The best sandwiches don’t happen by accident: You’ve got to balance moisture and crunch, weigh condiments against main components, choose bread that will make each element shine, then construct it all so that every bite delivers something far greater than the sum of its parts.
Whether stuffed with meat, eggs, cheese, or vegetables, the sandwich transcends borders, uniting cultures, peoples, and cuisines. Take, for example, Cuba’s medianoche sandwich with roast pork, ham, and Swiss cheese on a sweet egg loaf, and Vietnam’s banh mi with Chinese-style barbecue pork, fresh cucumbers, and mayo on French bread.The South’s pimento cheese, and Turkey’s kumru, a briny grilled cheese with sucuk sausage, spicy pickles, and tomatoes on a sesame roll. The world’s best sandwiches have much in common.
Chief among their shared traits? Ease. Even the most “gourmet” sandwiches remain grab-and-go food, and infinitely adaptable. Need a few new ideas for sandwiches? We’ve sliced our list of favorites down to the 50 essential sandwich recipes to try now. Feel free to follow the rules, or break them as your preference, pocketbook, and pantry allow. Your lunch (and breakfast) game will never be the same.
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Casamento's Fried Oyster Loaf Sandwich

Classic Sausage and Pâté Banh Mi
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Beet Smorrebrod
Waffle Sandwiches with Cecina, Avocado, and Arugula
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Roast Chicken Pan Bagnat with Olive Tapenade and Goat Cheese

Grilled Chicken and Avocado Banh Mi
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Smørrebrød of Eggs, Shrimp, and Dill

Canned Sardine, Tomato, and Caper Sandwiches
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New Jersey Pork Roll Meatball Sub
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Salmon Gravlax, Apple, and Crispy Kale Smorrebrod
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Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich with Horseradish Cream

Open-Faced Rye, Poached Red Snapper, Pickled Radish, and Salsa Verde Sandwich

Roman Braised Beef with Tomato and Onion (Picchiapò)

Calf's Liver, Caramelized Onion, and Tomato Sandwiches
Burrata and Marinated Cherry Tomato Sandwiches
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Porchetta Sandwiches with Marinated Onions and Salsa Verde
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Pecorino, Parsley, and Anchovy Sandwiches
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Classic Louisville Hot Brown Sandwich
The Schimmel Reuben Sandwich
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Braaibroodjie (South African Grilled Cheese)
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Raegan Steinberg, co-owner of Arthur’s Nosh Bar in Montreal’s hip Saint-Henri neighborhood, calls her partner chef Alex Cohen an “everything and the kitchen sink kind of cook.” Called the McArthur Sandwich, this high-piled schnitzel-filled creation adapted from the restaurant is the perfect example of his genius. Pounded and breaded chicken is topped with sweet honey, salty dill pickles, and vinegar-y iceberg slaw, then served upon crispy challah toast. The secret to the crunchy yet hearty schnitzel breading: instant mashed potato flakes mixed into the breadcrumbs. Get the recipe for The Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich »
Turkish Grilled Cheese
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Salvadoran Turkey Sandwich (Panes con Pavo)
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Fried Mozzarella Sandwiches
Braised Brisket Burgers with Pimento Cheese
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Cuban Medianoche Sandwich
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Smoked Gouda and Apple Butter Sandwich
Trout "Reuben"
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Softshell Crab Sandwich with Slaw
Chivito (Uruguayan Cheesesteak) Sandwich
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Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich
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Alabama-Style Chicken Sandwiches with White Sauce
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Pork Schnitzel Sandwich
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Bel-Air Club Sandwich
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Roast Beef Sandwich with Walnut Romesco
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Pimento Cheese Sandwich with Homemade Pickles
Fried Oyster Po'Boys with Kale and Tartar Sauce
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Tomato Sandwich
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Radish and Butter Sandwich
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Ricotta and Honey Sandwich
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Provençal Tuna Sandwich (Pan Bagnat)
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Pork Belly Gyro
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Monte Cristo
Roasted Sweet Potato Sandwich with Rajas Salsa
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Lexington Pulled Pork
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Lemon-Pepper Tuna Sandwich
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Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
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Fennel-Orange Tuna Sandwich
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