Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 13 of Our Favorite Sandwich Recipes to Save You From Your Sad Desk Lunch These ideas include salmon, chickpeas, and caramelized onions. So you can start looking forward to lunch again. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 20, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images Is lunchtime getting a little stale? Turn to these fresh and tasty sandwich recipes for a handheld meal that won't leave you bored—or tempted to order takeout before noon on a Tuesday. Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, or like your Cuban sandwiches with two types of ham, we've included something for every type of sandwich eater that won't pull you away from your desk for long (sorry). Whatever you do, don't forget to use good bread, add an element of acidity, and get creative with your toppings. Looking for a few other easy tips for building a better sandwich from scratch? Check out our guide to sandwich making here. 10 Healthy Lunch Ideas That You Can Easily Make at Home 01 of 13 Vegetarian BLT With Shiitake Bacon Caitlin Bensel This better-for-you take on a BLT uses crispy shiitake mushrooms in place of bacon. To brown them until they're perfectly crunchy, you'll simply toss the mushrooms with olive oil, tamari, salt, and pepper and bake them in the oven. They're so delicious you'll wonder why you ever bothered with real-deal bacon. Get the Recipe 02 of 13 Chickpea Salad Sandwich Alison Miksch Whether you take your chicken or tuna salad in a wrap or sandwich, there's no denying it's a classic lunchtime staple for many. But if you're looking to change things up a bit, or you're upping your plant-based ingredients, this Chickpea Salad Sandwich will give the classics a run for their money. The fact that it's an easy and healthy lunch idea is already a major win, but wait until you taste it. Get the Recipe 03 of 13 Caramelized Onion and Sour Cherry Tartine Victor Protasio Think cherries are only for sweet treats? Think again. This tasty tartine combines sour cherries with tender caramelized onions, sharp white cheddar cheese, and fresh thyme leaves. To turn it into a mouthwatering melty grilled cheese, simply sandwich two tartines together. Add spinach or arugula to really hit it out of the ballpark. Get the Recipe 04 of 13 Slow-Cooker Cuban Sandwiches Greg DuPree Pork shoulder plus deli ham plus salty, briny pickles, melted swiss cheese, and mustard? Sign us up. You'll cook the pork shoulder hands-free in the slow cooker with with garlic, salt, orange zest, orange juice, and stock for seven hours. The result = lunchtime perfection. Get the Recipe 05 of 13 Smoked Salmon Salad Sandwich Danny Kim Mix freshly roasted salmon with smoked salmon for a delicious filling that's not overpowering. Bonus: The salmon mixture can be made up to three days in advance. Get the Recipe 06 of 13 Tomato, Bacon, and Garlic Mayo Sandwich Danny Kim Upgrade a standard BLT with a garlicky yogurt sauce and sliced avocado. Get the Recipe 07 of 13 Chicken, Sprouts, and Provolone Sandwich Danny Kim Warm chicken, melted cheese, and crisp sprouts in a toasted bagel makes a satisfying snack or meal. Get the Recipe 08 of 13 French Ham and Cheese Sandwich Danny Kim A mixture of chopped cornichons, butter, Dijon mustard, and fresh tarragon gives this ham and cheese sandwich a French twist. Get the Recipe 09 of 13 Roast Beef With Roasted Tomatoes Sandwich Danny Kim Roast the tomatoes with olive oil and rosemary until tender to add an extra dose of juicy flavor. 10 of 13 Turkey, Smashed Peas, and Pesto Sandwich Danny Kim Plain turkey gets a bright lift from mashed peas, tangy onion, and pesto. 11 of 13 Roast Pork and Pickled Cucumber Sandwich Danny Kim Make quick pickles by combining cucumber, vinegar, oil, brown sugar, salt, and pepper; they give the sandwich an extra zing. Get the Recipe 12 of 13 Bacon & Pimiento Grilled Cheese Fred Hardy We love this sophisticated take on a BLT, which eschews lettuce in favor of creamy, homemade pimiento cheese. Add juicy tomato and crisp bacon and you have a sandwich that you'll crave constantly. get the recipe 13 of 13 Tuna Niçoise Baguette Jen Causey Basic tuna salad gets up-leveled in this twist on a traditional sammie. It's perfect for work days because you can put it together in the morning and let the flavors have time to blend. By lunchtime—voila! It's perfect. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit