This round-up of vegan sandwiches goes way beyond peanut butter sandwiches yet they can all be made in just a few minutes.
In fact, these vegan recipes use healthy ingredients like smoked tofu, vegan egg salad, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, crunchy veggies, cashew cheese, and even grilled zucchini.
Our Finest Vegan Sandwiches
We have pulled together some of the best vegan sandwich recipes including an easy vegan chicken salad sandwich, a vegan egg salad sandwich, a vegan meatball sub, and even a vegan pulled pork substitute sandwich.
So whether you are a seasoned vegan or just starting out on your plant-based journey, these recipes are sure to please your taste buds.
From simple vegan sandwiches with just a few ingredients to more elaborate creations, there is something for everyone here.
So get cooking and enjoy!
1. The Classic
A simple sandwich with bread, hummus, and veggies. Out of all of the vegan sandwich recipes, this one can be made with only a few ingredients.
Hummus and veggies are a classic combo for a reason – they’re delicious! This healthy sandwich filled with the basics is simple to make, perfect for lunch, and can be customized to your liking.
Quick Tip: Add any type of veggies you like, you really can’t go wrong with the classic.
2. The Spicy One
A veggie sandwich with bread, avocado, hot sauce, and chopped-up jalapeños.
This avocado sandwich is a hearty sandwich. This vegan sandwich with sliced avocado lights plain old avocado toast on fire. The hot sauce can be any variety that you like – we recommend Sriracha for its perfect balance of spice and flavor.
3. The Italian
cA delicious sandwich starts with focaccia bread, olive oil, pesto, tomato sauce tomato slices, and vegan mozzarella. Vegan mozzarella is a delicious cheese alternative that melts and stretches just like the real thing.
This sandwich is oozing with flavor and will be sure to satisfy your cravings. If you can’t find focaccia bread, any type of Italian bread will do.
4. The Mexi-Cali
A vegan sandwich with corn tortillas, black beans, avocado, salsa, and hot sauce.
Darn tootin, this sandwich is fresh and flavorful. The cool avocado pairs perfectly with the zesty salsa, while the black beans provide a filling and satisfying protein kick.
5. The Rainbow
This easy vegan recipe is made with wheat bread, peanut butter, jelly, and fruits and veggies of your choice.
Add some coleslaw to your PB&J to get that perfect crunch. This sandwich is a great way to sneak some extra fruits and veggies into your diet.
6. The Grill Master
A sandwich with grilled portobello mushrooms, onions, peppers, and cheese.
Mushrooms are the star of this sandwich. Portobellos in particular are large and hearty, making them the perfect meat alternative.
They are also packed with nutrients like potassium and vitamin B12. Be sure to give them a good wash before grilling to remove any dirt and debris.
7. The Californian
A sandwich with a whole wheat bagel, tofu cream cheese, avocado, sprouts, and tomato.
One of our favorite vegan sandwiches, this one is healthy and delicious. The creaminess of the tofu vegan cream cheese pairs perfectly with the freshness of the sprouts and avocado. This is actually one of my favorite avocado sandwich recipes.
8. The Vegan BLT
A classic sandwich with tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato, and vegan mayo on toasted bread.
Be sure to use fresh vegetables for this sandwich, as they really make a difference.
Tempeh bacon is a delicious and nutritious vegan bacon alternative making this an excellent vegan BLT.
It is high in protein and low in fat, making it a great option for those looking to stay healthy.
This sandwich is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, with a little bit of crunch from the lettuce and toast.
9. The European
A sandwich with rye bread, vegan bologna, mustard, and sauerkraut. This is not your typical veggie sandwich, but it’s perfect for lunch on holidays like st paddy’s and New Year’s day.
This sandwich is a bit on the savory side, but the sauerkraut gives it a nice tang that cuts through the richness of the mustard and bologna.
10. The Reuben
A sandwich with rye bread, tempeh or tofu-based “pastrami”, vegan Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.
I love a good reuben, and this tempeh version is no exception. The key to a good plant-based Reuben is in the “pastrami”. But since you cant use actual pastrami, you gotta make your own.
This is where tempeh or tofu comes in. Both work great as a plant-based alternative to traditional meat.
11. The Green Machine
A sandwich with spinach wrap, avocado, cucumber, sprouts, and green Goddess dressing.
