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
California Veggie Sandwich (easy+healthy)
Vegan California sandwich with layers of crunchy vegetables, avocado, sprouts, and cheese on multigrain bread. 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).
Vegan Shawarma with Two Epic Sauces!
The most succulent, spicy, vegan shawarma recipe! This high protein, saucy shawarma wrap is made with spicy soy curl tenders and crispy chickpeas. Topped with your choice of tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled onions, and shredded romaine all wrapped in warm pita bread then drizzled with two craveable 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!
Succulent Cauliflower Burger (saucy + spicy)
This spicy cauliflower burger recipe is second to none! Made with cauliflower clusters slathered in creamy, spicy harissa mayo baked to tender, crispy perfection. Topped with crunchy slaw and tangy vegan tzatziki sauce, they're THE BEST veggie burger ever! The whole family agrees.
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!
Easy Falafel Pita (with 3 sauces!)
Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, these easy vegan falafel are a super versatile, Mediterranean type plant-based dinner for weeknights!. Serve these healthy, protein rich, falafel in a pita, falafel bowl or salad with dairy free tzatziki, tahini or hummus!
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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