28 of Clean Eating's All-Time Favorite Sandwich Recipes

Published July 22, 2020 10:06PM

A Better Monte Cristo Sandwich

Ditch the traditional butter-fried Monte Cristo for a healthier, tastier take. Sautéed turkey, pear, baby spinach and low-fat Swiss spare the fat but not the flavor.

Grilled Fontina & Blackberry Sandwiches

Creamy, mild-tasting fontina cheese allows juicy blackberries to shine in this clean twist on a grilled cheese sandwich. Be careful when smashing the blackberries – they tend to squirt and can stain!

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Chicken

Instead of simply slapping some cheese between two slices of bread (as usual!) why not add black beans and shredded chicken to the mix for a little Mexican infusion?

Clean Reuben Sandwich

With its creamy Thousand Island dressing, stacked corned beef or pastrami and Swiss cheese, the traditional reuben is a high-calorie affair. Our version uses a homemade tomato dressing, Jarlsberg cheese, ham and turkey for a full-flavor version under 300 calories.

Updated Grilled Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches with Cauliflower “Bread”

The low-carb bread holding together these gooey grilled cheeses is a grain-free combination of cauliflower rice and almond flour. This recipe comes without excess carbs – helping to keep insulin levels in check. Plus, cauliflower is rich in dietary fiber that helps keep your body’s fullness signals on point.

Veggie Pita Sandwich

This vegetarian pita sandwich is a healthy and nutrient-packed meal that will liven up your lunch box.

Spiced Egg Salad Sandwich

Perfectly simple with a sprinkle of spice, this mayo-free egg salad sandwich is perfect for lunch or dinner.

Grilled Pear & Blue Cheese Sandwich

Throw the pear, blue cheese and arugula you’re used to seeing in a salad between two slices of country bread with a schmear of Dijon, and you’ve got a grilled sandwich you won’t soon forget!

Moroccan Chicken Salad Sandwich

Salty olives, sweet grapes and fresh herbs give ordinary chicken salad a tantalizing twist. Harissa paste gives it a Moroccan flair, but if you can’t find it, you can use a pinch of curry powder or skip it entirely.

Shrimp Salad Sandwich

We’ve taken your classic shrimp salad sandwich and amped up the flavor even more with fresh dill, crunchy celery and Dijon. In our version, Greek yogurt stands in for mayonnaise, providing creamy texture without the fat.

“Fried” Chicken & Slaw Sandwich

Ditch the deep fryer – these thin, crisp chicken fillets made in the skillet taste even better than the fried variety. Topped with a creamy slaw made with cabbage, cranberries, and yogurt, this makes for a full meal in a sandwich.

Grilled Cuban Sandwich

Our Cuban sandwich has the requisite fillings (ham, cheese, pickle) with a fraction of the calories – just 231 per sandwich. All you need is 8 minutes and a hearty appetite!

Edamame Pâté Sandwiches

This versatile spread can be used on crackers, or you can add water to the pâté and use it as a dip.

Cuban Mojo Sandwiches

Here’s a healthier version of a Cubano sandwich – ham, thinly sliced pork, cheese and pickles piled onto a roll and grilled. It gets its mojo-like flavor thanks to citrus zest in the mayo. Serve a slew at your next party or tailgater. You can prepare the sandwiches in advance, then simply finish them on the grill.

Chicken Salad Pesto Sandwiches

Basil is high in vitamin K, which is known for its anti-inflammatory effects; adding a sweet flavor and crunch to these chicken salad pesto sandwiches.

Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich

This Vietnamese-inspired sandwich layers savory chicken, quick-pickled vegetables and fragrant cilantro.

Sausage, Egg & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwiches

This cleaned-up version of the fast-food favorite is made with lean ground turkey and served in whole-grain English muffins. The best part is they freeze well, so make a batch and store in your freezer for a grab-and-go breakfast. Feel free to add baby spinach or tomato slices to the sandwich – but add it just before or after reheating. Serve with your favorite hot sauce.

Shiitake “BLT” Sandwich

These powerful fungi can boost your immunity, control blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation within the body. And they have a rich, buttery and meaty flavor, which means you won’t even miss the bacon in this hearty “BLT” sandwich.

Slow-Cooker Roast Beef & Leek Sandwiches

Ditch high-sodium beef dips – they can be labor intensive and replete with artificial flavor enhancers. With just five ingredients, our all-natural sandwiches keep sodium in check, offering 32 grams of protein and letting your slow cooker do most of the work!

Open-Faced Lobster Thermidor Sandwiches

Lobster Thermidor is a creamy cooked lobster mixture that is typically stuffed into the lobster shell for serving – here the mixture tops whole-grain bread slices for a quicker twist on this classic dish.

Hummus Sammy

Prep this easy plant-based sandwich in the morning and it will be delicious at lunch time. Pack ¼ cup of the hummus and the carrots sticks as a side.

Egg Sandwiches with Red Peppers and Tahini

Make your microbiome happy first thing in the morning – these sandwiches are brimming with probiotics from kefir and prebiotics from yellow onion and chives. If making them in advance, keep the eggs, sauce and pita separate and assemble before eating.

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Luscious pork shoulder and tangy barbecue sauce can be part of your clean eats plan – if you follow our easy slow-cooker method, that is.

Goat Cheese & Kalamata Paninis

The term “panini” (pronounced pah-nee-nee) is Italian for roll or biscuit. Originally filled with layers of tomato, mozzarella and basil, the Mediterranean sandwich’s popularity has transformed it into a meal of endless ingredient possibilities.

Slow-Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Salsa Verde

Pile these slow cooker pulled chicken sandwiches sky-high with coleslaw, radishes, tomatoes, sour cream or hot sauce – we love eating them open-faced with a knife and fork, but you can also serve them as a regular sandwich.

Roast Pork & Nectarine Panini with Tomato Jam

Our tangy tomato jam, sweet nectarines, savory roast pork and buttery swiss cheese make for a sunny-season grilled sandwich that hits all the right notes.

French Grand Slam

If you’re a French toast lover, this is the sandwich for you. Sweet and velvety maple cream cheese spread, poached egg and crisp turkey bacon are sandwiched between 2 slices of savory French toast. This is the ultimate meal for any time of day.

Connecticut-Style Lobster Rolls

Rich, fragrant butter is what sets a Connecticut-style lobster roll apart from its counterpart, the Maine variety, which uses mayo. While a Connecticut-style roll is typically served warm, here we keep it at room temperature to avoid the stove – but heat it up if you prefer.