Ham and Swiss SlidersHam and cheese sliders are the ultimate make-ahead dish for lunch, dinner or a party snack.
Ham and cheese is a classic sandwich combo, but these cheesy melts take it to another level. A pan of slider-sized buns is quick to layer, and a glaze of brown sugar, poppy seeds and horseradish tops it all off. They’ll be the first to disappear from the
potluck table.
Reuben SandwichesMaking deli-style Reuben sandwiches is as easy as piling hearty rye bread with thinly sliced corned beef, tangy sauerkraut and gooey Swiss cheese. Make it a winner with a balancing drizzle of creamy Russian dressing.
Reuben sandwiches are shared by Kathy Jo Scott of Hemingford, Nebraska. "My mouth waters just thinking of these sandwiches," confesses Kathy Jo. "I adapted the recipe from one my mother found several years ago."
Turkey Focaccia ClubThis cranberry turkey sandwich isn't the usual half-hearted combination of leftovers. It's a delicious riff on the classic club sandwich, but made on foccaccia with a tangy cranberry mayo.
A great club sandwich balances savory deli meat, cheese and bacon with sweet-tangy condiments. This top-rated club slathers on mayo, mustard, honey and cranberry sauce to pack a big flavor punch. Though delicious any time of year, this is often best served with
leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving.
Parmesan Chicken SandwichesThe sandwich version of a delectable Italian-American classic, a chicken parm sandwich is equally welcome at the lunch table or when hosting guests for a casual dinner.
One brilliant way to create a more exciting sandwich is to borrow fillings from your favorite meals. Here, breaded, saucy chicken Parmesan is served up in a handheld hoagie rather than on a bed of noodles, making it perfect for a
quick family dinner.
Turkey MeltFor those days when you're rushing from work to home to evening activity, this turkey melt sandwich with green chiles is about to become your standby.
Pineapple Chicken Salad SandwichesThese sandwiches are always welcome at lunchtime around our house. Sweet pineapple and crunchy pecans are nice additions to ordinary chicken salad. —Carol Alexander, Midland, Michigan
Chicken salad is surprisingly versatile. Stir in fillings to add texture: crunchy chopped nuts, crisp grapes or sliced apples, chewy raisins, dried spices and fresh herbs. Here, sweet pineapple adds a juicy, tropical slant on your typical sandwich.
Gourmet Barbecue Beef SandwichesThese beef sandwiches were a tradition in my family on winter vacations after a long day of snow skiing, but they're a hit anytime we make them. Serving the savory barbecue beef on croissants with melty provolone cheese makes the sandwiches a little more special. —Katie Anderson, Vancouver, Washington
Tender, flavorful beef is an easy sandwich filling, if you make it in the
slow cooker! While this recipe calls for a fancy sandwich atop croissants, it will be just as tasty on a hard roll or on sliced crusty bread.
Shrimp Patty SandwichesNeed dinner fast? These shrimp patty sandwiches pack a protein punch with cooked (or canned) shrimp and flaky whitefish. Pancake mix is the secret to the ultimate seafood shack experience.
Crispy, savory fish patties are a great
seafood dish for skeptics. These savory cakes combine shrimp with haddock to maximize flavor without breaking the budget. Serve on burger buns or open-faced.
California Roll WrapsI love the California rolls I get at sushi restaurants and wanted to capture those flavors in a sandwich I could take to work. I started with the standard ingredients, added a few others and came up with a hit. —Mary Pax-Shipley, Bend, Oregon
Sushi is delicious at a restaurant, but a bit fussy for an everyday meal at home. These simple wraps aim to duplicate the flavor, combining rich imitation crab meat, spicy wasabi mayo and creamy avocado with an array of crisp, chopped veggies. You can use what's in season or in your fridge.
