73 Sandwiches That'll Blow All Other Lunches Out Of The Water
These'll make ya melt.
Sandwiches are arguably the perfect food, and a great one just hits different. Toss one in your bag for the beach, a road trip, or simply load one up for a quick lunch, you'll very rarely go wrong. Whether you're craving a TikTok-viral "pool sandwich" (essentially a sandwich stuffed with plenty of chips to refuel after all that poolside Marco Polo-ing) or want something way more hearty and exciting than a PB&J, these 73 easy lunch sandwich recipes will convince you that lunch is the most important meal of the day.
We’ve got all the classics you know and love, though we’ve put some extra special spins on them to help elevate your sandwich game. Our BLT, for example, is made with bacon brushed with maple syrup and cayenne and mayo spiced with chili powder and paprika. Our chicken salad has red onion, celery and dill pickles for crunch, while mustard and Greek yogurt add creaminess with the perfect amount of tang—spread on bread or lettuce and lunch is ready to go. We take our Cuban next level by using pork chops that take just 20 minutes (!!) to marinate. And don’t even get us started on our grilled cheeses—we’ve got every version you could possibly think of, from sloppy Joe to French onion.If we could dream it, we made it!
And don’t worry, these aren’t all focused on meat. After a particularly heavy dinner or breakfast (we see you bacon, egg, and cheese), sometimes we all could go for some lighter, meatless fare for lunch. So we’ve included some EPIC vegetarian and vegan sandwiches here too, like our tofu bánh mì, our sabich sandwich, or our baked falafel sandwich. We bet you won’t even miss the meat.
Burrata Pizza Sandwiches
Some recent TikTok scrolling led us to a gorgeous pizza sandwich sealed by its doughy edge, torn-open steaming, and stuffed with cheese and cured meat. We had to make it pronto. With a little collaboration, we created a super-crusty sandwich stuffed with creamy burrata, salty prosciutto, sweet fig jam, and peppery arugula.
Get the Burrata Pizza Sandwiches recipe.
Cuban Sandwich
Instead of breaking out a 3-lb. pork shoulder or tenderloin, we used boneless, thinly sliced pork chops, marinated in zesty mojo and roasted for about 20 minutes to mimic the flavors of the original. Just one shortcut turns this sandwich from an all-day project into something you can accomplish in just 1 hour (!).
Get the Cuban Sandwich recipe.
Fried Chicken Caesar Sandwich
Did someone say fried chicken AND Caesar in the same sentence? Yes—you heard correctly. We’ve decided to combine two much-loved recipes to make this lip-smackingly delicious burger. Biting through the buttery, sweet brioche to meet the salty Caesar dressing dripping over crispy chicken is nothing more than a masterpiece of a mouthful.
Get the Fried Chicken Caesar Sandwich recipe.
Turkey Lavash Wraps
Filled with a zingy dill-arugula salad, sliced turkey, roasted red peppers, and crunchy cucumbers, and sealed with a creamy goat cheese spread, this wrap is exactly the kind of colorful light dinner we crave to brighten up our weekdays.
Get the Turkey Lavash Wraps recipe.
Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu)
Inspired by the popular Japanese onigirazu, this is like a cross between sushi and a sandwich. We filled ours with spicy salmon, seasoned sushi rice, cucumber, pickled cabbage, carrot, and avocado—then wrapped it in nori to make it extra portable. Serve it with plenty of the sriracha-soy mayo on the side!
Get the Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu) recipe.
Grilled Fish Sandwich With Slaw & Tzatziki
Not only is this sandwich absolutely gorgeous (we can thank turmeric for its golden hue!), it also comes together in a flash. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect summer grilling recipe to shake up your burger and hot dog game.
Get the Grilled Fish Sandwich With Slaw & Tzatziki recipe.
Chopped Sandwich
Imagine not having to unhinge your jaw like a snake to enjoy your favorite Italian deli hero. This chopped sandwich is here to turn that dream into a reality. Turns out, running a knife through your sandwich ingredients before piling them into a roll makes the whole ordeal of crushing a big hoagie a lot easier to manage.
Get the Chopped Sandwich recipe.
