I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this article, you already have a safe-for-you bread to choose from. If not, I’ve put some gluten free, vegan, and allergy friendly bread options at the end of the article. If you’re looking for sandwiches that aren’t PBJ, you’ve come to the right place.
It Starts with Bread
Great cold sandwiches start with bread that you love. This is true of a healthy sandwich as well. There’s no point in creating a filling that’s packed with great nutrition if the bread is flavorless. Now, it’s easy to get stuck in the idea that a sandwich must be made with traditional bread slices. I’d love to see anyone stuck in that rut break right out and try all of the breads on this list.
- Bagels
- Baguette
- Brioche
- Ciabatta
- Dutch Crunch Bread (sometimes called Tiger Bread)
- Focaccia
- Hawaiian Bread Rolls
- Irish Soda Bread
- Japanese Milk Bread
- Muffuletta (a type of Sicilian bread made with sesame seeds)
- Potato Bread
- Raisin Bread (great if you’re making a cream cheese and fruit sandwich)
- Rye Bread (for those who are allergic to rye or are gluten free, make bread at home with caraway seeds for a similar flavor profile)
- Sourdough Bread
- Spelt Bread (in the US, you can get the Berlin Natural Bakery or Rudi’s brands in the freezer section of many grocery stores)
- Texas Toast
- Traditional Bread Rolls
If you plan to make bread (and bread alternatives) at home, I suggest keeping your pantry stocked with plenty of herbs and spices. You can create amazing custom bread flavours with different herbs and spices. I’ve personally experimented with this and my kids love it.
Bread Alternatives
For those who don’t like bready foods, or perhaps you don’t have a safe bread option, here are a few more items that would work well with many of the sandwich fillings in this article..
- Crackers
- Crepes
- Croissants
- English Muffin
- Hamburger Buns & Hot Dog Buns
- Injera (a gluten free Ethiopian fermented wrap made with teff flour)
- Matzah
- Naan
- Pita Bread (B-Free Foods makes a gluten free option for those who need it)
- Pizza Dough (you can bake it without toppings and then top with a spread and sandwich filling)
- Roti
- Tortillas & Wraps (not officially bread, but great with many different sandwich fillings)
Common Ingredients to Stock (Different Sandwich Filling & Spreads)
If you’re someone who likes to pack a delicious sandwich for lunch regularly, there are lots of sauces and condiments on the market that bring so much flavor to your sandwiches.
What’s nice about this list is that you can mix and match from them to create different sandwich fillings and tasty combinations. A lot of the ingredients are very versatile, and can pair with several items form other categories. Some of the spreads on the list are really for adults given the spice level, but generally, these are ingredients the whole family can enjoy.
Protein & Veg Options
- Deli Meats and Cold Cuts (ham, turkey, beef, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, etc.)
- Red Peppers (others work too but these are so pretty)
- Red Onion (pickled will add even more flavor)
- Traditional Pickles
- Pickled Vegetables (carrots, olives, onions, kimchi, sauerkraut, etc.)
- Fresh Herbs (depending on the types of sandwiches you like to make, fresh herbs can add an amazing pop of flavor to your creations)
- Lettuce & Greens (baby spinach and other pre-washed salad greens are great)
- Crunchy Veggies (think cucumbers and romaine which will add great texture and crunch to your sandwich)
Spreads & Sauces to Use for Cold Sandwiches
- Aioli (a type of seasoned mayo, usually seasoned with garlic)
- Avocado Spread
- Guacamole
- Tangy BBQ Sauce
- Sweet BBQ Sauce
- Hummus
- Mayonnaise
- Spicy Mayo (this would be delicious on a spicy gourmet Asian leaning cold sandwich)
- Honey Mustard
- Spicy Mustard
- Yellow Mustard
- Pesto
- Ranch Dressing
- Salsa & SalsaVerde
- Sriracha
- Thousand Island Dressing
Cheeses That Taste Great Cold
- Cheddar Cheese
- Pepper Jack Cheese
- Gouda Cheese (some varieties are smoked)
- Cream Cheese (pairs well with fruit spreads and fresh fruit)
- Swiss Cheese
- Provolone Cheese
- Fresh Mozzarella
Cold Sandwich Ideas for Work
As a lunch packing adult, I’d make sure you’re packing sandwiches that will keep your taste buds happy, but also won’t be too messy. For example, I wouldn’t pack sloppy joes for lunch, especially if I need to eat with my hands because there’s no where comfy to sit on your lunch break. Instead, I’d pack sandwiches with cold cuts, or a chicken salad sandwich, which is easy to hold. Here are some neat and easy sandwich ideas for work:
- Leftover Turkey Sandwich
- Caprese Sandwich
- Veg Mayo Sandwich
- Egg Sandwich
- Apple Slaw & Bacon Sandwich
- Chickpea Salad Sandwich (a play on an egg salad, but vegan and great if you have an egg allergy)
- Chicken Salad Sandwich with Cranberries and Cheese
Cold Sandwich Ideas for School
When you’re packing a cold sandwich for a child, remember to use spreads and fillings they enjoy. When you’re packing a lunch to send to school, you don’t want to introduce loads of new ingredients they might not love. Evenings and weekends are a great time to test out ingredients and hope they find some new favorites you can include in future lunches.
