Hoping to find the perfect meal to satisfy your hunger without weighing you down is often a challenge when it comes to planning lunch. Various factors can influence what we choose to make, including the size of our breakfast, any evening dinner plans, and even the time at which we eat. Considering these elements, a traditional full sandwich may sometimes feel too substantial for a mid-day meal, but fortunately, there are alternatives that can address this issue, such as open-faced sandwiches.
In the following article, we will explore 20 mouth-watering open-faced sandwich recipes that offer a delicious and convenient solution for a much-needed lunchtime boost.
Pizza Sandwiches with Endless Topping Options
Always a crowd-pleaser, open-faced pizza sandwiches are a great option for kids’ lunch or dinner. They’re essentially a twist on traditional pizza, allowing everyone to get creative with their toppings and even have different combinations on each slice of bread. In fact, the best part about this recipe is that it offers endless possibilities, limited only by your imagination and personal preferences.
Eggplant Delight: A Hearty Veggie Grilled Sandwich
Finding a delicious and nutritious meal option can be challenging, especially for those looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet. One great alternative is an open-faced grilled eggplant sandwich, which not only satisfies your craving for something tasty but also provides a good amount of essential nutrients. The key to making this dish feel more substantial lies in the thickness of the eggplant slices – the thicker they are, the more satisfying the meal will be.
Furthermore, adding cheese on top not only enhances the flavor but also helps to keep you full and content throughout the afternoon.
Crab Salad Delight on Toasted Bread
Zeroing in on a delicious seafood option for those with a penchant for shellfish, this open-faced crab salad sandwich delivers. Not only is it a great choice for fans of the ocean’s bounty, but it also happens to be relatively low in fat, making it an excellent selection for those watching their calorie intake. Interestingly, this recipe uses imitation crab meat by default, though there’s no reason why you can’t substitute it with real crab meat if that’s what you prefer.
The inclusion of pepper, celery, and onions adds a delightful crunch to the salad, giving it a refreshing and light feel that’s sure to please even the most discerning palate.
Budget-Friendly Croque Monsieur Lunch Sandwich
Often, the thought of making a croque monsieur sandwich is reserved for dinner, but why not give it a new twist and enjoy it as an open-faced lunch option? This recipe is a perfect way to do just that, offering a fun and light take on a classic dish. Not only is this sandwich packed with flavor and feels like a comfort food, but it’s also incredibly budget-friendly.
One of the best things about this recipe is that you can use leftovers from another meal to save even more money, making it a guilt-free indulgence. There’s something special about being able to create something that feels luxurious on a tight budget.
Turkey Sandwich with Warming Gravy Topping
You don’t have to let leftover turkey go to waste, especially when you can turn it into this mouth-watering open-faced sandwich. The gravy in this recipe plays a crucial role by infusing the dish with moisture and comfort, transforming what could be a bland meal into a satisfying experience.
Adding your favorite cheese is all it takes to elevate this humble sandwich into a filling yet light lunch option perfect for those chilly winter days when you crave something warming without feeling too weighed down.
Meatloaf Melt with Mash and Gravy
Creating a satisfying meal from leftover meatloaf is a clever way to reduce food waste and make the most of last night’s dinner. You can use any type of meatloaf you prefer, whether it’s homemade or store-bought, and if you’re preparing for a crowd, consider making a fresh batch specifically for this open-faced sandwich. The combination of mashed potatoes and rich gravy on top makes it an unbeatable comfort food option that’s perfect for warming up on chilly days.
While it may not be the healthiest choice, this recipe is ideal for a comforting lunch or dinner when you need something hearty to fill your belly.
Sloppy Joes Open-Faced Delight
Boosting your meal options with a healthier twist, the open-faced sloppy joes sandwich comes in at number five. This recipe is perfect for those who crave a big, meaty sandwich but want to opt for something a bit more nutritious. Not only that, it’s also an excellent choice for kids looking for a fun alternative to their usual lunchtime fare. The addition of crispy onions on top adds a delightful textural contrast, preventing the dish from becoming too soggy and messy.
This clever touch ensures that each bite is a satisfying balance of flavors and textures, making it an enjoyable meal for both adults and children alike.
Lighter Tuna Melt with a Twist
Not only do tuna melts remain a timeless favorite among sandwich enthusiasts, but they also offer an excellent solution to combat the infamous three o’clock slump at lunchtime. However, their traditional preparation can be somewhat detrimental to those watching their carb intake. Fortunately, this open-faced version presents a delightful compromise: it significantly reduces the overall heaviness of the dish, thereby allowing for even more generous cheese portions.
The incorporation of sour cream, pickle, celery, and red onion not only adds an exciting array of textures but also injects a delightful crunch and tanginess into each bite.
