I’m back with another mix & match recipe post, this time all about healthy sandwich ideas! From pita wraps and fried egg sandwiches to banh mi and tangy chicken salad, you’ll have plenty of inspiration for tasty lunches. 🙂
I love mix & match recipes because they’re so flexible and easy. You can customize them based on what you have around! If you missed my other mix & match recipe posts, check them out: Mix & Match Healthy Smoothie Recipes, Easy Overnight Oatmeal Recipes, Avocado Toast Recipes, and Mix & Match Grain Salad Bowl Recipes!
Sandwiches are the ultimate portable lunch. They’re easy to pack for school or work, they can be super filling and healthy, and they’re beyond easy to make. But they can get pretty boring, too, if you’re just tossing turkey and cheese between two slices of bread every day. That’s where this mix & match formula comes in handy. The combinations are endless, but check out some of my favorite creative sandwich ideas at the end of the post!
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Healthy Sandwich Recipes for Lunch
First, let’s go over the steps (with ingredient inspiration!) for how to put together a fabulous sandwich!
Start with Bread
The base to any sandwich is the bread! I like switching it up between sliced bread, pita pockets, and wraps to keep things interesting. When you’re shopping for bread, make sure you pick up one that’s labeled 100% whole wheat (unless you need gluten free bread, of course) – breads labeled just “whole grain” or “multigrain” or “wheat” are often times mostly refined white flour with only a few whole grains thrown in.
Add Sandwich Condiments
Changing up condiments is a great way to add tons of flavor to your sandwiches without getting bored. I like to add condiments that provide lots of nutritional value and/or pack a ton of flavor into a small amount. Greek yogurt, hummus, and guacamole add creaminess while also packing in protein and healthy fats, so they’re my go-to when I want something creamy and comforting. Dijon mustard is my secret ingredient for adding tons of flavor to sandwiches with just a small squirt – but I love hot sauce and sriracha, too!
Load the Sandwich Up With Veggies
Veggies add satisfying volume, texture, flavor, and of course nutrients to the mix. When my sandwich is piled high, it always feels like so much more food and is satiating. I add in whatever fresh veggies I have on hand – but my favorite staple for sandwiches is broccoli slaw! It adds such great crunch and tons of volume, while soaking in all the other flavors in the sandwich.
Add Protein
Protein is the key to making any sandwich filling. I like to keep the protein aspect simple, so I can play around with other fun flavors based on what I have around! Sliced turkey, canned tuna, and pulled rotisserie chicken are some of my go-to meat options. Beans are great plant-based protein sources for wraps and pitas (they tend to fall out of sandwiches on sliced bread, though, unless you mash them), and eggs are fantastic for breakfast sandwiches (or sandwiches at any meal, let’s be honest!).
Finish with Fun Sandwich Toppings
Here’s where you can really make your sandwich stand out. Fun toppings can be anything from flavorful cheese, spices, and fresh herbs to pickles, nuts, apple slices, or bacon. I like to think of these fun toppings as accessories – after I fill my sandwich with the staples like protein, veggies, and healthy condiments, I accessorize with things that add extra flavor and texture to keep things interesting! Check out some of my favorite sandwich combinations below for how to put it all together.
Now, on to the healthy sandwich ideas! You could make endless sandwiches with this formula, but here are a few of my favorites:
Mediterranean Chicken Pita
(whole wheat pita + hummus + spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes + pulled rotisserie chicken + feta cheese)
Turkey, Apple & Cheddar Sandwich
(whole wheat bread + hummus + lettuce + sliced turkey + apple slices & cheddar cheese. Or try gouda to mix it up!)
Healthier Tuna Salad Sandwich
(whole wheat pita + Greek yogurt & dijon mustard mixed with tuna + spinach, broccoli slaw & tomato + canned tuna + feta cheese. Guacamole or hummus are also great mixed with tuna if you’d rather!)
Mexican Black Bean Wrap
(whole wheat or corn tortilla + guacamole + lettuce & tomato + black beans + cheddar cheese – whole or grated)
Fried Egg & Veggie Sandwich
(whole wheat bread + guacamole + spinach & tomato + fried egg)
Curried Chickpea Salad Wrap
(whole wheat wrap + Greek yogurt & dijon mustard + spinach + chickpeas + curry powder & diced red onion)
Healthier Chicken Salad Sandwich
(whole wheat bread + Greek yogurt & dijon mustard + lettuce + pulled rotisserie chicken + chopped walnuts & diced red & green onions. You can also add some sliced grapes for an extra flavor boost!)
Turkey BLT Wrap
(whole wheat wrap + Greek yogurt (or mayo, if you prefer!) + lettuce & tomato + sliced turkey + bacon)
Caprese Egg Sandwich
(whole wheat bread + spinach & tomato + scrambled egg + fresh basil & mozzarella)
Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich
(whole wheat bread + sriracha + cucumber & shredded carrot & broccoli slaw + pulled rotisserie chicken + fresh cilantro & pickled jalapenos)
Looking for more healthy sandwich ideas? Here are a couple creative/out of the box ideas:
What are your favorite sandwich combinations?