Cuban Sandwich BurgersMy mom would make these Cuban burgers when we would visit her in Florida. They are a take on the real Cuban sandwich. My kids love them. My boys could eat two of these monsters in one sitting. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
These burgers nod to the classic flavors of a Cuban sandwich, and they're a great summertime option when you have the grill fired up. Start with burger patties made from both ground beef and ground pork, then layer ham, cheese and pickles on top of the patties. Finish the burgers by smashing them down with a hot cast iron skillet for extra toasty buns.
Beef ‘n’ Cheese WrapsThese make-ahead wraps are delicious, portable and ideal for picnics and tailgates. Enjoy them whole or slice them into 1-inch pieces to serve them as an appetizer. They also make an excellent lunch on the go. —Sue Sibson, Howard, South Carolina
The benefits of wrap sandwiches are plentiful: the tortilla is less bulky, so the sandwich is lighter and the fillings can shine. Wraps are easy to find gluten-free, and they're quick to, well, wrap up and take on-the-go. You can also slice a wrap into sections, skewer with a toothpick and turn them into appetizers.
Grandma’s Baked Ham Salad SandwichesThis is another tried-and-true recipe I found in my grandma's recipe box. I love seeing her handwriting on faded notecards. — Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Need to eat up
leftover ham? This old-fashioned ham salad recipe is just the ticket. The simple sandwich filling is packed with flavor but stirs together in minutes. Warm in the oven for a heartier meal or serve cold. Either way, it's great with potato salad.
Caribbean Chipotle Pork SlidersIn these pulled pork sliders, we combine the smoky heat of chipotle peppers with a cool tropical coleslaw and soft Hawaiian buns. You can slow-cook a pork shoulder from scratch or use leftover pork—your choice!
Our favorite pulled pork sliders combine the heat of chipotle peppers with a cool tropical coleslaw. The robust flavors make these a big hit with guests. —Kadija Bridgewater, Boca Raton, Florida
Club Roll-UpsPacked with meat, cheese and olives, these roll-ups are always a hit at parties.
The secret to a good roll-up? A good sauce! Tortillas can get very dry if left plain. This recipe combines both cream cheese and ranch dressing for a tart, tangy, creamy base for the meat and cheese filling.
Basil Chicken Sandwiches"I got the inspiration for this recipe when I knew my parents and in-laws were coming to see our new home," shares Kerry Durgin Krebs of New Market, Maryland. "My mother-in-law has food allergies, my father-in-law has some very specific food preferences and my parents appreciate light meals. I created this chicken sandwich with fresh basil for our lunch."
Easy and elegant, this chicken sandwich is special enough to serve company but simple enough for everyday. Bottled salad dressing does double duty here, seasoning the chicken as it cooks and topping the sandwich buns. Serve with a fresh salad or
veggie side.
Tangy Barbecue SandwichesSince I prepare the beef for these robust sandwiches in the slow cooker, it's easy to fix a meal for a hungry bunch. The savory homemade sauce assures I come home with no leftovers. —Debbi Smith, Crossett, Arkansas
Prepping a big batch of barbecue beef is simple in the slow cooker. It's a crowd-pleaser on
game day, but it's also worth making when it's just the family. Freeze leftovers for a busy week when you want a meal ready-to-go.
Tuna Melt on CornbreadTry our rendition of an open-faced tuna melt. Serve it on cornbread for a quick lunch or dinner. —
Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Sometimes, the best way to make a familiar sandwich feel fresh is to change up the bread. Instead of sticking with white bread, branch out—think crusty rolls, English muffins or even sliced cornbread like this tuna melt recipe.
Pressure-Cooker Tandoori Chicken PaniniThe tandoori-style spices in this chicken give it a bold flavor that’s so hard to resist. It tastes incredible tucked between pieces of naan, then grilled for Indian-inspired panini sandwiches. —Yasmin Arif, Manassas, Virginia
This
Indian-inspired recipe cooks up in a jiffy thanks to the pressure-cooker. While some sandwiches feel too simple for dinner, this one doesn't; bold spices, sweet chutney and chewy naan make for a satisfying meal.
