Banana Sandwiches

Total Time
Prep: 5 mins.

Updated on Nov. 21, 2024

If you've never eaten a banana sandwich, did you even grow up in the South? If not, you are in for a treat!

The South is home to plenty of offbeat food combinations. The region is full of (delicious) culinary quirks, from putting sugar in grits and syrup on biscuits to placing cheddar on apple pie. But if you’ve never had a banana sandwich, you’re missing out on one of the simplest—and most satisfying—southern comfort foods. All it takes is a few everyday ingredients.

What is a southern banana sandwich?

A southern banana sandwich consists of slices of banana with mayonnaise, traditionally Duke’s, between white bread. Much like the iconic southern tomato sandwich, the key to a mayo banana sandwich’s popularity is its simplicity. The natural sweetness of bananas complements the slight saltiness of mayonnaise—don’t knock it until you try it because it works.

The southern banana mayo sandwich gained widespread popularity as a Great Depression recipe since it was easy and affordable. Other Depression-era classics include the peanut butter and mayo sandwich and vinegar pie. Although it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact date when someone created the mayo banana sandwich, we do know it was popular during the 1930s and 1940s.

“A mayo and banana sandwich (and others like it) flourished in a time when people doing a long day of physical work needed cheap (and relatively easy) calories, vitamins and fat,” says Melissa Booth Hall, interim co-director of the Southern Foodways Alliance. “And, weirdly, both mayo and bananas were … readily available in many corners of the region.”

The main ingredient in this sandwich comes from the opposite side of the world—bananas were first cultivated in Papua New Guinea and later spread to Pacific areas like Indonesia and the Philippines. They eventually made their way to the Americas via Portuguese and Spanish explorers and were widely grown in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. A few centuries ago, imported bananas were a luxury, but now they’re a supermarket staple.

Banana Sandwich Ingredients

  • Bananas: Use firm, ripe bananas, although the sweeter the banana, the more it contrasts with the mayo. If you bought too many, the last place to store bananas is in the refrigerator.
  • Mayonnaise: For the most authentic-tasting banana sandwich, opt for Duke’s Mayonnaise. It’s the beloved gold standard of mayo brands in the South.
  • Bread: No need to get fancy with artisan sourdough; a classic banana mayo sandwich requires cheap and affordable white sandwich bread. Think Sara Lee or Wonder Bread—something soft, spongy and slightly sweet.

Directions

Step 1: Spread the mayo

Using a butter knife, spread mayonnaise on both slices of bread.Ellie Crowley for Taste Recipes

Using a butter knife, spread the mayo evenly on both slices of bread.

Step 2: Add the banana slices

Arrange banana slices on top of mayonnaise.Ellie Crowley for Taste Recipes

Next, arrange the banana slices atop the mayo on one piece of bread, then top with the second slice of bread. Serve immediately and enjoy!

high angle shot of banana sandwich served with juiceEllie Crowley for Taste Recipes

Banana Sandwich Variations

  • Add peanut butter: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches also reign supreme in the South, so it should be no surprise that a sandwich combining bananas, peanut butter and mayonnaise is a popular take on the classic southern comfort food.
  • Include bacon: Bacon and banana work well with peanut butter; same with mayo. It’s another layer, and we think Elvis would approve!
  • Go vintage: Vintage recipes for banana sandwiches include adding a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of sugar and chopped nuts. You can also use cream cheese, jelly and an optional piece of lettuce.
  • Make dessert banana sandwiches: You can make yours extra sweet by omitting the mayo and adding a drizzle of honey and a smear of peanut butter or marshmallow fluff (think a fluffernutter with added banana).

How to Store Banana Sandwiches

Like most recipes with ripe bananas, you want to eat a banana sandwich as soon as you make it. Bananas turn brown and become mushy shortly after peeling and slicing.

Can you make a banana sandwich ahead of time?

If you want to make a banana sandwich ahead, wrap it tightly in storage wrap and then immediately refrigerate it. Enjoy it within two to three hours of being made.

Banana Sandwich Tips

overhead shot of banana sandwich served with juiceEllie Crowley for Taste Recipes

How ripe should bananas be for a banana sandwich?

Save those mushy bananas with brown spots for banana bread. For a banana sandwich, you want bright yellow bananas with no trace of green or brown. These will be firm enough to slice and have just the right amount of sweetness to counter the tangy mayo. If you have only green bananas, you can ripen bananas in a heartbeat.

What can you serve with a banana sandwich?

A banana sandwich is a simple, humble meal, so a bag of chips and a glass of milk would be perfect. You could also pair a banana sandwich with other classic southern sides and snacks. Try a platter of fried okra or mac and cheese.

Banana Sandwich

Prep Time 5 min
Yield 1 sandwich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 slices white bread
  • 1 medium ripe banana, peeled and sliced

Directions

  1. Using a butter knife, spread mayonnaise on both slices of bread. Arrange banana slices on top of mayonnaise. Close sandwich; serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

1 sandwich: 439 calories, 22g fat (4g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 425mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 5g fiber), 6g protein.

Loading Popular in the Community
Don’t knock it until you try this southern banana sandwich. Slices of bananas with mayonnaise are stuffed between white bread for a sweet and salty flavor. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Recipe Creator
Loading Reviews
Back to Top