31 Standout Sandwich Recipes
You don’t need a recipe to make a great sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and olive, pineapple and mayonnaise—some combinations practically build themselves. But the sandwich recipes below are worth following to the letter.
This collection includes breakfast sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, riffs on grilled cheese, the ultimate tuna melt, a cheesesteak on focaccia, party-worthy vegetarian sandwiches, beach-ready hoagies, and more. Some are quick enough for a weekday lunch or dinner, while others make ideal summer sandwiches for picnics, beach days, and backyard gatherings.
No matter the filling, the best sandwiches balance flavor and texture: crispy against creamy, crunchy against juicy, melty against fresh. Whatever you’re craving, your next favorite sandwich starts here.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams1/31A Perfect Tuna Melt
When a sandwich recipe is this simple, all components need to be maxed out on flavor. Here, that means oil-packed tuna, crunchy celery, vibrant dill, and briny capers on buttery griddled bread. More great tuna recipes, this way →
Christopher Testani2/31Ultimate BLT
Cookbook author Rick Martinez knows it’s hard to improve on a classic sandwich like the BLT. Instead, he focuses on making each component as tasty as possible: glazing the bacon, flavoring the mayo with either lemon and herbs or sriracha, and limiting your consumption to peak-tomato season.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones3/31Big Ass Beach Hoagie
Half the fun of a day at the beach is the snacks. Example A: This larger-than-life Italian-style deli sandwich. For the true hoagie shop experience, make sure you get the mortadella and soppressata sliced paper-thin. Pair it with a bag of chips and a wedge of watermelon and call it lunch.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams4/31Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Club
Photo by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Haubert, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky5/31Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Switching out sliced white sandwich bread for garlic bread adds serious oomph to a grilled cheese sandwich. And no, that cheese pull isn’t from sliced American—it’s cheddar or bust.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie6/31Gochujang Sloppy Joes
Deputy food editor Hana Asbrink has come a long way from Manwich, the canned sauce that ignited her love for the classic sloppy joe. Her version employs gochujang, which adds spicy-sweet flair to this still-quick weeknight meal.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea7/31Spicy Chorizo Patty Melt
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman8/31Inside-Out Kimchi Grilled Cheese
Kimchi can make almost anything taste just a little better—including a grilled cheese sandwich. The funky fermented cabbage pairs perfectly with rich, melty cheddar and butter-toasted bread. More of our favorite ways to use kimchi →
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini9/31Grilled Chicken Sandwich With Caesar-ish Dressing
This is not your average chicken sandwich recipe. First, a Dijon mustard–spiked Caesar dressing doubles as the marinade and the base for the requisite special sauce. Then, instead of frying, the chicken chars to near-blackened perfection on the grill.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones11/31Spicy Chicken Katsu Sandwiches
Give katsu the hot chicken treatment with this all-star sandwich recipe. Pounding the chicken breast ultra-thin creates more surface area for the panko to cling to, resulting in intense crispiness.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca12/31Make-Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches
Assemble, wrap, and freeze these simple sandwiches for the most convenient make-ahead breakfast.
Gentl & Hyers14/31California Veggie Sandwich
Looking for an actually satisfying vegetarian sandwich recipe? This California-inspired stack combines fresh and pickled vegetables, creamy avocado, and tangy goat cheese on hearty seeded bread. It’s crunchy, creamy, bright, and filling.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova, prop styling by Emily Eisen15/31Broccolini Cheesesteaks
Charred, frizzled broccolini ousts the meat in this vegetarian take on cheesesteaks. Punchy romesco sauce and lots of gooey provolone cheese seal the deal.
Photo by Isa Zapata16/31Curried Tomato Sandwich
Toast crusty sourdough bread in curry-infused oil to elevate an otherwise straightforward tomato sandwich. When you’ve had your fill of sandwiches (if that’s even possible), check out some of our other favorite ways to use a juicy, ripe tomato.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman17/31Panini Alla Norma
Inspired by Italian pasta alla norma, these eggplant, tomato, and mozzarella sandwiches make a delightful portable lunch. And no, you don’t need a panini press to make them: Use a heavy cast-iron skillet to weigh down the sandwiches while they cook.
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Frances Boswell, prop styling by Sophie Strangio18/31Bombay Sandwich
Photograph by Emma Fishman19/31Smashroom Sandwich
Seared mixed mushrooms bring a boost of umami to this sandwich, while mozzarella, pickled peppers, and pesto add brightness. Rub the grilled bread with a clove of garlic to amp up the flavor (FYI: This trick also works wonders on tomato crostini).
Photo by Chelsea Kyle20/31Kale Reuben
A Reuben sandwich without corned beef? Trust the process. Sauté and simmer kale with caramelized garlic until it’s silky and tender, then toss with sauerkraut and a yogurt-based sauce. Double-stacked with Swiss cheese, the sandwich is grilled to melty, umami perfection.
Photograph by Isa Zapata21/31Cucumber Sandwich With Green Chutney
Of all the great sandwich recipes in the world, you probably didn’t guess that one of our favorites is a tea sandwich. This easy recipe features thinly sliced cucumbers, tangy whipped cream cheese, and a punchy green sauce, all tucked between two slices of white bread. Cut these fancy sandwiches into dainty diamonds for teatime, or go for one slice down the middle for a light lunch.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Gerri Williams22/31Buttery Shrimp Rolls
We all love a lobster roll. But if claw meat isn’t in your budget, try a more affordable, equally lovable shrimp roll. Pro tip: Line the buttered buns with lettuce leaves to keep the bread from going soggy.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco23/31Fried Fish Sandwiches With Cucumbers and Tartar Sauce
While we love a fried fish sandwich, deep-frying indoors can be a hassle. Solution: Set a cast-iron skillet directly over the fire of your outdoor grill, then fry away.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Suzie Myers24/31Tinned-Salmon Niçoise Sandwich
This twist on the classic Provençal pan bagnat requires exactly zero cooking. Pile buttery canned salmon, pickled and fresh vegetables, and creamy anchovy mayo atop crusty bread. Like any great picnic sandwich, it only gets better as the flavors mingle.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness25/31Crab Cake Sandwiches
We love a crab cake, especially when it’s nestled on a toasted brioche bun. Oh, and there’s also a crisp cabbage slaw and an Old Bay–seasoned special sauce in the mix.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Drew Aichele, and Prop Styling by Adrian Ababović26/31Giant Cheesesteak Focaccia
Think of this unique sandwich idea as a Philly cheesesteak scaled up for a crowd. Thinly sliced beef, sautéed peppers, onions, and melty white American cheese, piled on a giant slab of focaccia (we recommend our Easy No-Knead Focaccia) and sliced into shareable wedges.
Photograph by Isa Zapata27/31Peach and Prosciutto Sandwich
If summer were a ham sandwich, it would be full of perfectly ripe peaches, prosciutto, and fresh basil. Double the ingredients and build on a whole baguette to make a picnic lunch for two.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Gerri Williams28/31Pork Adobo Pull-Apart Sliders
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Pearl Jones29/31Bulgogi Meatloaf Sandwich
While a thick slab of bulgogi meatloaf would sit pretty next to a scoop of Korean potato salad, we recommend giving it a quick kiss on the griddle and piling it between two slices of bread.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Billingskog31/31Sriracha-Braised Brisket Sandwiches
A brisket sandwich might be the best BBQ sandwich (sorry, pulled pork). This one is braised rather than smoked for juicy meat, then piled on potato rolls. Not quite as hands-off as slow cooker barbecue, but worth the effort.
