Are you stuck in a sandwich rut? It’s so easy to fall back on the old reliables, leaving you and possibly your child feeling bored of the daily lunchbox. A few simple changes can make a real difference – add some flavour by swapping butter for pesto, try pitta or an English muffin instead of sliced bread, and of course some added variety in terms of the fillings themselves.
Don’t forget the benefit of using dinner leftovers – they can often make a great lunch the next day in a new form, for example combine chilli and rice to make a delicious burrito or wrap, meatballs can make a tasty sub, a slice of meatloaf is a surprisingly moreish sandwich…
With a variety of meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan sandwich fillings to choose from below, we have also picked some of our favourite breads, spreads and additions that can give any sandwich a creative makeover!
Tasty Sandwich Filling Ideas
Meat Sandwich Fillings
- Ham
- Ham and cheese
- Ham salad
- Chicken
- Chicken and cheese
- Chicken salad
- Chicken and stuffing
- Chicken and pesto
- Chicken and avocado
- Coronation chicken
- Tandoori chicken
- Sweet chilli chicken
- Chicken Caesar
- Pulled pork
- Turkey
- Turkey salad
- Turkey club
- Turkey and avocado
- Turkey and cranberry sauce
- Roast beef
- Corned beef
- Salami
- Pastrami
- Tuna mayo
- BLT
- Sausage
- Bacon
- Club
- Breakfast sandwich (bacon, egg, cheese and sausage)
- Ploughman’s
Fish Sandwich Fillings
- Smoked salmon and cream cheese
- Salmon salad
- Tuna mayo
- Tuna and sweetcorn
- Prawn mayo
- Smoked mackerel
- Fish paté
Vegetarian Sandwich Fillings
- Cheese
- Cheese and pickle
- Cheese and tomato
- Mozzarella, tomato and pesto
- Cream cheese (various flavours)
- Cream cheese and cucumber
- Cream cheese and pesto
- Egg mayo
- Egg and cress
- Brie and cranberry
- Grated carrot, raisin and cream cheese
- Chocolate spread
- Chocolate spread and banana
- PB&J
Don’t Miss…
Pack a punch with plenty of goodness and deliciousness with these easy and healthy lunchbox bars – they’re perfect for hungry kids!
Vegan Sandwich Fillings
- Nut butter or nut-free alternative
- Banana
- Cucumber
- Salad
- Tomato
- Hummus and grated carrot
- Hummus and roasted peppers
- Hummus and cucumber
- Falafel salad
- Grated carrot and raisin
- Mashed chickpeas with cucumber
- Avocado salad
- Yeast extract (Marmite / Vegemite)
- Jam
Change Up the Basics
Don’t forget to change up the sauces or spreads that you use – butter has a time and place, but you can really inject a twist and some added flavour to even a simple sandwich by using an alternative. Ideas include:
- Butter
- Mayonnaise (including flavours like garlic mayo)
- Pesto
- Relish
- Mustard
- Hummus
- Tahini
- Nut butter
- Cream cheese
- Cranberry sauce
- Horseradish
- Sweet chilli sauce
Similarly, consider an alternative to regular sliced breads – there is a whole bread world to choose from, from white, brown and wholemeal to sourdough, brioche, soda bread and more!
Even more choices include bagels, wraps, panini, ciabatta, focaccia, rolls, baguette, pitta bread, crumpets, English muffins, scones, and crackers.
About the Author: Emily Manning