Mean, green, and delicious. This sandwich is perfect for when you’re feeling especially healthy. The avocado provides a good dose of healthy fats, while the fresh veggies add plenty of vitamins and minerals.
The green Goddess dressing ties it all together with a creamy and flavorful punch.
12. The Garden
A sandwich with wheat bread, roasted red peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and pesto mayo.
Eggplant surprisingly makes a great sandwich “meat”. It’s hearty and filling, but not too heavy.
Paired with roasted red peppers, zucchini, and flavorful pesto mayo, this sandwich is a real winner.
13. The BBQ
A sandwich with whole wheat bread, vegan BBQ pulled “pork”, coleslaw, and pickles. Check out this post on how to make vegan pulled pork.
This sandwich is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and tangy. The coleslaw adds a nice crunch, while the pickles provide a refreshing pop of flavor.
Use a low-sugar BBQ sauce to keep this sandwich healthy.
14. The Philly
A sandwich with a hoagie roll, seitan “chicken” or steak, onions, peppers, and vegan cheese.
I know I know, you can’t replace a Philly cheesesteak with any substitute, but this sandwich comes pretty darn close.
The seitan “chicken” or steak is grilled to perfection and topped with onions, peppers, and vegan cheese. It’s the perfect sandwich for any meat-lover looking to go vegan.
15. The Club
A sandwich with whole wheat bread, tempeh (for bacon), lettuce, tomato, avocado, and mayo.
This avocado sandwich makes your mouth water just thinking about it. The smoky tempeh, creamy avocado, and fresh tomato are the perfect combination of flavors and textures.
16. The Mediterranean
This mediterranean veggie sandwich is made with pita bread, hummus, cucumber, tomato, kalamata olives, and vegan cream cheese.
Pick a perfect pita for your Mediterranean sandwich. A good pita is soft, but not too doughy, and has a nice flavor.
17. Vegan Sloppy Joes
A sandwich with a lightly toasted bun, vegan ground “beef”, tomato sauce, liquid smoke, and onions. This vegan version of sloppy joes will leave you feeling satisfied without the meat.
18. Vegan Chicken Salad Sandwich
A sandwich made with 12-grain bread, jackfruit, cashews, vegan mayo, grapes, and celery.
Drop the cashews if you want a lighter sandwich. The grapes add a touch of sweetness that takes this sandwich to the next level.
Jackfruit is the key ingredient in making this vegan chicken salad. It has a similar texture to chicken and soaks up the flavors of the mayo and the seasoning beautifully.
If you aren’t a big fan of jackfruit you can use chickpeas and turn this into a chickpea salad sandwich by substituting cooked chickpeas for the jackfruit.
Just mash up the chickpeas in the food processor to make the chickpea salad.
19. The Buffalo “Chicken” Salad Sandwich
A sandwich with whole wheat bread, jackfruit, lettuce, and tomato.
Spicy, tangy, and oh so delicious. This sandwich is perfect for anyone who loves buffalo chicken. The jackfruit mimics the texture of chicken perfectly, while the Franks Red Hot buffalo sauce gives it that signature flavor.
Again if you don’t want to use jackfruit, you can make your own chickpea salad for a buffalo chickpea salad sandwich.
20. The Eggplant Parm
A sandwich with Italian bread, eggplant slices, marinara sauce, and vegan mozzarella.
21. The Tofu “Egg” Salad Sandwich
A sandwich with whole wheat bread, tofu “egg” salad, and lettuce.
22. The Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwich
A sandwich with whole wheat bread, tempeh (for vegan tuna salad), and lettuce.
Thanks for checking out our best vegan sandwiches. Let us know if you made any in the comments. If you have a favorite sandwich and you want us to make a vegan version email us here at [email protected].
Side Notes About IKK Vegan Sandwiches
All of the sandwiches that require mayo, use vegan mayo. All of the cheeses used in these vegan sandwich recipes are vegan cheeses.
Vegan Sandwich Recipes
We hope you like these vegan sandwich recipes as much as we do. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would also love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for other vegan sandwich recipes that we should add to this list.
Vegan Sandwiches
These 22 vegan sandwiches are sure to please vegans and meat-eaters alike. Packed with flavor and nutrients, these sandwiches will leave you feeling satisfied and full.
