30 Hearty Hot Sandwiches That Are Perfect Any Time of the Day

From breakfast sandwiches with fried eggs to dinner-worthy sloppy joes, these hot sandwiches will satisfy for any meal.

steak and avocado pepitos
Photo: Sidney Bensimon

From tried-and-true classics to newfound delights, there's a hot sandwich recipe for every meal and every palate in our collection. We've got all kinds of breakfast egg sandwiches, bistro classics like the croque madame, American standards like the sloppy Joe, and new takes like a BBQ mushroom sandwich that rivals pulled pork.

Some of our hot sandwiches are open faced and topped with melted cheese; others are packed into soft rolls or sandwich bread. The options are endless, tempting, and, best of all, easy to make.

01 of 30

Croque Madame Sandwiches

croque-madame-0511med106942.jpg
Con Poulos

When you put a fried egg on it, the croque monsieur becomes an even more delicious and satisfying grilled sandwich called the croque madame. Gruyère is one of our favorite cheeses for melting; here, it's combined with deli ham and thin white sandwich bread that toasts up to contrast with the soft egg.

02 of 30

Fried Chicken Sandwich

fried chicken sandwich
Bryan Gardner

It doesn't get more crowd-pleasing than a buttermilk fried chicken thigh in a squishy bun. The homemade tartar sauce doesn't hurt either.

03 of 30

Quick Shrimp Po' Boys

quick shrimp po'boys
Lennart Weibull

This quick-and-easy version of the New Orleans favorite has all the elements you'd expect: crispy fried shrimp, mayonnaise, and a tangy dill relish fill long rolls like hoagies. Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and hot sauce are essential if you want the po' boy "dressed."

04 of 30

Open-Face Tuna Melt

open face tuna melt

Mayo is amped up with Dijon and Parmesan to make an irresistible topping for an open-face tuna, pickle, and provolone sandwich. A quick turn makes it light and puffy with a delectable crisp brown shell.

05 of 30

Potato, Chorizo, and Egg Sandwiches

potato chorizo and egg sandwiches served with arugula
Nico Schinco

Is it breakfast or lunch? Maybe it's picnic fare? This egg sandwich is a riff on the tortilla Española and like that dish, it can be served hot or at room temperature—and can be enjoyed any time of the day.

06 of 30

Grilled Ham-and-Broccoli-Rabe Sandwiches

This is a next-level grilled ham and cheese. A few tweaks to this classic sandwich make it all the more irresistible—enter fig jam, fontina cheese (which melts so well), and best of all, peppery broccoli rabe.

07 of 30

Roasted-Carrot-and-Salsa-Verde Sandwiches

roasted-carrot-and-salsa-verde sandwiches
Lennart Weibull

This hearty vegan sandwich is filled with roasted carrots and a vibrant salsa verde made with garlic, capers, jalapeño, and fresh herbs, plus lime juice for pop.

08 of 30

Barbecue Pulled Mushroom Sandwiches

barbecue pulled mushroom sandwiches
Yuki Sugiura

Our meat-free riff on the pulled pork sandwich is a hearty vegan meal. Maitake mushrooms are grilled until browned, then shredded. A simple, speedy barbecue sauce is mixed in and the filling mounded on brioche buns. A topping of vinegar-spiked slaw brings a crunchy contrast.

09 of 30

Test Kitchen's Favorite Grilled Cheese

hands holding grilled cheese
Sidney Bensimon

What's the secret to our world-beating grilled cheese sandwich? We slather the bread with a combination of butter and mayonnaise. The former imparts rich buttery flavor, while the latter ensures an uber-crisp exterior and perfect golden-brown crust. It's an all-time favorite with kids and adults alike.

10 of 30

Eggplant and Mozzarella Melt

mea101428hy_0705_eggplant.jpg

Not to be missed, this oven-fried version of eggplant Parmesan tops crusty Italian bread and makes a tasty hot vegetarian sandwich. For an extra treat, brush the halved loaf of bread with garlic butter and brown under the broiler before adding the layers of tomato sauce, eggplant, and mozzarella.

11 of 30

Meatball Hero Sandwich

EA101198_0305_l_meatball.jpg

Top hero rolls with mini meatballs and roasted onion, bell pepper, and zucchini to make these hot and hearty sandwiches. The bacon-flecked meatballs can be made ahead and frozen for up to three months.

12 of 30

Steak-and-Avocado Sandwich

steak and avocado pepitos
Sidney Bensimon

Put together these steak sandwiches for the meat lovers in your life. Our recipe features hoagie rolls filled with seared skirt steak and a homemade black bean spread, then topped with avocado and hot sauce.

13 of 30

Sloppy Joes

sloppy joes
Clive Streeter

Use soft sandwich buns for this family-friendly sandwich. The soothing mix of ground beef, tomato sauce, and ketchup simply can't be beat. And be sure to serve with chips and pickles.

