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When I talk to people about eating vegan, I often get the response: “So you only eat salad?” No, my friends, there is much more to eating plant-based than basic vegetables!
Eating a plant-based meal doesn’t have to be boring. There are a wealth of vegan dishes, including these incredible sandwiches that are sure to satisfy anyone’s unique preferences! Don’t get me wrong, a simple cucumber or tomato sandwich in the summer is my jam, but sometimes I long for something more.
Did you know that you can find plant-based deli meat? For those of you who are seeking a dupe for your favorite cold-cut, there are now some vegan options to enjoy! Let’s sink our teeth into some of these delightful vegan sandwich recipes before lunchtime is over.
Veggie Sandwiches
With the vast amount of vegetables available, it’s easy to create interestingly delicious veggie sandwiches. You’ll find cold finger sandwiches, roasted veggie combinations, and so much more. The sky’s the limit as long as veggies are in your kitchen.
Crisp Cucumber Sandwich
Image via Martha Stewart
Leave it to Marth Stewart to come up with such an elegant variation of a simple cucumber sandwich. From the bread choice (I’m fond of the pumpernickel) to the cream cheese blended with chives, tarragon, and parsley, it’s wealthy in flavor!
Roasted Summer Tomato Sandwich
Image via This Savory Vegan
I love tomato sandwiches; they’re a summertime favorite! While this roasted summer tomato sandwich is simple, using roasted tomatoes rather than cold raw tomatoes puts an elevated spin on a basic avocado toast. The lemon garlic aioli adds a bright, beautiful flavor.
Roasted Vegetable Sandwich
Image via Vegan In The Freezer
This recipe is one of my new favorites. It’s quick and simple to throw together, versatile, and packed with flavor. You won’t need any special equipment or utensils. The robust roasted vegetables – button mushrooms, two types of peppers, onions and sweet potatoes, mesh together just pleasantly. Being flexible, you can swap out or add to this vegan sandwich to create your own lunchtime delight.
Vegan Cold-Cut Sandwiches
Consuming and loving a plant-based diet doesn’t mean some don’t miss or crave meat. These vegan cold-cut sandwiches fill the gap without making us feel guilty for backsliding into meat-eating.
Triple-Decker Cranberry and Turkey Club
Image via The Cheeky Chickpea
For many, there’s nothing like the nostalgia of holiday food during other times of the year. This sandwich is an excellent way to utilize that leftover vegan turkey and cranberry sauce. If there were anything I’d add to this, it would be a nice thin layer of leftover stuffing! Yum.
Quick and Easy Vegan Ham Sandwich
Image via Dishing Up Plants
This is not your average ham and cheese sandwich. The creator combines vegan ham, vegan turkey, mashed avocado, tomato, lettuce, and vegan mayo to create a fresh and delicious sandwich on whole wheat bread. Avocado adds a dose of healthy fats, which are essential for our health.
Italian Vegan Cold Cut Sandwich
Image via Food Network
Delighted is an understatement when it comes to finding this gem of a recipe. Vegan pastrami, pepperoni, capicola, and mozzarella cheese? Oh, my word. That’s only the beginning of this vegan version of the iconic Italian Cold Cut sandwich.
Super Quick Vegan Grinder Sandwich
Image via The Cheap Lazy Vegan
The “Grinder” sandwich is traditionally made using a combination of meat, melted cheese, and the creamy grinder salad mix. It’s a bit time-consuming. However, the Cheap Lazy Vegan found a way to put a vegan twist on it, topping it off by making it quick and easy! If you weren’t hungry by this point, I’m guessing you will be now.
Salad Sandwiches
Salad sandwiches are usually made using eggs, ham, tuna, and chicken. Putting a vegan spin on things can be tricky, but these recipes will help tantalize the tastebuds of anyone who’s been missing the traditional option. Remember, where there is a vegan chef and the right ingredients, there are recipes soon to follow.
Hearty Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwiches
Image via Rainbow Plant Life
Chickpeas and hearts of palm are the stars of this homestyle classic dish. If you’re wondering where the “tuna” flavor comes from, it’s the nori that adds the taste of ocean fish, minus the fish. I love the addition of tomatoes, cucumber, and lettuce. If you skip the nori, it won’t mimic the tuna salad flavor, so it’s a must.
Creamy Vegan Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Image via Zardy Plants
This quick and delicious vegan chicken salad uses jackfruit rather than chickpeas, which I find in many recipes. I was excited to try it with grapes, as I usually like to include grape-tomatoes in my chicken salad. They added a hint of sweetness among all the savory deliciousness.
Smoky Deviled Vegan Ham Salad
Image via Namely Marly
Liquid smoke adds the smoky flavor to these spicy, meaty chickpeas. If you enjoyed deviled ham salad growing up, this recipe will be your jam. I love the addition of the sun-dried tomatoes in oil, it makes the flavor pop!
10-Minute Vegan Egg Salad Sandwich
Image via It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
The key element to making vegan egg-free egg salad is to use black salt or kala namak; giving it that classic “eggy” flavor – without it, it wouldn’t be the same. The folks at It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken did an awesome job with the tofu actually making the egg salad look and taste like egg salad!
Vegan Pinwheel Sandwiches
Round and round, the possibilities of what you can roll up are endless! Great for on the go, packing and lasting longer than some other sandwiches. See some of our favorite vegan bite-sized sandwiches below.
15-Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Pinwheels
Image via Minimalist Baker
While it might appear that these pinwheels took a lot of time to make, they are actually quick and easy. The savory sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil were enough to have me drooling, but adding the vegan parmesan really gave me the hunger pangs!
Bite-Sized Garden Pinwheels
Image via Eat Plant-Based
These colorful bite-sized pinwheels make an excellent appetizer for summer BBQs or picnics. I love the hummus spread, it holds it all together and packs a fantastic flavor. The crispy, crunchy vegetables give your teeth something to sink into. Even kids love them!
Delicious Vegan Taco Pinwheels
Image via The Curious Chickpea
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, this one had me drooling. This recipe uses puff pastry rather than tortillas! The vegan chorizo and black bean filling are delicious enough to eat on their own. It’s the perfect addition to Taco Night!
Savory Vegan Pinwheels
Image via Delightful Adventures
These savory vegan pinwheels are gluten-free! While I’ve seen many recipes use hummus, Gwen uses a homemade chickpea spread that sounds delightful. I love colorful food – it’s beautiful and packs all kinds of nutritional value into one dish.
PB&J Sandwiches
Who doesn’t love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? These recipes are far from your basic PB&J sandwich, and they hit the spot. From a fruity french-toast sandwich to an elevated sweet and savory coconut bacon PB&J.
Fruit-Filled French Toast PB&J Sandwiches
Image via Nourished by Caroline
This breakfast sandwich is chock-full of everything we need for a balanced breakfast. Caramelized bananas, raspberries, peanut butter, jam, and a handful of granola is all you need for the filling. The French toast is delightful with its toasted coconut crust. If you fancy a fancy brunch option – this is your recipe!
PB&J Coconut Bacon Sandwiches
Image via Elephantastic Vegan
The homemade strawberry-chia jam and coconut ‘bacon’ elevates this PB&J to another level. Because you’re making the jam yourself, you’ll need 45 minutes to create this sweet sandwich, but I promise, it’s worth it.
Proper Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Image via We Are So Vegan
This recipe really brings the nostalgia of being a kid at lunchtime. Not only do they look incredible, but the flavor is outstanding. However, you won’t simply open a jar of your favorite peanut butter here, SO Vegan shows you how to cook the peanuts to make roasted peanut butter.
Vegan Hot Sub Sandwiches
Switching to a vegan or mostly vegan diet can make us feel like we’re missing out on some incredible dishes. Meatball subs, Philly cheesesteak, French Dip, and Cubano sandwiches may seem irreplaceable, but these recipes I’m about to share will feed those cravings in an incredible way.
Hearty Vegan Meatball Subs
Image via My Darling Vegan
Sarah uses eggplant meatballs in this recipe. I think it was an excellent idea, and it makes it incredibly original. This delicious recipe only requires five ingredients, and it takes less than an hour from start to finish!
Rich & Hearty Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Sub
Image via Wow, It’s Veggie?!
Growing up on the east coast, we ate Philly cheesesteak subs often. The vegan ground beef, peppers, onions, and spice blend perfectly to do the trick for these easy vegan Philly cheesesteak subs! Did I mention they only take 20 minutes to make?!
If you don’t prefer vegan ground beef, you can use mushrooms instead. I recommend meaty portobellos if that’s the case.
