Vegetarian Sandwich Recipes

As a faux vegetarian, I rely on creative plant-based sandwiches for lunchtime staples. I can’t even remember the last time we had lunchmeat in the deli drawer of the fridge. There are just so many enticing combinations of vegetables and cheese to pile on bread!

A good vegetarian sandwich relies on quality ingredients, especially when it’s a simple sandwich. Let’s talk tomatoes, for instance: don’t go for those mealy, sad grocery store ones in the middle of winter. Good, ripe, juicy tomatoes can make or break a sandwich.

An exciting variety of textures helps, too. Creamy flavored mayonnaise, meaty bean patties or chewy grilled portobello caps contrast with crunchy raw greens can totally transform a sandwich.

There’s always an array of veggie-tastic sandwiches to make and savor.

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Sally Vargas | Art Banner Credit: Elena Resko

You only need a can of beans and a few pantry staples to make this sandwich. It’s a magical lunch you can throw together to save you on those lean days when the fridge is discouragingly empty.
Avocado Lettuce Tomato Sandwich (ALT)

Elise Bauer

Correct, there’s no B for bacon here, because this sandwich doesn’t need it. But if you feel something’s missing otherwise, here’s an upgrade: bake some easy cheddar cheese crisps and layer those on instead. It’s so good!
Grilled Eggplant Sandwich

Elise Bauer

This take on a grilled eggplant sandwich has you using a thick slice of eggplant to make a grilled “patty” you load on a bun. This recipe calls for burger buns, but you can use the same technique and stuff the veggies in whatever type of bread you please—even a pita.
Egg Salad Sandwich

Elise Bauer

Cook a pot of hard boiled eggs and make enough egg salad to get you through a few days of lunches. Sometimes I skip the bread and eat a scoop on a big pile of lettuce and sliced raw red bell pepper.

Continue to 5 of 9 below.
Pesto White Bean Burgers

Megan Gordon

There’s pesto in the burger mixture and more gets slathered on top, so you get tons of bright basil flavor here. The burgers are griddled on the stove and get an even layer of crust on the outside. It’s the perfect veggie burger. Burgers are sandwiches, right?
Cauliflower Steak Sandwiches with Red Pepper Aioli

Sally Vargas

Here’s a dinner-worthy sandwich that takes a bit of time, but it’s not at all hard to make. Roast the cauliflower steaks while you make the aioli. Feeling extra lazy? Skip the aioli and use mayo with a hefty squeeze of sriracha stirred in instead.
Mushroom Toast with Fried Egg

Sheryl Julian

Think of this as an open-face sandwich so loaded with eggy, mushroom-y appeal the only option is to dig in with a fork.
Portobello Mushroom Burger

Elise Bauer

Grilled portobello caps may be a vegetarian cliché, but when something tastes so good, who cares? This is a speedy recipe, with no marinating and only a quick wilting of baby spinach to top it off.

Continue to 9 of 9 below.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Sauerkraut on Rye

Elise Bauer

This sandwich skips the meat, but still gives you that kraut-and-Swiss combo that you know and love from a classic Rueben. For an upgrade, smear some Thousand Island dressing on the rye before assembling the sandwich.