard or dijon mustard, or a creamy peppercorn sauce.

Air Fryer Frozen Pretzel Melt Sandwich with Creamy Parmesan Dijon Sauce

Anne

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 6 sandwiches

Ingredients

  

• 12 soft pretzels
• 12-14 slices deli ham
• 24 slices deli Baby Swiss cheese
• 12-24 slices deli sliced turkey or chicken
• Dijon mustard optional

For the creamy parmesan Dijon sauce

• 1.5 Tablespoons butter
• 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
• 1/2 teaspoon Texas Pete (or other hot sauce)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

 

For the Pretzel Melts

• Place frozen pretzel bases on the air fryer basket.
• Add the ham, followed by half of the swiss cheese.  Add the Dijon mustard, if using, followed by the remaining swiss cheese, turkey and pretzel tops.
• Heat the air fryer to 320 and cook for 3 minutes, flip and cook an additional 1-4 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted. Total cooking time will depend on the brand of pretzels you are using and the model of air fryer you have.
• Remove to a plate and serve alongside the creamy parmesan Dijon sauce.

For the Creamy Parmesan Dijon Sauce

• Melt the butter in a small sauce pan.  Whisk in the flour until it disappears.  Add the milk, slowly.
• Add the remaining ingredients and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thickened.  Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Notes

• If all the pretzel melts will not fit on your press, simply repeat the process with additional sandwiches.
• The Creamy Parmesan Dijon Sauce is also great as a sauce for vegetables like broccoli or brussels sprouts or served atop a baked potato.