82 Superb Sandwich Recipes
Surely the sandwich is one of the world's great food groups: easy, inexpensive, portable, a canvas for all sorts of flavors. Need more persuasion? Take the sandwich recipes below, 82 of Epi's best. There are sandwiches here for every meal of the day, from early in the morning to late at night, and for every mood and palate. We also happen to be living in an absolute golden age of vegetarian sandwiches—just look at that beauty up there are the top of the page. Whether you're looking for a crispy chicken sandwich (several, actually) or pork katsu, bánh mì or fried bologna, or just a tasty riff on grilled cheese, we have something for you in our list.
Photo by Alex Lau3/82Pork Katsu Sandwich
Shio koji is a Japanese ingredient that, when used in a marinade, adds an incredible depth of savory flavor to meats, fish, and vegetables—and, here, to pork loin medallions. You can skip this step, though we highly recommend it.
Photo by David Loftus4/82Pressed Broccoli Rabe and Mozzarella Sandwiches
These sandwiches are a vegetarian cross between a New Orleans–style muffuletta (including that world-famous olive salad) and the kind of pork and broccoli rabe sandwich you'd find in Philly.
Photo by Julie Soefer6/82Fried Egg Bánh Mì
This sandwich gets immense flavor from a minimal list of ingredients including eggs, vegetables, and herbs. Mayo seasoned with fish sauce, meanwhile, is an umami bomb that would improve just about every sandwich imaginable.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson9/82Nutella Grilled Cheese
You're familiar with brie with fruit? Now try cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella with Nutella. It's similarly sweet and savory, but somehow even more pleasurable—especially on a crunchy griddled sandwich.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog10/82Butternut Squash Sandwich With Cheddar Cheese and Pickled Red Onion
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews13/82Spicy Egg Sandwich With Sausage and Pickled Peppers
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li14/82Breakfast Sandwich on an English Muffin With Charred Red Onions, Herbs, and Cheddar
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Chris Morocco18/82Fried Fish Sandwiches with Cucumbers and Tartar Sauce
Photo by Alex Lau20/82Green Goddess Tuna Salad Sandwich
Nobody's knocking good old tuna salad with mayo—but what about good old tuna salad with a creamy mayo-based sauce with basil, parsley, tarragon, and lemon? Served on a toasted English muffin? It could be the sandwich of summer.
Photo by Alex Lau21/82Salami and Pickle Grilled Cheese
This salty, cheesy sandwich can be lunch, a snack, or a late-night thing. Eat it with potato chips and lemonade; it's also great with a simple green salad for dinner.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Dawn Perry22/82Beer-Can Cabbage Sandwiches
Beer-can cabbage is the ultimate vegetarian grilled entrée—and while you can eat it straight, it's best treated like barbecue, piled onto a soft bun with cheese and crunchy slaw.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks23/82Tempeh "Bacon," Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich
Tempeh marinated in soy sauce, maple syrup, and smoked paprika is a vegetarian secret weapon in the kitchen. Enjoy it with eggs for breakfast, or on this tasty meat-free B.L.T.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton25/82Big Red Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks26/82Veggie Burgers with Zucchini and Corn
Bright zucchini, sweet corn, nutty millet, and creamy white beans add vibrant flavor and texture to these hearty veggie burgers. Serve on a gluten-free bun for a wheatless feast.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers27/82Grilled Cheese With Peak Tomatoes
The simplest summer tomato sandwich recipe involves nothing more than bread, mayo, and juicy fruit, and a slightly more complicated rendition adds a dollop of coleslaw. This version—with just a couple more ingredients and a little heat—adds up to a crunchy, oozy masterpiece.
Photo by Hannah Kaminsky29/82Barbecue-Flavored Chickpea Sandwiches
Cool romaine lettuce and barbecue-flavored chickpeas combine to create great flavor and texture in this hearty pita sandwich; serve it with potatoes or sweet potatoes, fresh corn, a simple quinoa salad or pilaf, or a light soup.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell30/82Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell32/82Diner-Style Patty Melt
This classic diner mash-up of a grilled cheese sandwich and a hamburger—the “king of all burgers,” according to some—is stuffed with a tangle of sweet pan-seared onions.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton33/82Chickpea Salad Sandwich With Creamy Carrot-Radish Slaw
Our vegetarian play on the classic chicken salad swaps in creamy, protein-packed chickpeas. With feta, cucumber, avocado, and spinach, this sandwich (along with the crunchy slaw) makes a satisfying and quick weeknight dinner.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson34/82Salmon Burgers with Red Pepper Mayo
Canned tuna gets all the attention, but where's the love for canned salmon? Mix it up here into patties, griddle till they're golden, then serve underneath a luscious—and easy–red pepper mayo.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton36/82Sheet-Pan Grilled Cheese
Making grilled cheese for the whole family? No need to cook sandwiches one at a time with this easy trick, in which two rimmed baking sheets and a hot oven act just like a giant panini press.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone42/82Microwave Egg Sandwich with Cheddar and Avocado
Photo by Eva Kolenko43/82Breaded Chicken Sandwiches with Sesame Rolls (Cemita Poblana de Milanesa)
A regional specialty from Puebla, Mexico, cemitas are named after the soft, round sesame buns they're served on. This version is piled high with pounded, breaded chicken, sweet-spicy salsa de morita, avocado, lettuce, and refried beans.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott47/82Best-Ever Grilled Cheese
How can you know for sure if this grilled cheese sandwich recipe is really the best ever? The first step is making it. The second is serving it with tomato soup.
Photo by Peter Frank Edwards.51/82Fancy Grilled Cheese With A Fried Egg
You might look at a crunchy, gooey, honey-drizzled grilled cheese sandwich with an egg on top and call it decadent—but you could also call it dinner, particularly when served with a simple green salad with a basic vinaigrette.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Katherine Sacks54/82Pan Bagnat Sandwich with Tuna, Anchovies, and Parsley
Like the muffuletta above—and unlike the typical tuna on wheat—this Provençal classic only gets better as sits, making it just the thing for picnics, backyard suppers, and last-minute road trips.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks56/82Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Buttermilk Slaw and Herbed Mayo
photo by Charles Masters59/82Egg Sandwich with Bologna, Gherkin Mayo, and Crispy Onions
The egg, sausage, and cheese sandwich gets an upgrade with beef bologna (or salami or summer sausage), smoked white cheddar cheese, and a gherkin mayo you'll want to put on every other sandwich, too.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh60/82Turkey Pho Dip
With its pho-inspired broth redolent of anise, scallions, ginger, and fish sauce, this recipe was created as a way to use up leftover turkey. Feel free to sub in chicken, though, if that's what you've got.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh63/82French Toast Turkey Sandwich
It's worth cooking an entire Thanksgiving dinner just to get leftovers that'll let you do this: Stack turkey and cranberry preserves—and thick-cut bacon for good measure—inside cinnamon-scented French toast. You could do this with leftover chicken, though, and the results would be just as exemplary.
Photo by Alex Lau66/82Charred Caprese Sandwich
How do you improve on a classic Caprese? Put a little char on those juicy summer tomatoes, toss them with oil and vinegar, then serve with fresh cheese and herbs and a grilled baguette.
67/82Slow-Cooker Cuban Pulled-Pork Panini Sandwiches
Cuban pulled pork meets traditional Cuban ham and Swiss sandwiches in these zesty, melty paninis. The pork absorbs loads of flavor while slow cooking in a garlic- and citrus-infused mojo sauce, which ultimately makes for one amazing hot sandwich.
Weelicious71/82Benedictine Sandwiches
Built around a spread made of cucumbers and cream cheese, this cool and creamy sandwich hails from the South—and would be lovely served with a pitcher of sweet iced tea.
Photo by Alex Lau72/82Sausage Meatball Sandwiches
We like the combo of spicy and sweet Italian sausage, but use any uncooked sausage you like—merguez or chorizo would work. They all taste good doused in tomato sauce and served under a blanket of melty mozzarella.
Marcus Nilsson75/82Salmon Salad Sandwiches on Ciabatta
This sandwich recipe—just a few fresh ingredients, judiciously chosen and piled onto ciabatta—is the perfect venue for any leftover salmon you might have on hand.
Photo by Stephen Baccon81/82Spice-Rubbed Sustainable Fish Sliders
Sliders are a simple concept, but perfecting them is a bit of an art: It’s all about getting the three main components—the sauce, the filling, and the bread—in the right ratio.
Photo by James Ransom82/82Cheesy Chicken Melt With All of the Onions Relish
A riff on the traditional patty melt, this sandwich recipe revolves around perfectly cooked chicken breast and a big pile of caramelized onions. A mixture of yellow onions, red onions, scallions, and fried shallots is fun, but you can use any onions you have on hand.