Italian Beef Sandwich
The Windy City is famous for a lot of things (like deep-dish pizza, Garrett’s popcorn, and World’s Fairs), but when it comes to city-specific, iconic sandwiches, nothing holds a candle to Chicago’s Italian beef.
Get the Italian Beef Sandwich recipe.
Baba Ghanoush Bagel Sandwich
We've taken all the elements we love from a baba ghanoush mezze platter and made them portable in this open-faced sandwich. The silky eggplant dip is spread on a sesame bagel, then layered with crunchy cucumbers and radishes, peppery arugula, and lemony sumac-marinated onions.
Get the Baba Ghanoush Bagel Sandwich recipe.
Best Chicken Salad
When it comes to chicken salad, we'd argue that our balance of add-ins here is the pinnacle, but once you nail the chicken and the dressing, you can feel free to spread your wings and give it your own personal flair.
Get the Best Chicken Salad recipe.
Caprese Sandwich
Is there anything more summer-perfect than Caprese salad? We think not, so we decided that a Caprese sandwich should be the official sandwich of summer (or any time you get your hands on some perfect tomatoes).
Get the Caprese Sandwich recipe.
Copycat Panera Frontega Chicken Panini
We love hot panini of any kind, but this homemade version of our favorite Panera Bread panini is extra-special. Smoky shredded chicken, melty mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes are pressed between focaccia to create a sandwich that’s crispy-crunchy on the outside, and soft and warm in the middle. Lunchtime heaven.
Rainbow Collard Green Wrap
Colorful bunches of shredded purple cabbage, carrots, yellow bell peppers, sliced avocado, alfalfa sprouts, and crimson red sauerkraut are rolled into big collard green leaves like a burrito. We like to serve each wrap with a simple creamy dipping sauce made with tahini, maple syrup, cider vinegar, and sesame seeds. No need to wonder what's for lunch anymore.
Get the Rainbow Collard Green Wrap recipe.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are here with their totally retro swirls, ready to be packed into lunchboxes or eaten as an afternoon snack. To make them, you'll layer flour tortillas with ranch-flavored mayonnaise, sliced cheese, deli meats, and lettuce. All that's left to do is roll them up tightly and slice. Simple!
Get the Pinwheel Sandwiches recipe.
Baked Falafel Sandwiches
Although these shortcut falafel aren’t as crispy as the classic fried variety, they develop a nice golden crust and contain all the key spices. A zippy roasted pepper salad is the perfect foil, and creamy tahini sauce ties it all together.
Get the Baked Falafel Sandwiches recipe.
Pastrami Sandwich
Pastrami is a versatile cut of beef that can be used in countless ways, and was brought to New York City by Jewish immigrants in the late 19th century. Initially a preservation method, it evolved into a beloved sandwich staple featuring spiced, smoked, and steamed beef, capturing the essence of NYC's diverse culinary heritage.
Get the Pastrami Sandwich recipe.
Tuscan Chicken Wrap
We just can’t get enough Tuscan chicken. This time, it’s in wrap form and quite possibly the easiest and most flavorful lunch you can make. It’s got rotisserie chicken, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and fresh spinach, but the real secret to what makes this wrap so delicious is in the sauce.
Get the Tuscan Chicken Wrap recipe.
Mexican Torta
Mexican tortas are one of the most delicious types of sandwiches. No surprise, since Mexican food tends to be delicious across the board. Though tortas can be a pretty hearty meal on their own, a bowl of salsa or guacamole with tortilla chips would be welcome alongside.
Get the Mexican Torta recipe.
Egg Salad
While we love our variations, (lookin’ at you, Cobb egg salad), it’s always a good idea to have a tried-and-true recipe up your sleeve. Our standard centers around just 6 core ingredients; use it as a base for creative mix-ins and variations, or enjoy as is for a truly classic recipe.
Get the Egg Salad recipe.
Copycat Steak 'N Shake Frisco Melt
The Frisco Melt is a building of delicate layers of goodness. You have your slices of sourdough bread on top with that tangy dressing on one slice and some caramelized onions on the other, with the pièce de résistance smashed burger with two slices of melted cheese in the middle.
