More for the Lunch Box: 20 Meat Lovers' Sandwich Ideas

About author / Christine Gable

Culinary enthusiast; kids cuisine and slow cooking; magazine recipe developer; professional writer. Her simple recipes are great for family dinners.

Day in and day out, packing box lunches can leave one in need of some serious inspiration. While the Earl of Sandwich would be proud of his popularity today, we have many more options than just meat between two bread slices.

Today’s column is dedicated to the sandwich. After all, it’s the box lunch #1 food choice. Did you know nearly 50 percent of all sandwiches are eaten for lunch? Indeed, 99 percent of American adults eat sandwiches, with 72 percent eating them once a week. Convenience, taste and variety are the top three reasons they’re so popular.

It’s been reported that the average American eats 193 sandwiches per year. And numbers would probably come in significantly higher for the kids in the crowd. Even so, that’s nearly four sandwiches per week, with ham topping the popularity list.

So, no matter what your crew prefers between their slices, here’s 20 new sandwich combinations to keep your lunch lively—and stay tuned for more in coming weeks. Two weeks ago, we talked about some super vegetarian options, so this week is dedicated to the meat-lovers among us—especially since families may have both vegetarians, carnivores—and omnivores—living under one roof (like ours)!

Just think of the possibilities:

* Pita pockets—go small or large, wheat or white
* Rolls—go for Kaiser, hotdog, hamburger, potato, hoagie or whole grain
* Wraps & tortillas—go with whole wheat, white, spinach or corn

Here’s hoping these 20 sandwiches might just give you some new ideas for the next several weeks.

1. Bacon: bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo rolled in a tortilla

2. Bacon: bacon, cucumber, horseradish on toasted wheat

3. Chicken: mix chunk chicken with celery and green pepper and stuff in a pita with lettuce

4. Chicken: mix chunk chicken with diced apple and pineapple and stuff in a pita

5. Chicken: mix chunk chicken with green onion, celery and mayo on toast

6. Chicken: mix chunk chicken with diced apples, grapes, walnuts and stuff in a pita

7. Meatloaf: layer thick slices on wheat toast with mayo and lettuce and a sprinkling of salt

8. Roast beef: layer slices on tortilla spread with mayo and top with lettuce and tomato - roll up

9. Roast beef: layer slices with onion, tomato and horseradish on toast

10. Turkey: on wheat toast, layer slices with American cheese, lettuce and mayo

11. Turkey: layer with slices of Swiss cheese, and several dollops of coleslaw

12. Turkey: add pastrami, mustard and mayo on rye

13. Turkey: cut into chunks and mix with diced apple, several spoonfuls of cranberry sauce and tuck in some lettuce

14. Corned beef: layer with sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing

15. Ham: Roll up in a tortilla with American cheese, lettuce and Ranch dressing

16. Ham: on wheat toast, add slices of Swiss, mustard and mayo—perhaps a garlic dill for some zing

17. Ham: on a hoagie roll, layer American cheese, onion, tomato, pickles and lettuce. Drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Wrap tightly and eat 2-3 hours later.

18. Turkey Ham: layer slices with Monterey Jack cheese, tomato and lettuce and a dollop of horseradish

19. Turkey: mix chunk turkey with celery and green pepper and stuff in a pita with lettuce

20. Turkey: mix chunk chicken with green onion, celery and mayo on toast