A round up of 8 epic vegan (vegetarian + plant-based) sandwich ideas. Everything from healthy chickpea salad sandwiches to indulgent saucy vegan meatball sub sandwiches. You don't need meat and cheese to make an incredible sandwich.
What sandwiches do vegans eat you ask? Keep reading for 8 of the best, most memorable vegan sandwiches everyone loves . . .
My mother is the Queen of delicious and interesting sandwiches. She can transform the simplest ingredients into something extraordinary every time.
Below are some top tips and suggestions I've learned along the way for how to make an epic vegan sandwich every single time!
Anatomy of the Perfect Vegan Sandwich
Here's a roadmap for building a delicious vegan sandwich. Remember to include a variety of flavors and textures and always some crunch and something pickled!
- Bread - it should be substantial enough to stand up to the filling you choose. That could be a grainy bun, chewy ciabatta, crunchy toasted sourdough or soft warm pita. Also, keep the bread to filling ratio balanced.
- Filling - anything from cauliflower crumbles, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, jackfruit, avocado, and all the fresh crunchy, juicy vegetables. No meat or cheese required - meat eaters love these vegan sandwiches too!
- Freshness - include leafy greens, arugula, cilantro, sprouts, and microgreens.
- Texture/Toppings - add a variety of textures from creamy, crunchy, crisp, soft, tender, chewy, and chunky.
For example choose creamy avocado, hummus or dairy-free vegan cheese.
For crunch, try lettuce (esp. romaine and iceberg), celery or carrots, crisp cucumbers, pickled onions or chips.
Soft and tender textures from sweet potatoes, pillowy pitas or mashed chickpea/crab salad.
Chewy textures could come from soy curls, ciabatta or sourdough.
Add a few nuts, seeds or try sprouted lentils or fried capers!
Cutting the vegetables and filling into a variety of shapes and sizes will keep the texture interesting as well (eg. chunks of mushrooms v. slices, grated carrot v. julienne, whole lettuce leaves v. chopped, cucumber ribbons v. coins, avocado slices or cubes v. guacamole).
Consider how all the ingredients will play together and cut accordingly. - Flavor - tangy, spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and pickled. Season each component (eg. add garlic and hot pepper flakes or EBTB to the to tofu when grilling, then brush with BBQ sauce. Substitute hummus for butter and a drizzle of spicy mayo. Add a pinch of salt to enhance tomatoes and cucumbers. Top with sour-sweet gherkins or pickled onions.).
- Sauce - hummus, dijon mustard, Vegenaise, and pesto are nourishing and flavorful choices to sub for butter. Plus add any additional sauces or drizzles for extra flavor!
Let's make some vegan sandwiches for work, brunches, weekday lunches and fancy parties.
Vegan (Vegetarian) Sandwich Ideas
BIG Vegan Veggie Sandwich (easy+healthy)
Hearty vegan California-style vegetable sandwich stacked high with creamy hummus, crunchy vegetables, tangy pickles, and some heat. This fresh, healthy sandwich will appeal to everyone - vegan or not!
Check out this recipe
- This is an easy, customizable California vegetarian sandwich. Add any vegetables - this one includes tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, avocados and spinach with spicy hummus on grainy bread. When I'm craving a BLT sandwich, this is a great vegan option (just add tempeh bacon).
Best Vegan Shawarma Wrap with Two Sauces!
The most extraordinary, succulent, spicy, soy curl tenders with chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled onions, and romaine wrapped in a warm fluffy pita with two incredible sauces! So addictively delicious!
Check out this recipe
- One of the most delicious vegan recipes I've ever created!! Succulent spicy soy curl tenders and crunchy chickpeas served in a pita wrap stuffed with fresh vegetables, drizzled with two addictive sauces and topped with pickled onions. This vegan wrap sandwich will knock your socks off!
Epic Veggie and Tofu Sandwich
This vegetarian sandwich is loaded with ALL our favorite things. It's an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink kinda sandwich!! When you're feeling fancy or want to impress, this is the vegan sandwich to do it! It's the perfect combination of tofu, guacamole, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, hummus, pickled onions and so much more. Customize this to your own taste adding some or ALL of the fillings - open wide and pass the extra napkins!
Check out this recipe
- This sandwich is stuffed with all the goodies (a vegan riff on a classic club sandwich). Choose one or two of the main ingredients - baked tofu, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, guacamole (with a flavor twist) or go all in and make this epic big boy!l
Creamy Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwich
A quick and delicious, protein packed, plant-based sandwich. This vegan version of the classic egg salad sandwich has a flavour twist that will surprise and delight you!
Check out this recipe
- This creamy chickpea salad sandwich made with simple ingredients like chickpeas and avocado is super healthy and nourishing. It's the vegan version of a classic egg salad sandwich!
Hearty, filling vegan sandwich that is oil-free, dairy-free and gluten-free adaptable. Super quick and easy to make and totally plant based!
Spicy Cauliflower Burger with Harissa Sauce
Tender sweet cauliflower morsels baked with a succulent harissa sauce served with a tangy tzatziki sauce and a heap of crunchy slaw on a toasted roll makes this an extra delicious sandwich. Super saucy and substantial, it's plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free friendly, and totally finger-licking good. What are you waiting for? Get after it!
Check out this recipe
- My favorite part of this ultimate vegan sandwich is the creamy, spicy cauliflower tenders made with a crust of Vegenaise and BBQ spices. Biting into the succulent tender creamy baked cauliflower paired with tangy, crunchy slaw is an experience you don't want to miss. Next level vegan sandwich recipe for sure!
Easy Vegan Meatball Sub with Pesto
Succulent and saucy, these plant-based meatballs are smothered in rich marinara, garlicky pesto, melty cheese and greens on a crusty roll. Served them for a quick vegan weeknight meal, on game day or at your next family gathering. Crowd favourite by far!
Check out this recipe
- Saucy, cheesy, meaty goodness - this plant-based, vegan meatball sandwich is simply irresistible. Made with tangy garlicky pesto, rich red marinara sauce, dairy-free cheese, and vegan meatballs - it's irresistibly delicious.
What people are saying . . .
'This is definitely in my top 5 sandwiches ever eaten. This is like secret food truck level good. I can't say enough good things about this sandwich.' Scott
BBQ Jackfruit Sliders Recipe with Creamy Crunchy Slaw
These smoky sweet and saucy BBQ jackfruit sliders are simply incredible. Piled high with crunchy, creamy slaw and juicy grilled pineapple skuces, these sliders will knock your socks off!
Check out this recipe
- Big, bold, saucy BBQ 'pulled pork' jackfruit is perfectly paired with creamy tropical slaw. Juicy and bursting with flavor, grilled pineapple takes this vegan sandwich over the top!
How to Make Easy Vegan Falafel
Crispy on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside, these baked falafels are super delicious and easy to make with canned chickpeas. Naturally gluten free and oil-free friendly, these healthy, protein rich, falafels are fabulous in wraps, vegan bowls, salads or just for a snack. Perfect for meal prep and freezer friendly too!
Check out this recipe
- The perfect vegetarian sandwich! Chickpea falafel balls stuffed into a soft pita drizzled with spicy tahini sauce and fresh vegetables! Oil-free, gluten-free adaptable, protein rich, these vegan falafels freeze well and are also delicious served as an appetizer or in a Buddha bowl.
Did you make any of these Vegan Sandwich Ideas?
Let me know below which is your favorite.
Tag me on Instagram, I love seeing your food!
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Post updated October 2021.
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