• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • Puerto Rican
  • Cuban
  • About

Latina Mom Meals

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Puerto Rican
  • Cuban
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Puerto Rican
    • Cuban
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home

    Published: Aug 23, 2019 · Modified: Dec 16, 2019 by Neyssa

    Pan con Bistec | Cuban Steak Sandwich

    Sharing is caring!

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Pan con bistec is the ultimate Cuban steak sandwich that is very juicy, dripping with sour orange and onion infused flavors! 

    Cubans love their steak recipes. My abuela told me that in Cuba she only ever really ate chicken and pork. So when she moved to the US, all she ever wanted was steak and onions. Our garlic butter steak and bistec encebollado is just a fraction of what can be made with steak! 

    Pan con Bistec | Cuban Steak Sandwich

    If you're wondering what is pan con bistec, pan con bistec is "bread with steak" in English. It's a simple and humble steak sandwich recipe, that uses Cuban or French bread, sliced in half with a smear of mayonnaise, topped with some pan seared cube steak with loads of onions and an amazing naranja agria (sour orange) marinade. The secret is in the sauce!

    How to make pan con bistec | How make steak sandwich

    1. Season your steak (I used cube steak, you can use flank steak if desired.)
    2. Slice onions into long slices. (For 6 steaks, use one whole onion.)
    3. Add onions to seasoned steak mixture. 
    4. Pour in sour orange or lime juice.
    5. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
    6. Cook steak and onions in batches until steak is cooked to your desired liking.
    7. Serve on Cuban bread or French bread with a smear of mayonnaise.

    What kind of steak should I use to make pan con bistec?

    Every family uses a different cut of steak, I love to use cubed steak since that is what I recall my father making. Some other steak options for steak sandwiches are:

    • top round steak slices, pounded
    • rib eye steak, sliced

    Really, any kind of steak that can be sliced into thicker slices would be great for pan con bistec!

    raw cube steak in a glass bowl

    What seasonings do I use to make a Cuban steak sandwich?

    • salt
    • pepper
    • cumin
    • oregano (ground or dried)
    • garlic powder
    • sazon seasoning (optional)

    steak with seasonings in a glass bowl

    Season it, and add in sliced onions. Top the cubed steak with naranja agria (sour orange) or a mojo marinade. Don't have either? Cut up a lime and splash it on! Let it marinate for 15 minutes!

    raw steak and onions in a glass bowl

    How long do I cook steak for a steak sandwich?

    With cubed steak, cook for 3-5 minutes per side -depending on how rare or well-done you want your steak. I personally cook mine for like 5-6 minutes per side (I know, I know!)

    Tip for success: For an extra juicy pan con bistec, add in some naranja agria or mojo sauce to the pan while the steak and onions are cooking!

    raw steak and onions cooking on a cast iron pan

    What should be served on the side of bistec con pan?

    What to serve with pan con bistec?

    Chayote Egg Salad

    Chayote Tuna Salad Recipe

    Puerto Rican Potato Salad

    Shrimp Potato Salad

    Pan con bistec | Cuban Steak Sandwich

    Simple and savory, this Cuban steak sandwich is the best steak and onion sandwich ever!
    4.25 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: Cuban
    Keyword: Cubansandwich, steaksandwich
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories:
    Author: Neyssa
    Cost: 8

    Ingredients

    • 2.2 pounds of cube steak
    • 1 teaspoon of salt
    • ½ teaspoon of black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon of garlic
    • ½ teaspoon of cumin
    • ½ teaspoon of ground oregano
    • 1 packet of Sazon seasoning optional
    • 1 large onion sliced
    • 1- 1 ½ cups of naranja agria or mojo marinade
    • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
    • 1 loaf of Cuban bread or French bread
    • mayonnaise as desired
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, season steak with salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, oregano, and Sazon. Massage the steak with the seasonings. Add in onions and naranja agria. Let it marinate for 15 minutes.
    • Heat oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add in steak and onions. Cook steak for 4-6 minutes per side, or until desired level of done. May be done in batches. Leave the onions until as softened as desired. To assemble the sandwiches, cut steak one steak into 3-4 slices and place it on a cut 4 inch Cuban bread that has been smeared with mayonnaise. Top with onions and close the sandwich. Serve.

     

    More Beef Recipes Category Archive

    • oxtails with corn and potatoes
      Puerto Rican Oxtail Stew
    • empanada in air fryer
      Air Fryer Cheesy Beef Pastelillo
    • mango turkey picadillo in a white bowl
      Healthy Mango Picadillo
    • Puerto Rican Corned Beef Hash

    About Neyssa

    Neyssa is a Latina food blogger who shares her Cuban and Puerto Rican family recipes for home cooks to make.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    4.25 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Neyssa is a Puerto Rican and Cuban self-taught home cook who lives right outside of Philly and is on a mission to share recipes that are inspired by her Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage.

    More about Neyssa →

    Latest Recipes

    • Close up shot of coquito in a glass cup with cinnamon on the rim and a Puerto Rican flag.
      Classic Coquito with Tea
    • Tea for coquito is inside of a glass cup with a gray and blue background, spices, and Puerto Rican flags.
      Spiced Tea for Coquito
    • Close up shot of freshly made loose yellow rice and green pigeon peas in a silver pot.
      Arroz con gandules
    • A close up shot of crema de maiz inside of a bowl with a spoon, topped with fresh berries.
      Harina De Maiz: Cornmeal Porridge

    Winter Favorites

    • pernil | roasted pork shoulder
      Cuban Pernil
    • rice and shrimp stew in a blue plate
      Asopao de Camarones | Shrimp Stew
    • Instant Pot Puerto Rican Sancocho Recipe
      Sancocho
    • Homemade Puerto Rican Salami Soup | Sopa de Salchichon estilo Boricua
      Puerto Rican Salami Soup

    Footer

    Copyright © 2025 Latina Mom Meals All Rights Reserved

    PRIVACY POLICY + TERMS OF USE | ABOUT & CONTACT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.