15 Hearty Plant-Based Hot Sandwiches for Lunches and Dinners

Sandwiches have to be amongst the all-time favorite go-to comfort foods. Two slices of bread and almost anything you can imagine stuffed in between can easily become the most delicious meal of the day.

While salad, vegan cheese, and avocado go beautifully on bread, there is something extra to say for the hot sandwich. A hot sandwich takes something that feels almost like a lunch on the fly and turns it into a full-blown meal in its own right

From meatball subs and melts to paninis and grilled cheese, here are some OGP recipes for hearty hot sandwiches that could revolutionize weeknight dinners.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Bean Archives!

1. Premium Patty Melt With Mushrooms and Special Sauce

2. The Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Source: The Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Emily von Euw nails all the categories you want in grilled cheese: crusty golden brown bread, gooey melted cheese, and a smidgen of color and extra texture from some veggies.

3. Crispy Kohlrabi Sandwich With Tamari Shallots

Source: Crispy Kohlrabi Sandwich With Tamari Shallots

This recipe makes two of the most delicious sandwiches you (and your friend) will ever taste. The lightly breaded, tender kohlrabi is topped with tangy caramelized shallots and crisp cucumbers. This Crispy Kohlrabi Sandwich With Tamari Shallots by Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer is the best thing you’ll taste between two pieces of bread.

4. Croissants Stuffed With Dill Scrambled Tofu and Chive Aioli

Source: Croissants Stuffed With Dill Scrambled Tofu and Chive Aioli

These Croissants Stuffed With Dill Scrambled Tofu and Chive Aioli by Plant Tribe will leave you full and satisfied because the croissant halves act as the bread in this breakfast sandwich. If you have the luxury of buying pre-made vegan croissants, then do it, it will save you tons of time. Enjoy the herbaceous flavor of the scrambled tofu and the creamy, indulgent, oniony chive aioli.

5. Beer Battered Tofu ‘Fish’ Sandwich

Source: Beer Battered Tofu ‘Fish’ Sandwich

This Beer-Battered Tofu ‘Fish’ Sandwich by Gabrielle St. Claire needs no pitch because it is everything you dreamed of and more. If you long for that faux fish sammie, you have to try this beer-battered tofu “fish” sandwich. The tofu is coated in a crispy batter and paired with fresh slaw between two fluffy buns. Add a plate of fries to that and you are set!

6. Grilled Zucchini Sandwiches with Spinach Pesto

Source: Grilled Zucchini Sandwiches with Spinach Pesto

These Grilled Zucchini Sandwiches with Spinach Pesto by Robin Browne are smoky, zesty, and loaded with garden-fresh veggies. The vegan spinach pesto is a must.

7. Chickpea Quinoa Meatball Subs

Source: Chickpea Quinoa Meatball Subs

This Chickpea Quinoa Meatball Sub by Shanika Graham-White is truly something special and is the perfect rendition of the traditional New York Marinara Sub. Loaded with savory, spicy, and sweet flavors, these ‘meatball subs’ made from only veggies are moist, flavorful, and tender; wrapped in a toasted pretzel hot dog bun and topped with melted vegan mozzarella. This dish is the perfect meal for lunch or dinner for the entire family on any given day.

8. Portobello Gyros With Hemp Tzatziki

Source: Portobello Gyros With Hemp Tzatziki

These Portobello Gyros With Hemp Tzatziki by Megan Sadd allow you to enjoy the delicious flavors of Greek cuisine, with no meat or dairy required. Meaty Portobello mushrooms are tossed in Worcestershire sauce, rolled in a warm pita, and then topped with a creamy tzatziki made from hemp! Talk about a savory, umami explosion.

9. Baked Roasted Poblano Kale Falafel

Source: Baked Roasted Poblano Kale Falafel

This recipe for Baked Roasted Poblano Kale Falafel by Stephanie McKinnie is simply outstanding! Roasted poblano peppers give them a smoky, spicy kick, and since they are baked using a very small (optional, even!) amount of oil, they are much better for you than fried falafel. Not to mention every bit as delicious! You can dress these falafels up however you like, with pita bread, fresh veggies, and tahini sauce.

10. Barbecue Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich With Avocado Slaw

Source: Barbecue Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich With Avocado Slaw

This Barbecue Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich With Avocado Slaw by Megan Sadd is a dream come true for anyone who loves meaty, savory sandwiches. It has an amazingly meaty texture that pairs so perfectly with the barbecue sauce. Sweet, smoky, and a little spicy, it’s perfectly balanced by the crisp, fresh avocado slaw. Serve this with pickles and fries on the side.

11. Italian Sausage on Baguette

Source: Italian Sausage on Baguette

Try this Italian Sausage on Baguette by Lori Hirsch Stokoe. This hot ‘sandwich’ is full of authentic Italian flavors and will certainly fill you up for lunch or dinner. Not only is the sausage itself delicious, but the baguette is also filled with yummy toppings.

12. Grilled Rajma Masala Panini: Indian Curried Potato and Beans Panini

Source: Grilled Rajma Masala Panini: Indian Curried Potato and Beans Panini

In this recipe for Grilled Rajma Masala Panini: Indian Curried Potato and Beans Panini by Preeti Tamilarasan, soft white potatoes and meaty kidney beans, potatoes, and tomatoes are cooked in curry spices and then grilled between two slices of whole wheat bread. These sandwiches are easy to prepare and great for kids’ lunch boxes. For a cheesy flavor, add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast just before grilling.

13. Barbecue Tofu Sandwich

Source: Barbecue Tofu Sandwich

This Barbecue Tofu Sandwich by Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer is good enough to make anyone into a fan of tofu. The homemade pickles and caramelized onions compliment the slow-marinated tofu perfectly. This is a great lunch or light dinner option for a sandwich connoisseur.

14. Grilled Cauliflower Doner Wraps

Source: Grilled Cauliflower Doner Wraps

These tasty Grilled Cauliflower Doner Wraps by Adam Merrin and Ryan Alvarez are a fireworks display for your mouth. They are fun to make, quick to assemble, and perfect for all your summer entertaining needs. Here, thick cauliflower “steaks” are brushed with Turkish marinade, an intensely flavored Mediterranean sauce made with an exotic blend of garlic, tomatoes, cumin, and Middle Eastern spices.

15. Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pineapple

Source: Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pineapple

This Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pineapple by Chris Bartis is melty, sweet, and salty. It’s simply outta this world. Onions are caramelized and then cooked with fresh pineapple, making the pineapple tender and allowing the flavors to mix. The cheese is stretchy like it should be, and the bread is crisp and buttery from the skillet.

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