Sandwich

19 Hot Sandwiches for Easy, Crispy, Satisfying Meals

These crunchy, melty, flavor-packed sandwiches go way beyond your basic grilled cheese.
Photo of a crispy fish sandwich with lettuce and sliced onion.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson

Carefully constructed hot sandwiches are pretty much as good as food gets. They masterfully combine every texture that we’re seeking: Crispy, crunchy, gooey, rich. These sandwiches aren’t really lunch box fare—they’re the stars of dinner or a glorious brunch. Below you’ll find 19 of our flavor-packed favorites, including the ultimate fried chicken sandwich, a cheesy sausage sub, warm, buttery crab rolls, and lots of options for vegetarians too. Scroll down to make the kind of sandwich that’ll really be a highlight of your day.

  • A fried fish sandwich dripping with hot sauce topped with cheddar cheese and cut in half on a plate.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    1/19

    Nashville Hot Halibut Sandwich

    Hot sandwiches can absolutely be dinner-worthy: This little number riffs on classic Nashville hot chicken, subbing in crispy fried fish for the chicken, and layering the whole thing with pickles, American cheese, and white onion. The smoky chile butter is not to be missed.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    2/19

    Tuna Melt

    This is what the ultimate tuna melt looks like—crunchy, creamy, with lots of gooey cheese and tangy pickles.

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  • Photo by Eva Kolenko
    3/19

    Cemita Poblana de Milanesa

    Layer this sandwich with crispy, golden chicken, roasty salsa, avocado, Oaxacan cheese or mozzarella, and creamy refried beans.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    4/19

    Spicy Egg Sandwich With Sausage and Pickled Peppers

    We'd be remiss if we didn't mention breakfast sandwiches. This sausage version is packed with flavor from the feta, cilantro, and sweet pickled peppers. A gooey sunny-side-up egg brings it all together.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    5/19

    Bombay Masala Chile Cheese Toasties

    Inside this toasted sandwich, you'll find tender spiced potatoes, bright hari chutney, chopped green bell pepper and onion, and melty cheese. They're easy to cook in a pan, but a panini press or toastie-maker works, too.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone.
    6/19

    Brown-Butter Crab Roll

    Lobster rolls may get all the glory, but crab rolls are way easier to pull off at home—and, dare we say it, maybe even more delicious.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    7/19

    Vegan Mushroom Cheesesteaks

    The best vegan cheesesteak in Philadelphia is made by chef Ari Miller at his pop-up, Frizwit. Here's how to make a similar one at home.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin
    8/19

    Monte Cristo With Apple-Hatch Chile Jam

    Monte Cristo sandwiches usually have a sweet element, like powdered sugar sifted over the top, or raspberry jam served on the side for dipping. In this version, you’ll cook green apple and canned green chiles down into a sweet and spicy compote to slather on your bread.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Dawn Perry
    9/19

    Beer-Can Cabbage Sandwiches

    You've heard of beer-can chicken. But have you had beer-can cabbage? Served on a kaiser roll or hamburger bun, this tangy, spicy dish is a great vegetarian sandwich option for your next barbecue.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    10/19

    Sausage Meatball Sandwiches

    This cozy, saucy meatball sandwich stands out in terms of flavor because you start with sweet and spicy Italian sausage, not ground beef.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    11/19

    Toasted Tomato-Paneer Sandwiches

    Paneer is creamy but doesn’t melt completely, so it adds a super-satisfying texture to an easy tomato sauce that’s spiced with jalapeño, ginger, coriander, and cumin and mustard seeds. Use some in this warm sandwich, and more as a filling for stuffed peppers.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    12/19

    Fried Artichoke Sandwich

    Artichoke hearts love to get crispy, and they're amazing piled inside this sandwich with a tangy slaw and rounds of dill pickle.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    13/19

    Crispy Fish Sandwich

    Fried white flounder gets shatteringly crisp after just a couple of minutes in a skillet, and this hearty sandwich gets even more crunch from potato chips, iceberg lettuce, and a pickle and onion mix.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    14/19

    Spicy Pork Belly Sliders

    Gochujang gives pork belly a nice kick and a deep, complex flavor in this sweet-and-spicy sandwich inspired by Korean jeyuk bokkeum.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    17/19

    Pork Katsu Sandwich

    Dreaming of the famous katsu sandwich from Konbi in Los Angeles? Here's how to make it at home.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    18/19

    Grilled Chicken Caesar Sandwiches

    The secret to the best grilled chicken sandwich is a pungent marinade of Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lemon, and black pepper.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    19/19

    Fried Chicken Sandwich

    It's best to start the night before when you're making these fried chicken sandwiches—the dredged chicken will dry on the surface a bit for the most crunchy exterior. Like many of the best hot sandwiches, this one's all about the mix of hot and cool: you'll add pickle brine and celery seeds to the creamy mayo and spread it on the bun, then pile on thinly sliced iceberg lettuce and the freshly fried chicken.

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