If your child is a fan of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but can’t take them because it’s a peanut free class/school, here’s an article about peanut butter and nut butter alternatives. Be sure to have your kiddo sample different spreads to see what they enjoy most. When sampling, test it out with the jellies and jams you know they enjoy to make sure the flavors blend well. Also, don’t forget about chocolate spreads. These can be paired with a range of ingredients for more lunchbox variety.
Kid Friendly Cold Sandwich Ideas
Here’s a list of quick cold sandwich ideas for kids (that I’m sure adults will enjoy as well):
- Ham & Cheese Sandwich
- Turkey & Cheese Sandwich
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (great with bacon)
- Pepperoni & Cheese Sandwich
- Cream Cheese & Fruit Sandwich
- Sliders (use any burger or meatball mix recipe you love to make cute little sliders)
Cold Sandwiches That Aren’t PBJ
For many of us, when we think of a sandwich, our minds go straight to PB&J. Hopefully this article has given you some alternative ideas. Here’s a list of more cold sandwich ideas that aren’t PBJ:
- Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato Sandwich
- Corned Beef & Veg Sandwich
- Cuban Sandwich (usually ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard)
- Cucumber, Tomato, Mayo Sandwich
- Egg Salad Sandwich
- Honey Mustard Bacon Sandwich
- Italian Sub Sandwich
- Lobster/Crab Roll
- Meatball Sub Sandwich
- Monte Cristo (French Toast bread, ham and cheese filling)
- Muffuletta Sandwich (popular in New Orleans, made on muffuletta bread and the filling is an olive salad)
- Panini
- Pastrami on Rye Bread
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Pulled Pork Sandwich
- Ranch Chicken Sandwich
- Ruben (corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, rye bread)
- Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagel
- Sausage, Cheese, and Veg Sandwich
- Tuna Salad Sandwich
- Turkey & Cheese Sandwich
If you’d really like to geek out over sandwiches, check out this Wikipedia page on sandwiches, which also links to types of hot dogs, hamburgers, and breads.
Chicken Sandwiches for The Win
Chicken sandwiches in my opinion are an excellent choice for school lunches (plus work lunches) and with good reason. You can create a range of flavor by changing the sauces. The first time, use a salad dressing you love and the next time use a BBQ sauce. If you don’t have safe store-bought sauces, there are lots of easy recipes that will teach you how to make a sauce or dressing.
When I make chicken sandwiches for my kids like this, I use this Easy Shredded Chicken recipe as the base, then mix sauce into a portion of the chicken, and place it in between slices of bread. If you want to feel a little fancy, you could hollow out bread rolls and stuff them instead. I’ll also add, for my cheese loving child, when I make him these types of sandwiches I also add cheese slices to his.
You can cut your prep time down for the week by using your slow cooker, pressure cooker, or Instant Pot to make a batch of a sandwich filling such as pulled pork or the Easy Shredded Chicken.
