For brown-bag lunches, beach picnics, or a relaxed no-cook dinner, a sandwich takes everything great about summer and wraps it up in a neat, bread-encased package. These sandwich recipes are some of our favorites—try them for your next laid-back warm-weather meal.
Summer is all about showcasing seasonal ingredients. One of our favorite short-lived delicacies is soft-shell crab. The crustaceans are delicious fried. We like to serve them on sandwiches with a crisp collard slaw and tangy tartar and cocktail sauces.
One of our favorite summer vegetables is the tomato. Peak-season tomatoes need almost no accompaniment—try them on buttered toast with mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and the tiniest pinch of sugar to bring out their natural sweetness.
There are plenty of other things to do with good tomatoes, of course. In our California sandwich they get paired with avocado, sprouts, and Monterey Jack and topped with homemade ranch dressing. They're also at home in our Iraqi-inspired eggplant and cucumber salad sandwich and a classic club.
What's summer without backyard barbecues? Fire up the grill or the smoker and make our Alabama-style chicken, which is traditionally paired with a mayonnaise-based white sauce and dill pickles.
A hearty, meaty sandwich is delicious year-round. In the summer we love the chivito, a Uruguayan sandwich, a hearty bacon cheesesteak lightened slightly by lettuce, tomato, hard-boiled, and hot peppers.
Find all of these dishes and more in our collection of summer sandwich recipes.
California Sandwich
A version of a California classic, this sandwich is a mix of vegetables, whole-grain bread, and Jack cheese, topped with ranch dressing.
Softshell Crab Sandwich with Collard Slaw
A crisp collard slaw and tangy tartar and cocktail sauces top pan-fried softshell crabs in this classic sandwich. Get the recipe for Softshell Crab Sandwich with Collard Slaw »
Tomato Sandwich
Our idea of the perfect summer sandwich? Two thin slices of good toast, mayo, and a couple juicy slices of tomato.
Radish and Butter Sandwich
It’s tres French to pair crisp, spicy radishes with softened, salted butter; a thin-sliced baguette is the perfect vehicle.
Ricotta and Honey Sandwich
A dollop of ricotta on earthy-sweet oat bread is delicious; add a drizzle of sourwood honey and it’s elevated to the exquisite. (For a bit of sophisticated heat, top with a sprinkle of freshly-crushed red pepper flakes.)
Tomato and Avocado Sandwich
Sweet, juicy heirloom tomatoes and slices of just-ripe avocado work in perfect harmony no matter what you serve them on, but a slice of seven-grain bread adds a perfect amount of texture and crunch. Get the recipe for Tomato and Avocado Sandwich »
Smoked Gouda and Apple Butter Sandwich
It’s autumn on a slice of bread: sourdough spread with rich apple butter, topped with slices of mild smoked gouda and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Get the recipe for Smoked Gouda and Apple Butter Sandwich »
Sharp Cheddar Sandwich
Dense rye bread is the perfect base for a generous smear of not-too-spicy whole-grain mustard topped with thin slices of a sharp cheddar. Get the recipe for Sharp Cheddar Sandwich »
Provençal Tuna Sandwich
Marinated artichokes and briny niçoise olives dot this Provençal-inspired tuna salad, paired with hard boiled eggs and roasted peppers for an easy, dressed up sandwich.
Salsa-Dipped Potato and Chorizo Sandwiches (Pambazos)
These salsa-dunked and griddled sandwiches, an iconic Mexico City street food, are named for the pambazos—soft, oval rolls—they’re typically made with. Telera and kaiser rolls make fine substitutes.
Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade Sandwich
The New York City restaurant Penelope serves a cult-favorite sandwich called the John Oliver: fresh goat cheese and a generous serving of kalamata olive tapenade together on (yes, really) toasted cranberry walnut bread. It’s an uncanny pairing: sweet, nutty, briny, and creamy all at once. Get the recipe for Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade Sandwich »
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
The chicken in this sandwich gets dredged once in buttermilk and twice in flour, which ensures a crisp coating.
Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches
Lemon curd and goat cheese lends this breakfast sandwich a pleasing tanginess. Get the recipe for Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches »
Uruguayan Steak Sandwich (Chivito)
This is chef Ignacio Mattos’ version of a hearty cheesesteak sandwich that is served in restaurants and cafés throughout Uruguay.
Eggplant and Cucumber Salad Sandwich
An earthy combination of fried eggplant, tea-steeped hard-boiled eggs, tahini, parsley, amba (a mango relish), and cucumber salad goes into this vegetarian sandwich.
Cubano (Cuban Ham and Cheese Sandwich)
A Cubano is a griddled white roll with Swiss cheese, boiled ham, dill pickle slices, and roasted pork.
Egg and Watercress Sandwich
If serving these elegant sandwiches for afternoon tea, remove the crusts and cut each into 4 triangles or 2 rectangles. Arrange in stacks of 2 alongside the rest of your tea sandwiches.
Sardine Sandwich
Another easy and not-scary option if you’re trying to ease your way into enjoying sardines.
Alabama-Style Chicken Sandwiches with White Sauce
This recipe for hickory-smoked chicken sandwiches served with tangy, mayonnaise-based white sauce originated in 1925, when railway worker Big Bob Gibson dug a pit in his backyard in Decatur, Alabama, nailed a plank-oak serving table to a sycamore tree, and started smoking barbecue for friends, co-workers, and passersby.
Mexican Bean and Cheese Sandwich (Molletes)
The bolillo, a French-style crusty white bread roll from Mexico, is the traditional foundation of this comforting dish, but a kaiser or most any other sandwich roll will work well.
Keep Reading
Continue to Next Story