Toasty Vegan French Dip Sandwiches
Image via Cadry’s Kitchen
The vegan roast beef in this recipe is made using jackfruit. Crazy, I know, but it WORKS! While au jus is typically made using the juices from the meat, Cadry made an excellent alternative using garlic, sauteed onions, and red wine.
Vegan Cheesy Cubano Sandwiches
Image via Hot For Food
This vegan alternative to the traditional Cubano uses palm hearts as the meat replacement, and it’s full of delicious spices. The key to this recipe is using an exceptional spice blend, including some nutritional yeast.
Grilled Sandwiches
These grilled sandwich recipes pair well with various soups. Ooey-gooey grilled cheese, crispy pesto panini, and even a grilled reuben are all incredible vegan sandwiches to add to your arsenal.
Crispy Pesto Panini
Image via Micaela Fiorellini
Vegan Pesto Panini Sandwich
Cooks in 50 minutesDifficulty: Medium
I love sandwiches! They are so tasty and satisfying! And this Pesto Sandwich recipe is so delicious, I would eat one of these sandwiches any day.
Even if you’re not a big fan of tofu, you’ll love this vegan sandwich. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients: It’s creamy, filling, tasty, simple to make, and it will be ready in just under an hour! A great savory lunch option! Take it with you to work or school, and everyone will envy you.
Ooey-Gooey Vegan Grilled Cheese
Image via Minimalist Baker
If you thought you’d have to miss out on a crispy grilled cheese sandwich when choosing a vegan diet, I’m here to tell you that’s not true. The Minimalist Baker creates their own delicious cheese alternative using a base of carrots and cashews that’s then blended with tapioca starch, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, salt, and spices. You wouldn’t know that this decadent grilled cheese is missing the cheese!
Grilled Tempeh Reuben Sandwiches
Image via My Darling Vegan
Rye bread is a must have for a proper reuben sandwich. The smoky tempeh, Russian salad dressing, and zesty sauerkraut combine to create a fantastic vegan reuben dupe! This recipe teaches us how to make homemade vegan Russian dressing which is another essential item for a classic reuben sandwich.
Grilled Hummus & Caramelized Onions
Image via The Simple Veganista
You only need six ingredients to make this grilled sandwich: hummus, fresh tomatoes, onions, arugula, salt, and bread. While it may not seem like much, the flavor combination is incredible!
Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s the fuel that starts our fire for the day. Why not start it with one of these incredible vegan sandwich options? Move over fast-food restaurants because these ideas are exceptional. We’ll start with a fruit-filled french toast PB&J, need I say more?
High-Protein Breakfast Muffin Sandwich
Image via Vegan Huggs
Protein is necessary for fueling our body, which is why I appreciate this breakfast muffin. Move over McMuffin, this high-protein muffin contains vegan ham, tofu, vegan cheese, a handful of spices, tomato, nutritional yeast, and of course the English muffin.
Easy Vegan BLT Breakfast Sandwich
Image via Minimalist Baker
Who needs bacon for a BLT, when you can use crispy eggplant or coconut “bacon”? The Minimalist Baker makes it easy – you only need six ingredients to get this breakfast sandwich started. It’s crispy, smoky, flavorful, and only takes ten minutes to make!
Everything Bagel Breakfast Sandwich
Image via Mindful Avocado
If you’ve been missing scrambled eggs on your breakfast menu, look no further. Mindful Avocado’s recipe uses a fluffy tofu scramble that is great for getting the day started.
It’s easy to make and only requires a handful of ingredients. You need the tofu scramble, vegan cream cheese, tomato, sprouts, and avocado and an everything bagel!
Vegan BBQ Sandwiches
When we think of BBQ sandwiches, meat is typically in the equation. Not anymore friends, I bring to you some of the most amazing vegan BBQ sandwiches around. You’ll find everything from jackfruit to seitan chicken.
BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork
Image via Nora Cooks
Jackfruit is one of the best substitutes for meat, especially in terms of consistency and texture. The key with this recipe is to use young jackfruit in brine. The sweet onions, bbq sauce, sriracha, and vegan coleslaw are delightful. This is bound to be a hit at your next bbq.
Pulled Portobello BBQ Sandwiches
Image via Vanilla And Bean
Roasted portobello mushrooms, sauteed onions, liquid smoke, onion, and smoky bourbon bbq sauce pull this sandwich together deliciously. If you’re craving a hearty bbq sandwich I suggest this one. If you’re not a fan of portobellos, a few other excellent options are oyster, cremini, and king mushrooms.