Vegan Sandwich Ideas
If you are looking for other vegan sandwiches that aren’t on this list let us know in the comments.
Top the veggies with a protein source.
You can skip the meat, but you don’t have to. Try topping your veggies with protein sources like tempeh, tofu, and seitan for a more filling sandwich. Add in mushrooms for an extra hit of umami flavor!
All these add-ins will keep you full and happy for hours.
Some Helpful Reminders
If you opt for cheese, go for pure vegan dairy or use rice-milk yogurt as a vegan substitute.
If you do choose to use vegan cheese, opt for soy or nut-based varieties. You can also find vegan yogurt and butter at most supermarkets—just look in the dairy section. If you’re looking to replace mayo, sour cream, ice cream, or salad dressing with a vegan alternative, check out some of these options:
- Veganaise (mayonnaise)
- Tofutti Sour Supreme (sour cream)
- Rice Dream Ice Cream (ice cream)
If opting for meat, go for tofu or tempeh (chickpea).
- Tofu and tempeh are made from soy milk, which makes them high in protein.
- They both have a meaty texture, making them great substitutes for meat on sandwiches.
- Tempeh can be marinated in a marinade to create a meat substitute for sandwiches, burritos, or tacos.
- Both tofu and tempeh are high in vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, selenium, and zinc
Add enough flavor to keep the sandwich from being dry.
There are a few ways you can keep your vegan sandwiches from becoming dry, dry, dry.
- First: add some sauce. This will work with many healthy vegan recipes and it’s best to use a spread that is thick yet runny enough to coat the bread without soaking through and making everything soggy. You could also drizzle on some olive oil or avocado oil if you want something lighter (and cheaper). Or just try a squeeze of mustard or ketchup.
- Second: add veggies! Most vegan sandwich meats are pretty bland on their own, so adding extra flavor via veggies helps balance things out nicely without needing anything else than the sandwich itself—and they’re plant-based sources of protein too!
- Third: spices! Don’t be afraid to add some curry powder or red pepper flakes to kick up those bland sandwiches into life-changing territory! Experiment with different combinations until finding what works for your taste buds.
Balance sweet and savory flavors by including some spicy sauce on some of the crisp veggies.
- Sweet and savory. Add a little bit of both in the form of mustard or hot sauce to your veggies.
- Heat things up with a spicy sauce, like Sriracha or harissa.
- Cool it down with raisins or dried cranberries for sweetness (and get some iron in there too). If you’re going this route, keep an eye out for ingredients that might be accidentally vegan—capers are often made using fish products, so read your labels carefully!
Use hummus as a spread on your sandwich or use pita bread to create a pocket for the sandwich.
Hummus is one of the best substitutes for mayo, especially if you’re vegan. It’s made from chickpeas (a good source of protein) and comes in many different flavors. You can make your own hummus with a food processor or buy it at the store.
If you want to try something new, try making a sandwich using pita bread instead of bread slices! Pita bread is soft and pocket-shaped so it’s perfect for holding other ingredients together without falling apart when you bite into it.
Wrap the sandwich in lettuce or try tortillas instead.
If you’re trying to avoid bread, lettuce wraps are a great alternative. For example, you can wrap your sandwich in lettuce or try tortillas instead.
Lettuce wraps are more healthy than bread because they have no cholesterol and contain only 8 grams of carbs per serving (1). In addition, they are low in calories and high in fiber—about 50% more than a slice of whole wheat bread (2).
You can also use these greens to make sandwiches without any gluten or carbs at all! Try adding some homemade hummus or avocado slices if you want something extra tasty!
Add Some Sliced Tomatoes and Red Onion
Now that you’ve got the sandwich construction down, go ahead and add some vegetables if you want to make it a cooler meal. Tomatoes are great for this because they’re low in calories and high in nutrients like lycopene and vitamin C.
Green onion also tastes awesome with sandwiches, though unfortunately don’t have the same health benefits as tomatoes (they do however help prevent heart disease). For even more flavor and texture, add some lettuce or even wrap your sandwich up in a tortilla instead of bread.
If you’re looking for something extra special, consider adding hummus or baba ghanoush as a spread instead of mayo or mustard—both are rich sources of plant-based protein! Try using pita bread so that it’s easy to make pockets for stuffing extra veggies into your sandwich.
