Are you ready to wrap your mitts around one of these epic vegan sandwiches? Put away that peanut butter and jelly, these sandwiches are going to require both hands and all your attention.
The world of vegan sandwiches has exploded beyond hummus and sprouts on rye. These days we are spoiled for choice with fast food chains and food retailers vying for our vegan dollars. But, how do you make the perfect vegan sandwich at home?
Easily, with a little inspiration from my blogger friends. But first, let's look at the basics.
How to Build an Epic Vegan Sandwich
Are you ready to create restaurant quality vegan sandwiches at home? Here's how.
Bready Things
Get creative when choosing the base of your sandwich. Swap classic white bread for sourdough, rye or pumpernickel. Play with pockets, pitas and rolls, or use wraps, seaweed or collard greens to create something fresh and new.
The Hero
Marinate tofu, smash chickpeas, roast jackfruit or slice seasoned seitan. Play with your food! The sandwich hero can be as simple as gently roasted sliced vegetables or as robust and hearty as vegan meatballs.
Season
To make the most of your ingredients season each with either salt flakes or Kosher salt. We want to enhance the flavours not turn our sandwich in to a salt bath. Adding a little salt and pepper to each element will take your sandwich to the next level .
Balance Flavours
Balance
A truly epic sandwich fills your mouth with an explosion of different flavours that balance each other. Pair spicy tofu with a cooling yoghurt or pudina chutney. Add chipotle or miso paste to homemade vegan mayonnaise or hummus to elevate flavours to the next level. Or go simple with thin pear slices added to arugula and melted cheese. Insert drool [here].
Include a variety of textures - crunchy, smooth, soft- and flavours. Think "salt, sweet, rich, tart."
Building Blocks
Once you've got your elements together, it's time to build your sandwich. Denser textures like faux meats and cheese work best at the bottom while crunchier elements like pickles and vegetables work best towards the top.
Lightly Toasted
Stale bread can come to life with a little toasting but I urge you to toast lightly. Too much toasting can leave your sandwich dry or worse...tasting burnt.
All the Vegan Sandwiches
I am not going lie - this is a beast of a list. Thirty-six vegan sandwiches you'll want to be eating breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Use the links below to jump straight to a category 🙂
Deliciously Fish-Free Sandwiches
Global Flavours
Travel the world in your lunch break with these globally inspired vegan sandwiches. Think "exotic spices, fresh produce and mouthwatering textures".
Filled with crunchy fresh vegetables and protein-rich tofu this sushi sandwich from VegKitchen is as healthy as it is delicious. From VegKitchen.
This Tofu Banh Mi Sandwich from Choosing Chia is a take on the Vietnamese classic. Filled with marinated tofu, herbs and homemade pickled veggies, this sandwich is flavour packed! From Choosing Chia.
My vegan shawarma recipe is a reader favourite. Grab a napkin because this Middle Eastern sandwich is wonderfully messy, completely addictive and 100% carnivore-approved.
With crisp vegetables and a decadent peanut sauce, this Thai-inspired veggie sandwich from Go Dairy Free is bursting with flavour and freshness. From Go Dairy Free.
A traditional street food recipe, this Bombay sandwich is loaded with sliced veggies, masala aloo (Potato) and topped with spicy chutney and sev. From The Belly Rules the Mind.
Mango curry hummus and tandoori roasted red pepper panini (sandwiches) combine to create a mouthwatering vegan sandwiche that will make you forget about boring old hummus and sprouts. From Yup It's Vegan.
Sandwiches With Chickpeas
Chickpeas are an awesome source of protein and fibre and can be mashed, smashed and crumbed to mimic so many traditional textures. These vegan sandwiches use chickpeas to create epic sandwiches that will help you feel fuller for longer.
This Buffalo Chickpea Sandwich is a super delicious, vegan and gluten-free sandwich that's ready in 15-minutes. Win! From Get Set Vegan.
Sweet and mildly spicy, hearty and delicious, this sloppy BBQ Chickpeas Sandwich is family approved making it perfect for lunchbox or weekend lunches. From Veggie Inspired.
A simple plant-based tuna sandwich for a quick lunch. Ready in less than 15 minutes this vegan sandwich is made from chickpeas! Serve it in crusty bread or a pita wrap. From Vegan Punks.
Love the flavors of buffalo? You'll love this buffalo chickpea creation from Cadry's Kitchen. Ready in under 20-minutes it comes with a creamy and cool dressing. Drool much? From Cadry's Kitchen.
Ready in around 15-minutes, this Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich from Choosing Chia is a healthy vegan lunch that is packed with protein! From Choosing Chia.
No-Meat Sammies
So, obviously vegans don't eat meat, but that doesn't mean we can't create meaty textures with plant-based ingredients. Whether using mushrooms, seitan or soy curls, these vegan sandwiches are deliciously meaty. No animals were harmed in the making of all this deliciousness.
Food crush! My Vegan Reuben Sandwich has pan fried spiced mushrooms, homemade red cabbage sauerkraut, Russian dressing and pickles combine in each wonderfully messy and textured bite.
Want a meaty sandwich without the meat? This epic sandwich is going to blow your mind! Seitan (vital wheat gluten) gives it a meat-like texture that satisfies and boasts a whopping 46 grams of protein! From Health My Lifestyle.
With sautéed mushrooms and a generous amount of vegan melted cheese, this vegan Philly cheesesteak is lick the plate delicious. From My Pure Plants.
