35 Recipes for Super-Satisfying Sandwiches

A collection of globally-inspired sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, perfect for lunchboxes, backyard parties, and picnics.

By
Rabi Abonour
Rabi Abonour is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.
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Updated October 25, 2024
side view shot of two banh mi loaded with tofu and garnishes

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

Portable, infinitely variable, and satisfying, the sandwich is about as close as you'll get to a perfect food. All you need is bread (or some sort of bread equivalent) and a little creativity when it comes to fillings. And you don't need any silverware.

Most people have made themselves an afternoon peanut butter and jelly, a classic grilled cheese on a rainy day, or a basic turkey and cheese sandwich. But this list of 35 sandwiches spans the world with crunchy katsu sandwiches from Japan, salsa-dipped and grilled pambazos from Mexico, and crispy chickpea battered pakoras from India. And then we have classics (and improved classics) like the club, grilled cheese, BLT, and chicken salad. Add up your available ingredients and your latest craving, and pick a sandwich from this list.

Two different dishes contribute inspiration for these crunchy-crab sandwiches: Cantonese crab with scallions and ginger, and Vietnamese bánh mì. Dredge the crabs in cornstarch before sautéing them for a shatteringly crisp shell on each one. We line up three of them on each Vietnamese-style baguette, accompanied by ginger-chili mayo, quick-pickled carrots and cucumbers, fresh scallions, and cilantro.

Get the recipe for Sautéed Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches With Pickled Vegetables, Cilantro, and Ginger-Chili Mayo »

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