BBQ Seitan Chicken
Image via Hell Yes It’s Vegan
If you’ve been missing chicken, I suggest trying seitan “chicken” pieces as a replacement. This is sure to hit the spot and it only takes a total of 15 minutes to throw together. Hell Yes It’s Vegan pairs the peppers and onions with bbq sauce and fajita seasonings adding deep, rich flavors!
Gluten-Free Vegan Sandwiches
It was once a struggle to find gluten-free sandwich options. At one time most of the recipes were lettuce wraps. I’m here to bring you a few delectable options you can sink your teeth into. Warning, you’ll need a few napkins.
Crispy Tofu Firecracker Lettuce Wrap
Image via Pinch of Yum
These tofu firecracker lettuce wraps are delicious. The creamy umami sauce, crispy tofu bits, and brown rice noodles (yes, they’re gluten-free) are wrapped beautifully in lettuce leaves. It’s definitely a dish worth repeating and re-eating.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Sandwiches
Image via Vegetarian Mamma
I’ve had stuffed bell peppers, but never a stuffed bell pepper sandwich. Vegetarian Mamma opens up new doors with this crisp and refreshing twist on a lunchtime favorite! While this recipe includes a combination of vegetables and vegan cheese, we can fill them with whatever we’re craving. I bet that tofu firecracker recipe would be delicious in a red pepper.
Protein-Packed White Bean and Artichoke Sandwich
Image via Vancouver With Love
This protein-rich sandwich is colorful, crunchy, and delicious. White beans and artichoke hearts pair better together than a cold drink on a hot day! I love the flavor combination – it’s exciting, and just simply amazing. The celery and purple cabbage add quite a crunch!
Sides & Pairings
Soup and sandwiches go hand in hand, there truly is a world full of varieties and combinations. Check out our Cozy Vegan Soups to find your favorite!
I think the bbq sandwiches pair really well with delicious, crisp and creamy cole slaw!
Salad works well along side a sandwich, especially on hot summer days. You can have your vegan sandwiches with whatever your heart desires be it chips, salad, slaw, or beyond!
How do you store vegan sandwiches?
Storing vegan sandwiches doesn’t really work well. The bread gets soggy and flavors change, and not in a good way. However, several of the BBQ sandwich fillings freeze well for a couple of weeks. You can store the meat substitutes or fillings in the refrigerator for a few days. Sandwiches are best fresh, but that doesn’t mean we can’t store everything in separate compartments to throw together for lunch.
35+ Vegan Sandwich Recipes
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Ingredients
- For Marinated Tofu
8 slices tofu
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika powder
- For Vegan Pesto
1⁄4 cup olive oil
1⁄2 clove garlic
50 grams fresh basil
30 grams pine nuts
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1-3 ice cubes
pinch of salt
- For Sandwich Assembly
4 slices vegan wholemeal bread
2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
2 tablespoons vegan pesto
8 slices marinated tofu
4-6 slices tomato
2 handfuls baby spinach
Directions
- Making Marinated Tofu
- Drain and pat your tofu dry with a kitchen towel, try to remove all the water. Cut the tofu into slices lengthwise. Each sandwich needs 4.
- Mix soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, and paprika in a shallow dish.
- Marinate the slices of tofu in the soy sauce for 10–15 minutes.
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and cook the tofu slices until golden brown on both sides.
- Making Vegan Pesto
- In a bowl, add half the oil, garlic, salt, nutritional yeast, and pine nuts. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. You can also use a food processor.
- Gradually add the basil leaves and remaining olive oil and continue blending.
- Add 1 ice cube at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- Taste and season with more salt or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
- Assembling Sandwiches
- Take two slices of bread. Spread the vegetable mayonnaise on one, then add 2 slices of cooked tofu, a handful of spinach, 2-3 tomato slices and 2 more slices of tofu.
- Spread the basil pesto on the other slice of bread and then close the sandwich. Repeat with the other two slices of bread.
- Heat a panini press or a non-stick skillet. Brush the two surfaces of the sandwiches with a little olive oil.
- Place the sandwiches in the panini press and cook until crispy and golden on both sides, about 5–6 minutes. If you use a skillet, add your sandwiches and place a dish or a tray on top of them, gently pressing down on it until golden and crispy on a side. Then flip them and repeat the process to crisp up the other side.
- Cut them in half and serve them immediately.
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