Tips to Elevate Your Ham Sandwich or Cold Cut Sandwich
You can add a range of condiments and toppings to the everyday ham sandwich (or any meat sandwich) to take it to the next level. For example, rather than use iceberg lettuce, use peppery arugula instead. It will create a whole different flavor profile. Add a drizzle of honey or a drizzle of high quality olive oil with red wine vinegar and suddenly you’ve got a gourmet lunch.
Homemade pesto is another spread option that will make your sandwich feel fancy. I have a nut free, allergy friendly pesto recipe on RAISE that pairs well with dairy free parmesan cheese (click here for the full recipe). You can take this idea and apply it to other proteins including rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, chicken breast, pulled pork, sliced beef, and simple sausage.
Once you’ve experimented with sauces, try adding a different cheese or even multiple types of cheese to your meat sandwich. You can even add something like tart sauerkraut or spicy kimchi to a ham sandwich for a delicious experience.
Sandwiches Aren’t Just for Lunch
You’ll hear me say this a lot: you can serve anything anytime and it’s a meal. I think we get so caught up in these traditional ideas of food that we overthink it and stress ourselves out. Sandwiches are great for lunches but they’re also a great breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening snack, and everything else in between. With the right ingredients, you can even make a sandwich for dessert (and I’m not just referring to an ice cream sandwich here).
If you have a busy family and need a quick snack on the go, you could pre-pack several sandwiches and have them cut into easy-to-hold shapes. When my kids were younger and I leaned into sandwiches more, I kept things interesting and healthy by using whole grain bread (or multigrain bread) when I could. I’d also add fresh vegetables to the sandwich (especially tomato slices and lettuce). When it didn’t make sense to add veg to the sandwich, I’d serve it on the side. My kids love having green bell pepper sliced on the side as well as sweet bell peppers on the side.
Vegetarian Cold Sandwich Ideas for School
Here’s a quick list of vegetarian cold sandwich options that travel well for work and school:
- Avocado, Tomato, & Mayo Sandwich
- Caprese Sandwich
- Cheese & Grilled Onion Sandwich
- Cheese & Vegetable Sandwich
- Cream Cheese & Fruit Sandwich
- Egg Salad Sandwich
- Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich
- Fried Egg Sandwich
Vegan Sandwiches for Kids & Adults
Here’s a quick list of cold vegan sandwiches. These are great for kids and adults traveling to work and school.
- Avocado, Tomato, & Mayo Sandwich
- Caprese Sandwich
- Cheese & Grilled Onion Sandwich
- Cream Cheese & Fruit Sandwich
- Cucumber, Tomato, & Mayo Sandwich
- Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich
- Veggie Patty Sandwich (add pickled veg, and a tasty sauce for an elevated experience)
- Hummus & Tomato Sandwich
- JUST Egg Scramble Sandwich
- Peanut/Nut/Seed Butter & Jelly Sandwich
- Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich
- Pulled Porque Sandwich
Keep in mind for some of these sandwiches, you’ll need to purchase the vegan version of something such as cheese, mayo, or liquid egg.
How to Keep Sandwiches Fresh Without a Fridge
There are a few things you can do to make sure your sandwich tastes its best when lunch time rolls around. First, the order in which you build the sandwich matters. For example, you don’t want a (wet) tomato in direct contact with the bread. This will create a soggy effect, and make the sandwich feel less fresh.
Make sure you use ripe seasonal fresh produce. When you have produce that tastes fantastic, the end result will be a more fresh tasting sandwich. Since we’re on vegetables, make sure your lettuce is crisp. Limp lettuce (and limp vegetables in general) don’t convey the taste and sensation of fresh.
Once you’ve built a delicious fresh tasting sandwich, make sure you wrap it properly. If you store it in the fridge on a plate, uncovered, you won’t be impressed when it’s time to eat it for lunch. Cold sandwiches should be placed in a reusable sandwich container or sandwich baggie.
When you do have your lunch packed up, make sure you use two ice packs, one on the bottom of the lunch box and one on top of all the goods. Keeping your sandwich cool will also deliver the sensation of eating a fresh sandwich.
Gluten Free Bread Options
If you’re looking for a basic white bread that’s gluten free and allergy friendly, a good option is Little Northern Bakehouse. Be sure to read the ingredients before trying them, as some of you won’t be comfortable with some of the ingredients used.