Turkey, Cranberry, and Apple Holiday Delight
Restoring the festive flavors of the holidays doesn’t have to mean feeling weighed down. This open-faced turkey, cranberry, and apple sandwich skillfully balances rich flavors with light and refreshing textures, making it an ideal option for a satisfying lunch that won’t leave you feeling sluggish.
The combination of crunchy apples, savory cheese, and tangy honey mustard adds depth without sacrificing freshness, ensuring this holiday-inspired sandwich remains a delightful treat, minus the guilt-inducing aftermath.
Healthy Burger Options without the Lid
Taking a healthier approach to your daily meals doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor and enjoyment, thanks to these innovative open-faced hamburgers. Typically, burgers are thought of as a indulgent treat, but by removing the bun, you’re significantly reducing the calorie count and increasing the nutritional value. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and adaptability, making it an excellent choice for families or those looking for a quick and easy meal solution.
The fact that it’s kid-friendly only adds to its appeal, as everyone can enjoy a delicious homemade burger without the guilt of consuming unhealthy fast food alternatives.
Gruyère-Loaded Shrimp Salad Delight
Significantly, despite their similarities, these two recipes differ in several key ways, resulting in distinct flavors. Specifically, this open-faced shrimp salad sandwich recipe calls for a generous amount of melted gruyère on top, which transforms its flavor profile and makes it a more indulgent option. This change is particularly well-suited to rainy days when a comforting, ocean-inspired meal is just what’s needed.
Succulent Steak on Toasty Brioche
Knowing that a perfect steak sandwich can be enjoyed at any time of day, this open-faced creation satisfies both lunch and dinner cravings with ease. The star of the show is undoubtedly the tender rib eye (or your preferred cut), majestically placed atop a soft and sweet brioche bread, which is then complemented by the earthy sweetness of sautéed mushrooms. Finally, the crunchy texture of crisped bacon and the deep, caramelized flavor of onions brings this dish together in perfect harmony.
Elevate Leftover Roast Beef Lunch
Just like many of the recipes on this list, using leftovers to create tasty open sandwiches is a theme that’s emerging, and it’s one with good reason – they’re incredibly delicious. This particular open-faced roast beef sandwich is a fantastic way to repurpose leftover roast beef, especially if it’s been cooked to a nice rare finish.
With just a few additional ingredients that are likely already lurking in your pantry, this sandwich can easily elevate your lunch break into something truly special.
Mama’s Classic Broiled Tomato Delight
Looking beyond Mama’s claims of culinary superiority, this broiled tomato open-faced sandwich is indeed a true winner. It’s perfect on its own or serves as an excellent accompaniment to a warm and comforting bowl of fresh tomato soup for those chilly winter days. The flavor profile, however, has the versatility to work equally well during the summer months, making it an ideal choice for a light and refreshing alfresco lunch.
Cheesy Chicken Bacon Melt Masterpiece
Wrapped in a warm, comforting package of crispy bread and rich ingredients, this indulgent open-faced chicken, bacon, and cheddar melt is the perfect remedy for a gloomy winter’s day. While it may not be suitable for those watching their diet, its decadent flavors and textures make it an unbeatable pick-me-up on a cold, dark afternoon.
Veggie Stacked Sandwiches for a Healthy Lunch
Achieving a balanced lunch without sacrificing flavor is effortlessly accomplished with an open-faced garden veggie sandwich, which allows for the generous incorporation of various vegetables into each bite. The best part? You can customize this dish to your heart’s content by piling high as many vegetables as you like, using whatever ingredients are freshest and most readily available in your refrigerator.
This approach not only reduces food waste but also ensures that you’re meeting your daily vegetable requirements in one satisfying meal.
Sourdough Club Delight: Less Bread, More Taste
Just when you think you’ve had your fill of sandwiches, along comes a game-changer: the open-faced club sandwich. This delightful twist on the classic club offers all the flavors we know and love without the overwhelming bulk of three slices of bread. By using sourdough as the base, this open-faced masterpiece is both satisfying and refreshing, making it perfect for a cold winter’s day when you need a comforting treat.
Smoked Herring Smørrebrød: A Classic Danish Open Sandwich
Just like its name suggests, Danish Smørrebrød is an iconic open-faced sandwich that has been delighting palates for centuries. This quintessential Danish recipe boasts a perfect balance of flavors and textures, featuring the richness of smoked herring, the creaminess of egg yolks, and the crunchy freshness of radishes. Whether you’re in the mood for something healthy and balanced or just looking to mix things up with your usual lunch options, this recipe is sure to hit the spot.
What’s more, feel free to swap out the herring for another smoked fish if you prefer a different flavor profile, making it easily adaptable to suit your taste buds.
