25 Sandwich Ideas That Prove Lunch Doesn't Have to Be Boring
Sink your teeth into sliders, subs, and even sloppy joes!
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When in doubt, make a sandwich. Whether you're throwing together an easy brown bag lunch or craving an overstuffed sub for supper, there's a sandwich for every occasion—simple or stacked! Ree Drummond knows this better than anyone. From the juicy steak sandwiches she whips up for Ladd to the endless creations served at The Mercantile, Ree's love for a good handheld meal runs deep. With that in mind, we rounded up some of the best sandwich ideas for lunch, dinner, or even a late-night snack. (Because who doesn't love a midnight melt every now and then?)
If classic sandwiches are what you're after, we've got you covered with chicken salad sandwiches and a traditional Reuben. Looking for something a little out of the box? Try Ree's take on steak sandwiches with wasabi cream sauce, ham sandwiches with pesto mayo, and a fun twist on pulled pork sandwiches piled onto salty pretzel buns! Any of these sandwich ideas would be a great addition to a picnic menu, but they also make the easiest 30-minute meals. So whether you're craving sliced deli meats, chicken, or cheese, this list has tons of ideas for fun and tasty sandwiches!
The Marlboro Man Sandwich
No sandwich roundup would be complete with Ladd Drummond's favorite steak sandwich! In Ree's own words: "It's meaty. It's manly. It's flavorful." The mouthwatering mixture of steak, onions, and gravy makes sure of it.
Get Ree's The Marlboro Man Sandwich recipe.
Chicken Parm Meatball Subs
Craving Italian? Combine two crowd-pleasing classics—chicken parm and meatballs—into one savory sub. It has all the cheesy, saucy goodness of chicken parm sandwiched between crispy, buttered hoagie rolls.
Get Ree's Chicken Parm Meatball Subs recipe.
Patty Melts
If you love both grilled cheeses and hamburgers, this warm sandwich will make you melt. It's chock full of caramelized onions, beef, and Swiss cheese within two slices of griddled rye bread.
Get Ree's Patty Melts recipe.
Tomato Sandwich
Simple doesn't mean boring! Some of the best sandwiches highlight seasonal ingredients, like this juicy summer sandwich made of white bread, mayo, and thick slices of heirloom tomatoes.
Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
You don't have to wait til game day to indulge in buffalo chicken goodness! This slow cooker-friendly recipe is spicy and saucy, like your favorite buffalo wings, but in sandwich form for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes recipe.
Corned Beef Sandwich
Homemade corned beef takes this sandwich the extra mile! Served on marble rye bread with crunchy quick-pickled cabbage slaw and spicy mustard, it's the kind of sandwich you can have all year-round.
Get the Corned Beef Sandwich recipe.
Italian Sandwich
If you're a fan of sliced deli meats and cheeses, this over-the-top, make-ahead sandwich is for you! It's piled high with salami, pepperoni, ham, mortadella, and provolone.
Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
These mini sandwiches are served up on slider buns so they're perfect for feeding a crowd. Plus, everyone will be impressed by the flavorful addition of mayo, honey, and pickled jalapeños.
Get the Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe.
Meatball Subs
Here's one sandwich idea that definitely works for dinnertime! The big Italian hoagie rolls are meaty, saucy, cheesy, and delicious.
Get the Meatball Subs recipe.
Pesto Caprese Panini
The bread is pressed and crispy, the mozzarella is melty, and the pesto adds a pop of fresh flavor. All in all, these sandwiches are a win!
Get Ree's Pesto Caprese Panini recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich
This meltingly tender pulled pork sandwich is the ultimate comfort food! It's served on on pretzel buns with spicy mustard for a fun twist your family will love.
Shrimp Po'Boy
You don't need to be in New Orleans for this popular sandwich. Make your own fried shrimp po'boy with zesty sauce and all your favorite toppings!
Get the Shrimp Po'Boy recipe.
Tea Sandwiches
Three different varieties of these mini finger sandwiches make them a fun addition to any brunch, lunch, or tea party! Here, we're highlighting curried chicken salad, smoked salmon and cucumber, and ham and cheddar.
Get the Tea Sandwiches recipe.
Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo
If you thought mayo was the ultimate sandwich condiment, just wait until you try Ree's pesto mayo! It's an easy two-ingredient spread that will instantly upgrade your ham sandwiches.
Get Ree's Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo recipe.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
No need to turn on the stovetop for this easy method of making grilled cheese! The air fryer gets the bread extra-crispy and the cheese extra-melty.
Get the Air Fryer Grilled Cheese recipe.
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Ree's chicken salad is delicious any which way—whether you serve it on a salad, on it's own, or between two slices of bread! You can even slice a croissant down the middle to make a tasty croissant-wich!
Get Ree's Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe.
Steak Sandwich with Wasabi Cream Sauce
This twist on hearty steak sandwiches adds a smear of creamy wasabi-garlic mayo that almost resembles horseradish. Any extra sauce would make for a delicious spicy dip for potato chips or fries.
Pull-Apart Egg Sandwiches
This amped up egg sandwich has a few flourishes that make it extra-special: from the pesto to the crispy prosciutto to the herby melted butter spread right over the top!
Get the Pull-Apart Egg Sandwiches recipe.
Italian Pork Sandwiches
Pork tenderloin gets a flavorful herb rub for these hearty sandwiches. Once cooked, they're sliced and piled onto ciabatta rolls with garlic mayo and roasted red peppers.
Get Ree's Italian Pork Sandwiches recipe.
Slow Cooker Drip Beef Sandwiches
Using the slow cooker for this drip beef sandwich makes it relatively hands-free. Except when you eat the sandwich, in which case, you should definitely use your hands!
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Drip Beef Sandwiches recipe.
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