Looking for cold sandwich ideas for lunch that go beyond the same ham and cheese? Think cucumber bagels, loaded baguettes and croissants piled with chicken salad.
There’s plenty to choose from here, whether you love a simple filling or want all the extras.
You can keep things simple or switch up the bread first. A few pictures show toasted bread or melted-looking cheese, so use those as filling inspiration for an unheated version. Keep perishable sandwiches chilled until lunch.
Sandwiches and wraps worth saving
loaded deli baguette
We’re starting off strong with this loaded baguette. Folded deli meats, pale cheese slices, tomatoes and shredded lettuce fill the long loaf from end to end.
If you want to follow this look, tuck the tomato slices along the side rather than piling everything in the middle. Cut yours into smaller portions for lunch.
avocado and bacon layers
How good does this combination look? There’s avocado along the bottom, bacon through the middle and plenty of lettuce beside the sliced poultry.
The bread here is lightly toasted. For your cold version, try plain sliced bread with chilled cooked bacon and turkey.
tomato mozzarella and basil
This sandwich may just be one of my favorites here. I love the thick mozzarella rounds with red and yellow tomato slices.
The folded cured meat and basil leaves make it look even better.
Keep the basil leaves whole if you want to follow this combination. A little black pepper would be a lovely finishing touch.
chicken salad croissants
I am obsessed with these croissant sandwiches. The chicken salad has visible grape halves, chopped green onions and little nut pieces tucked throughout.
A big lettuce leaf sits underneath the filling. Keep that detail if you’re recreating this, then add a few grapes on the side like the ones here.
cucumber bagel halves
Don’t want to pile on lots of different fillings? No problem!
These open-faced bagels have a white spread, overlapping cucumber rounds and a scattering of seeds and seasoning.
Try cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning for your own version. I’d leave them open-faced just like this.
egg sandwich with greens
If you love an egg sandwich, this one gives you plenty of inspiration. Large pieces of boiled egg sit in a creamy filling with leafy greens against the bread.
I especially love how the sliced eggs show through the middle. Save a few slices to arrange along the cut line when you assemble yours.
flaked fish and lettuce wrap
Want to swap your sandwich bread for a wrap? This one has pink flaked fish, ruffled lettuce and a pale topping tucked inside.
The topping looks melted here rather than distinctly cold. For a cold variation, try chilled cooked salmon with lettuce and a little lemon mayo instead.
sliced beef and tomato
This is a simple filling combination to build on. Thinly sliced beef, tomato and greens sit between thick slices of bread with visible grill marks.
Skip the grilling for your cold lunch version. I’d choose roast beef with those same vegetables and a little mustard.
chickpea and cucumber wrap
How pretty is this colorful filling? Chickpeas, cucumber rounds, tomato halves and red onion fill the wrap, with white crumbles and chopped herbs between them.
Read also: 20 Cold Lunch Meal Prep Ideas With Salads, Wraps and Snack Boxes
The outside has browned marks. Use an unheated wrap for your version, then try feta and a yogurt dressing to get a similar-looking filling.
ham and cheese pretzel roll
If you are looking for something simple to put together, this one is for you. Folded ham and yellow cheese slices fill a deep brown pretzel roll.
You don’t need a long list of extras here. Changing the bread is enough to give a familiar sandwich a different look.
avocado and tomato stack
The avocado fans are going to love this! Big avocado pieces, tomato and leafy greens peek out from heavily toasted bread.
For an unheated version, keep the same vegetable layers on plain bread. A little cream cheese would be a nice addition if you want a spread underneath.
green spread and deli slices
That bright green spread is the first thing that catches my eye here. Folded pale deli slices sit above a dark red filling in a browned rectangular roll.
The photo doesn’t identify every filling. To borrow the idea for a cold sandwich, try turkey, pesto and chopped sun-dried tomatoes on an untoasted roll.
colorful vegetable layers
I love this stack of tomato, cucumber, orange pepper and leafy greens. The vegetables are arranged in separate layers between seeded bread, so you can see a little of everything.
Try hummus as your spread if you want to make a similar vegetable sandwich. Keep the cucumber slices fairly thin for easier stacking.
salmon and avocado bagel
This bagel may just be my favorite way to change up lunch. The orange salmon slices look gorgeous over avocado and an herb-speckled white spread.
Capers and little sprigs of dill finish the top. Try smoked salmon with herbed cream cheese if you want to put together your own version.
smashed chickpea cucumber salad
Here’s another chickpea idea, but this one goes between bread instead of inside a wrap. The chunky filling has cucumber, little pieces of red onion and chopped greens throughout.
Read also: 20 Healthy Family Dinner Ideas With Colorful Veggies and Plenty of Variety
I like that some chickpeas are still whole. Leave a little texture when you mash yours rather than turning the filling into a smooth spread.
layered round loaf
If you are looking for a sandwich with lots of different layers, then this one is for you. A round loaf holds deli meats, pale cheese, greens and chopped vegetables.
Cutting it into wedges shows off the filling so well. This is a fun shape to borrow when you want something different from your usual sandwich halves.
baguette with cucumber ribbons
There’s so much to love in this baguette. Thin cucumber ribbons sit beside shredded carrot and pale vegetable strips, with sliced meat tucked underneath.
The red chili rounds and leafy herbs are my favorite details. Try chilled cooked chicken in your version, then add chili only if you want that extra heat.
cranberry turkey croissant
Don’t want another turkey sandwich on sliced bread? Try this croissant combination instead.
Turkey, dark red cranberry filling and green leaves peek out around the edges.
I love how simple this one looks next to the fuller chicken salad croissants. Let the turkey and cranberry be the main ingredients.
little vegetable pinwheels
How cute are these little pinwheels? The spirals show chopped broccoli and orange shreds against a pale filling.
Strawberries, carrot sticks and crackers fill the neighboring compartments.
Read also: 20 Lunch Box Ideas for Work With Wraps, Bowls and Colorful Sides
For a similar lunch, try cream cheese, shredded carrot and finely chopped broccoli in a tortilla. Remove any picks before eating.
focaccia with cheese and greens
Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous focaccia sandwich. I love the thick white cheese slices above the green spread, with folded pink deli meat and a generous layer of leaves on top.
Try mozzarella, pesto and your favorite sliced ham to borrow this combination. The ridged chips on the side are a nice little extra.