If you eat a mostly plant-based diet, there’s a good chance you’ve had some sad vegan sandwiches. I know I have! Soggy lettuce. Soggy bread. Zero flavor. Yeah…no thanks. But luckily for us, vegan sandwiches don’t have to be like that. Sure, they aren’t made with meat or cheese, but that doesn’t mean they have to skimp on flavor. Try making vegan sandwiches with different sauces and spreads, roasted or pickled veggies, and/or fresh herbs, and you’ll find that they’re just as tasty as their traditional counterparts. To get you started, I’m sharing 12 of my favorite vegan sandwich ideas below. They’re all delicious, but almost more importantly, they all pack well too. If you’re looking for new lunch recipes to add to your repertoire this fall, any of these vegan sandwiches would be a great pick.
Very Veggie Vegan Sandwiches
If you like to load up on veggies at lunchtime, these vegan sandwiches are the ones for you. They showcase tomatoes, cauliflower, avocado, artichokes, and more!
Heirloom Tomato Sandwich In summer and early fall, I have this sandwich on repeat. Creamy avocado and a tangy white bean spread contrast beautifully with the juicy tomato slices.
Avocado Sandwich If you like avocado toast, then you’ll love this avocado sandwich! It boasts a bright, creamy lemon-edamame spread as well as sliced avocado, crisp cucumber, and pickled red onion for pop.
Romesco Cauliflower Sandwiches Roasted cauliflower creates a flavorful, satisfying filling for these veggie sandwiches, but it’s the punchy romesco sauce that really takes them over the top.
Tomato, Basil & Artichoke Picnic Sandwich The beauty of this hearty sandwich is that it’s actually better(!!) if you make it ahead of time. I love to pack it up for summer picnics or a gourmet weekday lunch.
Vegan Riffs on Classic Sandwiches
Craving a BLT? Creamy egg salad? A classic club sandwich? If you ask me, these vegan sandwiches come pretty darn close to the real thing.
Vegan Egg Salad Don’t tell my Egg Salad Recipe, but I actually prefer this vegan tofu sandwich! Turmeric gives it its egg-like color, vegan mayo makes it rich and creamy, and capers, chives, and dill make it deliciously briny and bright. Layer it between slices of bread with fresh greens and pickled onions for a knockout healthy lunch.
Crispy Shiitake Vegan BLT, page 171 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook Savory shiitake bacon steps in for the meat in this vegan version of a BLT.
Vegan Club Sandwich Where to start with this sandwich! I love the marinated tempeh filling and all the fresh veggies, but I think my favorite part might be the spreads. One is a lemony white bean spread, while the other is made with sun-dried tomatoes. Both add richness and yummy flavor to this recipe.
Chickpea Salad Sandwich My vegan spin on a French pan bagnat! It starts with a tuna-like chickpea salad made with tahini, Dijon mustard, lemon, and capers for a briny pop of flavor. Then, I round it out with crisp veggies, olives, basil, and good-quality baguette.
Vegan Sandwiches for PB&J Lovers
I know what you’re thinking, and, yes, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is already vegan. Still, this complex twist on the childhood classic is totally worth a try.
PB&J with Hazelnut Butter & Strawberry Chia Jam, page 45 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook The “P” in this recipe isn’t peanuts – it’s pecans! Together, toasted hazelnuts and pecans create a rich, luxurious nut butter that tastes oh-so-good with the sweet strawberry jam.
Wrap Vegan Sandwich Ideas
Do wraps count as sandwiches? I vote yes!
Healthy Lunch Wraps Out of all these vegan sandwich recipes, this one is the one I make most often. I use the same zingy Dijon dressing for the greens and chickpea filling, making these wraps both super flavorful and easy to prepare.
Chickpea Shawarma Wraps This recipe includes a yogurt sauce, but you can easily skip it to make these wraps vegan. They’re still fantastic, stuffed with spiced roasted chickpeas, hummus, zhoug, and all sorts of veggies and herbs.
Spinach Hummus Wrap To sneak extra veggies into these simple wraps, I pulse spinach into the hummus. They’re so fresh and delicious!