14 of 30

Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

med102552_1206_pulldpork.jpg

This easy version of pulled pork is made in your slow cooker. Pile the tender meat on crusty rolls with tangy red cabbage slaw.

15 of 30

Slow-Cooker Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

spicy buffalo chicken sandwich
Stephen Kent Johnson

Savor the flavor of spicy Buffalo wings in sandwich form when you simmer boneless chicken breasts and thighs in your slow-cooker with crushed tomatoes and hot-pepper sauce. Serve the shredded chicken on hamburger buns with blue cheese dressing on the side.

16 of 30

Pizza Sandwiches

mld106836_0211_7food06_9914.jpg

Inspired by calzones, these sandwiches are made by folding goat cheese, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and soppressata sausage into homemade pizza dough. Tuck a lightly dressed arugula and basil salad into the sandwiches just before serving.

17 of 30

Cheese Steak Sandwich

med105604_0610_cheese_steak.jpg

Enjoy Philly-style cheese steaks at home with our easy recipe. Simply melt provolone cheese over sautéed onion and rib-eye or eye-of-round steak. To achieve thin slices, freeze the beef for 30 minutes, then cut with a serrated knife.

18 of 30

Turkey Sandwich with Apple and Havarti

0505_edf_turkeysandwich.jpg

Homemade peach chutney mixed with Dijon mustard livens up this hot turkey sandwich. Broil turkey cutlets or use leftover roast turkey.

19 of 30

Croque Montagnarde

ml106708_0111_tartinebread_366.jpg

This hearty variation of the croque-monsieur—a ham and Gruyère cheese sandwich cloaked in béchamel sauce—includes roasted fingerling potatoes.

20 of 30

Grilled Salt-Rubbed Fish Sandwich

grilled salt-rubbed fish sandwich served with chips
Chris Simpson

Mahi-mahi fillets are seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh thyme. Straight off the grill, they are popped into soft rolls along with lettuce and tomato for the perfect summertime hot sandwich.

21 of 30

Portobello, Broccoli, and Red-Pepper Melts

med103553_0308_portobelo.jpg

Your broiler does the work for these open-faced sandwiches, first roasting the broccoli, mushrooms, and peppers, then melting the Gouda cheese over the tops. Spread the bread with garlic mayonnaise before piling on the vegetables.

22 of 30

Barbecued Chicken on Garlic Toast

med102787_0407_bbqchicken.jpg

Using a rotisserie chicken and bottled barbecue sauce, these irresistible sandwiches are ready in 15 minutes. Use thick Texas toast or regular white sandwich bread for the garlic toast.

23 of 30

Turkey Sausage Sandwiches

med105388_0110_bagturkey_sausage.jpg

Sweet sautéed bell peppers and onions top sweet or spicy Italian turkey sausage. Serve the sausages on hoagie rolls or crusty French bread, topped with mustard if desired.

24 of 30

Fried-Egg-Topped Sandwich

fried-egg-0403-mla99899.jpg

A delicious iteration of the classic egg-and-cheese sandwich that uses either Gruyère, fontina, or mozzarella and a dash of oregano for a satisfying hot breakfast.

25 of 30

Pork and Beans Sandwiches

pork418-0711mld107357.jpg

Pork shoulder is braised with beans and slab bacon in a molasses-rich sauce. The meat and beans are served on soft potato buns topped with pickled red onions, jalapeños, and shredded cabbage.

26 of 30

Deli Reuben Sandwich

med105604_0610_rueben.jpg

Spicy brown mustard replaces the usual Russian dressing in this easy version of a classic deli sandwich. Layer corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese on toasted, buttered rye bread and bake until the cheese melts. Serve hot with pickles on the side.

27 of 30

Hot Ham and Cheese Croissant

twice-baked ham croissant served on a gray plate
Gieves Anderson

Melted Gruyère and Swiss cheese top warm ham in this hot croissant sandwich. It features our test kitchen's favorite DIY condiment—Dijonnaise—equal parts mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.

28 of 30

Apricot and Cheddar Chicken Melt

med103097_0907_chkmelt.jpg
John Kernick

Apricot preserves add a hint of sweetness to these open-face chicken breast, ham, and cheese sandwiches. Before broiling, the chicken is marinated in white-wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic.

29 of 30

Monte Cristo Sandwich

edf_montecristo0303.jpg

To make this sandwich classic, dip ham and Swiss cheese sandwiches in egg batter and pan-fry. Dust the hot sandwiches with confectioners' sugar and serve with strawberry jam on the side if you like.

30 of 30

Balsamic-Glazed Pork Sandwiches

msledf_1203_pork_sandwich.jpg

Boil balsamic vinegar and brown sugar down to a rich, thick glaze for brushing roast pork tenderloins. Stack slices of pork and red onion on country rolls.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles