Our 18 Best Sandwich Recipes for Lunch and Dinner

Delight your taste buds with these creative sandwiches.

cabbage bacon sandwich — Credit:
Marcus Nilsson

While it’s true that many sandwiches require no recipe—hello, ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and grilled cheese—some take a more creative approach for an incredible fusion of flavor and texture. The delectable sandwiches in this gallery all fall into that category. In fact, these recipes show just how diverse and delicious this humble food can be.

01 of 18

Avocado-and-Sprout Club Sandwiches

NGOC MINH NGO

Calling all vegetarians! You'll love this simple sandwich recipe, which features an array of fresh veggies, avocado, sprouts, and goat cheese on whole grain bread. It's a classic veggie sammie—but with more pizzazz.

02 of 18

Italian Pressed Sandwich

crispy pressed italian sandwiches on ciabatta — Con Poulos

There's something special about a grilled sandwich. Here, a pressed sandwich loaded with cheese, spicy salami, arugula, olive tapenade, and more is put on the grill, then sliced and served.

03 of 18

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

buffalo chicken sandwiches — Armando Rafael

A toasted panko crust turns chicken cutlets into a wonderfully crunchy yet juicy sandwich filling. Hot sauce and blue cheese give it the classic buffalo flavor, though you can opt for ranch dressing instead, if you prefer.

04 of 18

Heirloom Tomato With Garlic-Parsley Aioli

Heirloom Tomato Tartines with Garlic-Parsley Aioli — David Malosh

This super summer sandwich starts with a humdinger of a ripe heirloom. Cut a thick slice crosswise to reveal its tie-dye colors, then sprinkle on salt and pepper. Next comes our speedy aioli: Smashed garlic and minced parsley are stirred into your favorite mayonnaise for an upgraded spread you'll want to make time and time again. Layer it all on toasted brioche, and finish with sweet, crunchy pea shoots.

05 of 18

Shredded Beef Chuck Roast Sandwich

Shredded Beef Chuck Roast — Jason Donnelly

Beef chuck roast gets cooked low and slow until it can be shredded into a tender mass of flavorful meat. Turn it into a classic sloppy joe or a Philly cheesesteak-style sandwich, or keep it simple with sliced onion and some mustard on a brioche bun.

06 of 18

Summer-Veggie Melts With Caper Sauce

Summer Veggie Melts with Caper Sauce — Con Poulos

This vegetarian sandwich is bursting with flavor, thanks to grilled peppers, onions, and broccolini, melted provolone, and a bright basil-caper-garlic mayonnaise sauce.

07 of 18

Lemony-Yogurt Salmon Tartine With Dill

Lemony-Yogurt Salmon Tartine with Dill — Nico Schinco

For brunch and beyond, here's a sophisticated and unconventional open-face sandwich of cooked salmon atop a yogurt-based sauce that's been blended with dill, capers, onion, lemon, and olive oil.

08 of 18

Zucchini, Avocado, and Jalapeno Tartine

zucchini avocado jalapeno tartine — Dana Gallagher

If you're looking for something even more substantial than avocado toast, add these attractive zucchini ribbons with fresh jalapeno, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

09 of 18

Quick Shrimp Po'boys

quick shrimp po'boys — Lennart Weibull

This sandwich will transport you to New Orleans after a single bite. Cornmeal-crusted fried shrimp sits atop shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce for a decadent meal.

10 of 18

Rustic Croque Monsieur

This classic pan-fried French sandwich uses both Gruyère and Parmesan to make a cheesy sauce that goes inside and outside the toasted bread. It's a rich and filling sandwich, best eaten with a knife and fork.

11 of 18

Martha's Favorite Egg Salad Sandwich

It's hard to beat a simple egg sandwich, and this filling version does not disappoint. Although it foregoes yolks, it includes heart-healthy avocado, which adds creaminess and flavor (as does a spoonful of Dijon mustard). Add some arugula for a peppery kick.

12 of 18

Classic Chicken Salad

Chicken salad sandwich with lettuce on a plate — Jacob Fox

Sometimes you don't want to mess with a great combination, like the classic chicken salad sandwich. Use whatever leftover chicken you have, jazzed up with mayo, mustard, a bit of hot sauce, lemon, onion, and parsley.

13 of 18

Pressed Picnic Sandwich

pressed picnic sandwich — Bryan Gardner

Something magical happens when you press crusty bread and great ingredients together, and the best part is, you actually don't need any special equipment. For this easy Italian panini, you prepare the sandwich, wrap it tightly in plastic, and weight down with something heavy (canned goods work just fine). After an hour or more, the flavors are wonderfully melded.

14 of 18

Lobster Rolls

Luke's Lobster Roll — Johnny Miller

The best ingredients don't need much to shine, and this recipe is proof. It's simply buttered and toasted buns spread with mayo, filled with lobster meat, and drizzled with melted butter, lemon juice, and some fresh herbs. The result is sublime.

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Ham and Swiss Sandwich

Simplicity rules in this basic yet beautiful sandwich. Ham and Swiss cheese are layered inside a crispy buttered baguette.

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Reuben Sandwich

Bryan Gardner

Cheesy, meaty, and entirely indulgent, the Reuben is a classic American sandwich that lives up to the hype. No wonder it makes our list of the best sandwich recipes! It starts with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing; add slices of rye bread and grill until everything melts together. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the pickles on the side!

17 of 18

Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

pulled chicken bbq sandwich

A rich, homemade barbecue sauce is the key to these slow-simmered pulled chicken sandwiches. The chicken is seared for extra flavor, then gently simmered in a mix of beer and barbecue sauce until tender and juicy. Top each sandwich with a scoop of crunchy coleslaw for the perfect finishing touch.

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Avocado and Boursin Sandwiches

Avocado and Boursin Sandwiches — Lennart Weibull

Creamy Boursin, crisp cucumber and avocado come together on toasted pumpernickel, layered with lemon cabbage, carrot ribbons, and fresh pea shoots for a veggie-packed sandwich full of flavor. It makes a nice lunch or light dinner.

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