If you’re a fan of sourdough bread, Bread SRSLY has a sandwich loaf and bread roll option. Some of their breads are also gum free. Everything they sell is gluten free, vegan, and top 9 allergy free. Plus, they ship nationwide. My kids have tried a few other sourdough breads over the years, but this is the one they seem to like the most.
Canyon Bakehouse (contains egg) is one of the most popular gluten free bread options on the market. My kids have reviewed their bread along with other gluten free breads as well. These reviews might help you when choosing a gluten free, allergy friendly bread.
If you need to make bread at home, RAISE has several bread recipes that will help you make delicious sandwiches. The gluten free vegan sandwich bread recipe also freezes well.
Answering Your Cold Sandwich Questions
How do you Pack a Sandwich for School Lunch?
There are a few ways to pack a sandwich to make sure it’s enjoyable at lunch time. The classic way is to use a sandwich baggie. If you’re packing in a brown paper bag, make sure the sandwich is on top so it’s not crushed throughout the day. You should either carry the bag, or make sure school books and binders aren’t crushing the lunch either.
You can place sandwiches into small containers like this one to make sure they aren’t crushed. The upside is that these are a reusable alternative to baggies. The downside is that little kids might throw them away accidentally.
If you’re like me and you enjoy using metal reusable lunch boxes, the good news is that sandwiches travel very well in them. There’s usually a compartment that works for a full sandwich (depending on the size of your bread). Reusable lunchboxes come in a range of sizes, so I’m sure you can find one that works for you.
Outside of this, read the earlier section on keeping sandwiches fresh without a refrigerator for tips on how to keep sandwiches fresh overnight. You’ll also see how you can keep sandwiches from getting soggy in a lunch box.
What can I put on cold sandwiches instead of meat?
There are a lot of great meat free cold sandwich options for those who are meat free due to allergy such as Alpha-Gal or vegan/vegetarian choices. Vegetables are the obvious choice, but for those who are looking for more choices, eggs, tofu, and beans are also great additions.
If you’re open to eating commercial meat alternatives, you can purchase a block of vegan “meat” and slice it thin to give you the mouthfeel of a lunch meat sandwich. Alternatively, you could use a veggie burger patty and pair it with a delicious spread and pickled vegetables or kimchi for a spicy kick.
Keeping it simple to a grilled cheese sandwich is also a good move, and you can pair said sandwich with a range of soups. More than anything, just remember to use flavourful base ingredients to make sure you enjoy the experience.
Would a melty cheese taste good with cold cuts on a cold sandwich?
Honestly, that’s going to come down to your personal preference. Some cheeses only taste good when hot, others taste their best when cold. Then you have cheeses that can go either way. The key will be your meat and cheese pairing. If you don’t like the pairing, you simply won’t like the sandwich.
Cut a slice of bread into small squares and combine each square with a little of your melty cheese and a small pice of different meats. Try the different combinations to see which one you think is best.
What are the easiest sandwiches to pack for lunch?
In my opinion, the easiest sandwiches for lunch are going to be sandwiches that don’t require any cooking. The more store bought ingredients you can use, the better. This is where deli meats, sliced cheese, and simple jarred sauces come in handy.
If you’re managing a restricted diet and need to make things like bread and sauces at home, back cook and freeze as many of the components as possible so you have stock to pull from for a while.
Can I use any type of leftover meat for cold sandwiches?
No, not all types of meat will work, as some will affect how portable the sandwich is, or how well it eats. For example, a cold sandwich made with ground meat won’t work nearly as well as one made with meat slices or shredded meat.
Depending on the size and other fillings, cubed meat that’s been cooked may work on a sandwich, but definitely works if you make a wrap. The same is true of ground meat: it would work well in a wrap, but not in a traditional sandwich.
Is there an easy way to make my cold sandwich more nutritious?
Yes! If you’ve never heard of micro greens, look into them ASAP. When I was packing lunches for my kids, I’d always keep one or two containers of microgreens on hand and add them to sandwiches that had meat.
Micro greens are very nutrient dense, and you can also buy what’s called sprouts. The most common types are broccoli and alfalfa sprouts. Whether you go with sprouts or microgreens (or both), add a serving or two to each cold sandwich for an instant nutrition boost.