My vegan "chicken" salad is such an easy and fresh lunch option. Made with young jackfruit, chickpeas and a killer dressing, this classic salad made vegan is simple, quick and completely delicious.
In this recipe, homemade seitan and cheesy sauce work beautifully to make this epic vegan Philly cheesetake sub recipe from Elephantasic Vegan.
A crispy tofu patty smothered in melty cheese, topped with smoky veggie ham sandwiched together in a buttery English muffin, this breakfast sandwich is breakfast, lunch and dinner-worthy. From Vegan Huggs.
For this vegan French dip sandwich Cadry replaces traditional roast beef with jackfruit to make a drool-worthy lunchtime feast. From Cadry's Kitchen.
BBQ Soy Curls Sandwich made in an Instant Pot. This easy, healthy, satisfying, plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free barbecue recipe is saucy and delicious. From Veeg.
Don’t you just love a crisp sandwich with a smoky kick mixed with the smooth, nutty taste of avocado? Then you are going to love this inspired Vegan BLT Tempeh Sandwich. From Happy Kitchen Rocks.
This Vegan Pepperoni Pizza Panini is a delicious pizza in a sandwich! An easy and satisfying lunch or dinner that's quick and easy, and oh so good! From A Plantiful Path.
Dairy-Free Cheese Sandwiches
You can enjoy all the good bits about cheese without the cow. These cheesy sandwiches use plant-based ingredients to create mouthwatering, oozy, lip-smacking flavours and textures. Grab a napkin, things are about to get deliciously cheesy.
A scrumptious green goddess vegan grilled cheese sandwich with avocado, spinach and sprouts layered between cashew mayo and a healthy homemade cheese sauce! From Nutriciously.
This vegan pesto tomato mozzarella sandwich is simple, easy, but most importantly delicious and filling! From Rescue Dog Kitchen.
This Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich is built with three layers of deliciousness...creamy vegan mozzarella, cheesy pesto & smoky-sweet peppers. Make your own cheese or simply use store bought! From Vegan Huggs.
Kristina has created the ultimate comfort food with this jalapeno popper sandwich! Gooey cream cheese poppers and melty cheese take this sandwich to a whole other level. From Spabettie.
Creamy vegan pimento cheese spread on hearty whole wheat bread with lettuce and sprouts – what could be better for a summer meal? Skip the Daiya and make this healthy homemade recipe to fuel your next lunch. From Yup It's Vegan.
Tofu & Vegetable Sandwiches
What would us vegans do without tofu? Whether its firm, silken, smoked, marinated or fried, tofu is the perfect sandwich protein . It absorbs everything, taking on any flavours you like! And if tofu isn't your thing, we've got some gorgeous vegetable creations to inspire your next lunch break.
This spicy cauliflower burger recipe is the best saucy, finger-licking good, plant-based sandwich you’ll ever want. Easily gluten-free, totally oil-free, and extra delicious. From Simply CeeCee.
The Classic Egg Salad Sandwich has been given a vegan makeover! These Vegan Tofu Egg Salad Sandwiches are so easy to make that you'll wonder why you haven't made them sooner! From The Vegan Larder.
You'll need two hands and napkin for this mouthwatering vegetable and tofu sandwich. From Simply CeeCee.
Perfect on a hot day, this vegan tofu sandwich with smoked mayo will have even the meat-lovers drooling. Pass the napkins please. From The Minimalist Vegan.
Soft wholemeal bread filled with mustard, salad leaves, roasted vegetables and tofu and vegan cream cheese. What more could you ask for? From Tinned Tomatoes.
Deliciously Fish-Free Sandwiches
Vegans can enjoy the umami flavours of seafood without the fish! These fish-free sammies creatively use chickpeas, hearts of palm, jackfruit and even carrot to mimic those much-loved seafood flavours and textures.
This vegan lobster roll has all the traditional New England flavours but better - it's vegan! Toasted rolls filled with a creamy dressing and chopped hearts of palm as the 'meat'. From Veggie Desserts.
You know you want to make this vegan tuna melt sandwich topped with melted vegan cheese. Ooey, gooey comforting goodness. From Namely Marly.
The Best Vegan Bagel Sandwich | Vegan Lox & Cashew Cream Cheese
With the flavours of a lox bagel, this vegan version is made with carrots and cream cheese. Bring on brunch! From Yum Vegan Lunch Ideas.
This fried oyster mushroom po'boy with a remoulade dressing is completely drool-worthy. You won't miss the shrimp a bit. From The VGN Way.
Yep, that's a tuna melt- but not. This vegan version is made with chickpeas and jackfruit topped with vegan cheese. Comfort food at its best. From My Quiet Kitchen.
Phew! There you have it - 36 vegan sandwiches you can make at home. Each one packed with enough flavour and texture, your meat-loving friends will be eyeing your lunch box. Get inspired and start making lunch the best meal fo the day. Enjoy.
Hungry for More Plant-Based Goodness? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the latest news and updates. If you like this recipe, please check out my cookbook. Great Vegan Meals for the Carnivorous Family is full of simple, carnivore-approved family recipes.
FAQ's
Bread is traditionally made from flour, yeast, water and salt - all vegan ingredients. Some commercially available breads contain non-vegan ingredients such as whey (a milk protein) and eggs. Always check the label if you are uncertain.
There are so many vegan options for sandwiches! You can create amazing textures and flavours using tofu, chickpeas, nut cheeses, seitan, hummus and spreads. If you're unsure, start with a good old salad sandwich or try one of the 36 sandwich combinations above.