Gouda Turkey ClubWith this recipe, two can enjoy the taste of something new and elegant in minutes. All you need to add is the ambiance for a bistro meal at home. —Karen Harris, Littleton, Colorado
The ingredient list for this club sandwich looks simple, but the method deploys a cool trick. Mix mayonnaise with shredded cheese and seasonings. The result is a hearty, flavor-packed dressing that complements the simple sliced turkey and avocado perfectly.
Beer-Braised Pulled HamTo jazz up ham, I slow-cooked it with a beer sauce. Buns loaded with ham, pickles and mustard are irresistible. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
It's tough to beat hot ham and mustard on rolls, but this recipe gives it a try, slow-cooking the pork in beer to add lots of flavor. Serve on pretzel buns, as suggested, for a Bavarian twist, or go with classic hard rolls.
Italian Steak SandwichesMy sister came up with these quick sandwiches that use minced garlic and other seasonings to bring pizzazz to deli roast beef. Add some carrot sticks or a tomato salad for a fantastic lunch in no time. —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
No need to cook steak from scratch to make a good steak sandwich. This recipe dresses up deli roast beef with a broth of fresh garlic, herbs and spices. Nobody would guess the beef didn't braise for ages on your stovetop!
Cuban SandwichThis Cuban sandwich isn't your typical sub sandwich. With two kinds of pork, melted Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed between two toasty pieces of bread, the picture-perfect Cubano will have you wanting more.
Creamy Eggplant & Mushroom Monte CristoAs a child, I wouldn’t eat veggies. As a parent, I try to include them in creative ways. I'm proud to say this eggplant sandwich is a hit with my son. —Macey Allen, Green Forest, Arkansas
Eggplant is a
surprisingly versatile veggie. When thinly sliced and cooked, it becomes silky and dense, the perfect filling for a vegetarian Monte Cristo.
Italian Meatball SubsOur meatball sub recipe features homemade meatballs that stay moist and tender, thanks to the flavorful combination of ground beef, Italian sausage and Parmesan cheese. Grab a few napkins because these saucy, slow-cooked meatballs make the juiciest sandwiches.
Savory, hearty meatball sandwiches make a cozy fall or winter dinner. Serve them on top of a bun squishy enough to absorb the tasty tomato sauce.
Basil-Tomato Grilled CheeseThe tastes of summer abound in this easy Italian-style grilled cheese sandwich. Not only is it delicious, it's super-fast, so you can get back to those summer outdoor activities. —Sylvia Schmitt, Sun City, Arizona
Grilled cheese is delicious, but it definitely feels like an item on the
kid's menu. Jazz it up with basil and fresh tomatoes.
French DipFor a sandwich with more pizazz than the traditional French dip, give this recipe a try. The seasonings give the broth a wonderful flavor, and the meat cooks up tender and juicy. This slow-cooked version will soon be a favorite at your house too. —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
Like everything
French, the French dip sandwich feels fancy: rolls piled with seasoned beef and served alongside a dish of sauce. But, like anything from a slow cooker, they're easy to make. You can prepare the beef a day in advance and gently rewarm before assembling the sandwiches.
Slow-Cooked Turkey Sloppy JoesThis tangy sandwich filling is easy to prepare in the slow cooker, and it goes over so well at gatherings large and small. I frequently take it to potlucks, and I'm always asked what my secret ingredient is! —Marylou LaRue, Freeland, Michigan
Don't forget sloppy joes! The sandwich gets associated with
cafeteria food, but when made fresh, the saucy sliders are packed with flavor and a great family meal. Serve with snappy green beans or lightly steamed broccoli.
Bacon & Swiss Chicken SandwichesI created this chicken sandwich recipe based on a meal my daughter ordered at a restaurant. She likes to dip her sandwich in the extra honey-mustard sauce. —Marilyn Moberg, Papillion, Nebraska
Chicken sandwiches are secretly vehicles for your favorite condiments. Honey mustard lovers, this one is for you!
Also, check our sampled and ranked eight different restaurants list to find out once and for all who makes the
best fast-food chicken sandwich.
Ultimate Pastrami SandwichesThis peerless pastrami sandwich was adapted from a menu favorite at Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Pittsburgh. We took the basic ingredients—grilled cold cuts, cheese, fried potatoes and tomatoes—and created a tasty replica that includes our version of their secret coleslaw topping. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Some sandwiches are a labor of love, but worth every bit of preparation. Take this restaurant-inspired pastrami sandwich with its perfect balance of fillings. Homemade cabbage slaw adds a fresh crunch, waffle fries add savory crispness, and the provolone and pastrami are pure comfort. Before you move ahead, get to know the difference between
pastrami and corned beef.
Grilled Goat Cheese & Arugula SandwichesTo create a more “grown-up” grilled cheese sandwich, I threw in tangy goat cheese and peppery arugula. I enjoy a similar combination on pizza, and it worked here, too! —Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California
Gooey, cozy grilled cheese can absolutely be elegant, and this recipe proves it. Serve this grown-up grilled cheese alongside a bowl of
tomato soup (cold in summer, steaming in winter).
Pulled Pork SandwichesLet the slow cooker do the work for you and enjoy these tangy, tasty pulled pork sandwiches with minimal hands-on effort required.
Chipotle Roast Beef SandwichesRustic ciabatta bread is the perfect match for tender roast beef and bold blue cheese and chipotle in this easy, tasty recipe. —Andre Houseknecht, Feasterville, Pennsylvania
These savory, slightly spicy sandwiches taste restaurant-worthy, but they're made with simple deli roast beef! The trick is to toast the buns, which primes them to absorb more of the yummy sauce (which is just jazzed-up mayo). It's a great
summer sandwich for warm nights eating out on the patio.
Cranberry Turkey WrapsFruity and flavorful, these hefty grab-and-go handfuls are quick to assemble, easy to handle and low in calories. We often take them in a cooler to the local stock show and eat them in the stands. Everyone seems to love them! —Bobbie Keefer, Byers, Colorado
It's easy to make a rich sandwich taste great, but lightening up a sandwich recipe without ending up with a bland, sad sammie is the real trick. This wrap is packed with alternative (and tasty) ideas. Low-fat condiments are an easy switch, and you can add accents to milder meats like dried cranberries, sliced oranges and chopped pecans.
BLT Waffle SlidersCraving a BLT for breakfast? Try a deliciously different version that features crisp bacon and fresh tomatoes between two golden cornmeal waffles. Prepare the waffles ahead of time and reheat in the toaster for quick assembly. —Stacy Joura, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania.
It's hard to beat a good BLT sandwich, but here's one way: Serve them on waffles! BLTs as the new breakfast food is definitely something we can get behind.
Savory Beef SandwichesBefore heading to work in the morning, I'll get this going in the slow cooker. Then it's all ready to serve—usually with hard rolls and potato salad or another salad—as soon as my husband and I walk in. When my son moved to another state recently, I cut up a beef roast into smaller portions, repackaged it and sent seasonings for a two-person slow cooker as his housewarming present. —Lynn Williamson, Hayward, Wisconsin
The slow cooker is an
ideal cooking method for beef, yielding perfectly tender meat every time (plus a potful of sauce). Serve these
classic sandwiches with potato salad.
Chicken Caesar WrapThis chicken Caesar wrap may be the best thing to happen to a Caesar salad since croutons. The simple recipe takes the classic salad to new handheld heights.
Weeknight Chicken Mozzarella SandwichesMy husband is a big garlic fan, so we use garlic bread crumbs and garlic sauce for our baked chicken sandwiches. They are so comforting on a chilly day. —Bridget Snyder, Syracuse, New York
These chicken sandwiches have an easy way of flavoring—instead of dredging chicken breasts in plain breadcrumbs, it calls for garlic breadcrumbs. (Use stale bread leftover from spaghetti night!) It might seem like a simple change, but it's one that infuses lots of flavor into the crispy chicken.
Cuban SlidersThese Cuban sliders are packed with ham, cheese and pickles and baked with a buttery, Dijon mustard topping.
Cuban ham sandwiches get the slider treatment in this top-rated, crowd-pleasing recipe. The sliders are easy to make in a
13x9 pan; you don't even need to separate the package of rolls! Simply slice across, layer on the fillings and bake under a buttery sauce.
Cheesy Chicken SubsHot, cheesy and delicious, chicken sub sandwiches are fast and easy thanks to a key shortcut ingredient and quick-cooking vegetables.
If you're tired of throwing chicken on a bun, try this inspired sub sandwich. Cook mushrooms and onions until they're brown and fragrant, then add the chicken, which you've dusted with Ceasar salad seasoning. To finish it up, slide the open sandwiches under a broiler to melt cheese on top.
Makeover Reuben MeltThis twist on a classic Reuben keeps the corned beef and uses a sauce made with Swiss (and plenty of thousand-island flavor). Fresh slaw on top replaces the sauerkraut. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Love Reubens but not the indulgence? Try these simple sandwiches, which are also quicker to prepare. They swap fresh slaw mix for the sauerkraut, and a homemade thousand island dressing made from low-fat milk. It's one of our favorite
lightened-up comfort foods.
Chicken & Caramelized Onion Grilled CheeseMy grilled cheese sandwich combines chicken with sweet caramelized onions, red peppers, Swiss cheese and sourdough bread. It’s oh-my goodness. —Kadija Bridgewater, Boca Raton, Florida
Everything is better with
caramelized onions! The trick is to go nice and slow, letting the onions cook until they're truly melted and super-sweet, which takes a good half-hour at least. Go ahead and make more than you need: they keep well in a jar in the fridge, and taste good on sandwiches, salads, burgers, pastas and pizza.
Turkey & Swiss Biscuit SlidersOne of my favorite things to whip up in the kitchen is homemade buttermilk biscuits. Simple sandwiches are a wonderful way to showcase these melt-in-your-mouth treats. —Cindy Esposito, Bloomfield, New Jersey
Another overlooked sandwich base? Biscuits! This recipe calls for making from-scratch biscuits, but of course you can use
store-bought dough, or even leftover biscuits.
Cashew Chicken Salad SandwichesI think this is the best chicken salad recipe around! It’s good for you and quick to make, and it has wonderful flavor. —Peggi Kelly, Fairbury, Nebraska
You can't have enough chicken salad recipes! The secret ingredient in this mix is chopped cucumber, which adds a fresh, summery flavor. Serve with a simple one-step
summer side dish.
Shredded French DipA chuck roast slow-simmered in a beefy broth is delicious when shredded and spooned onto rolls. I serve the cooking juices in individual cups for dipping. —Carla Kimball, Callaway, Nebraska
This top-rated sandwich recipe stars a beef roast so tender it practically shreds itself! Serve on a crusty roll that can stand up to dipping in the savory sauce.
BBQ Chicken SandwichesImagine a barbecue chicken sandwich so delicious you can hardly wait to have it again. Well, here it is: Our recipe features a delightful homemade sauce and uses shredded cooked chicken to save you time.
A quick homemade barbecue sauce makes these chicken sandwiches extra special. As a bonus, you can adjust the seasonings to suit your appetite, upping the salsa for extra spice, the ketchup for extra sweetness or adding smoked paprika for heat.
Cashew Turkey Salad SandwichesOne bite and you'll be hooked on this slightly sweet turkey salad sandwich. It's protein-packed so you can feel good while you munch! —Mary Wilhelm, Sparta, Wisconsin
So-called salad sandwiches aren't especially healthy, despite their name, but this recipe lightens things up. Tossing cubed turkey (or chicken) in low-fat mayo and plain yogurt maintains all the flavor but less fat. Dried apricots and cashews add pleasant crunch and chew to the mix.
