What’s for lunch? Sometimes, when craving a hearty and filling lunch, the best thing to reach for is a sandwich. It’s an easy and delicious way to get multiple ingredients and food groups on one plate. We’ll break down the best bread for subs and sandwiches to elevate your sandwich game and serve a delicious lunch or dinner.
A sandwich or sub truly isn’t complete without bread. Depending on several factors, there’s more than one type of bread to create the perfect sandwich. If you’re looking for fresh, high-quality bread that’ll pair with any sandwich filling, plenty of bread options are available.
Best Breads for Subs and Sandwiches
Rye Bread
Rye bread is a classic sandwich bread that is healthy for you and works with many different types of sandwiches. Its name comes from its main ingredient, rye grain, and is dark in color.
This bread has a tangy flavor and is great with deli meats and veggies. Add mayo and a spicy sauce for some zing to your sandwich.
White Bread
Another classic choice for sandwich bread is white bread. The best part about white bread is that it can work in various sandwiches. It can be served chilled, at room temperature, toasted, or grilled, and still tastes amazing.
Its fluffy, soft texture and buttery flavor make this bread one of the more versatile sandwich breads.
Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread is a favorite amongst many bread lovers because of its artisan style and interesting flavor. Its slightly sour taste offers a crisp shell with a soft, chewy interior. Best of all, you can make your own sourdough at home with a homemade starter.
You can’t beat freshly-baked sourdough, and a great way to prepare this sandwich bread is in a classic BLT. Use fresh lettuce, tomato, and crisp bacon in a sourdough hoagie roll for the perfect BLT.
It’s easy to see why sourdough is among the best breads for subs and sandwiches.
French Baguette
The French baguette can make a great sandwich with deli meat and fresh veggies. Buy a whole baguette from your local bakery and slice it to your desired size. You can get three to four sandwiches out of one baguette. For extra crispness, toast the sliced baguette in the toaster oven for a few minutes before preparing your sandwich.
This bread also works great as an open-faced sandwich for bruschetta or garlic bread, so it’s versatile beyond a regular lunch sandwich.
Subs & Sandwich Rolls: The Obvious Best Breads for Subs and Sandwiches?
Subs and sandwich rolls are similar to a sourdough roll but can be less sour and tangy than traditional sourdough. Fresh rolls are fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside and are great with hot sandwiches like a Philly cheesesteak or a meatball sub.
Focaccia
Focaccia is a classic Italian bread best suited for open-faced sandwiches. You can make your own focaccia at home. It’s fairly easy to do and requires few ingredients. Make a grilled cheese with grilled veggies, and top it with some crumbly feta or bacon bits for added deliciousness. Or, make it Italian style and prepare a bruschetta or top it with olive oil, tomatoes, pesto, olives, and cured meat.
Ciabatta
Another great Italian bread is ciabatta, and unlike focaccia, this comes in a roll style similar to dinner rolls. Ciabatta has a super crispy crust with a soft interior and is excellent for more hearty sandwiches. Since it’s a thicker bread, it can also go through a panini press, so make a yummy grilled sandwich with ciabatta as the main bread. Add some turkey, mozzarella cheese, mayo, and tomatoes for an easy grilled sandwich.
Tortilla Wraps
The next sandwich bread on our list is not exactly bread, but it’s a great bread alternative. The tortilla wrap works great for kebabs and falafel sandwiches or if you’re looking for a lunch that’s light on calories.
A tortilla wrap is also a very convenient sandwich bread. Preparing a wrap is easy; you can prep your lunch the night before so it’s ready to go the next day.
Best Sandwich Toppings
So, you’ve picked out your bread, but what sandwich toppings should you add? Well, there are tons to choose from, but we’ve got our favorite toppings here:
- Fresh veggies: Nothing like a crisp cucumber or pickle, a juicy tomato, or fresh lettuce and spinach to add to a sandwich. You can’t go wrong with fresh veggies, especially if you like making a veggie sub.
- Banana peppers: An unlikely veg for your sandwich, we think banana peppers are an instant classic. They provide that perfect amount of crunch without a strong aftertaste, so they complement sauces and proteins well. You can also slice banana peppers and have them on the side of your sandwich as a light and healthy snack.
- Melted cheese: Cheese truly does make everything better. There are many classic sandwich cheeses, from mozzarella to gouda to cheddar. Buy cheese by the block and slice thinly for that perfect slice to add to your sandwich, as pre-sliced cheese often won’t taste as fresh. Try a classic grilled cheese sandwich or stick the sandwich in a toaster oven or sandwich press for that ooey-gooey melted goodness.
- Secret sauce: Everyone has their secret sauce, from family recipes to famous sub sandwich companies featuring their own. Use whatever sauces you fancy, but choose flavors that complement each other. Honey mustard and mayo might taste better in your sandwich than ranch and barbecue sauce. Focus on flavors complementing the bread and the other toppings – you can’t go wrong.
- Olive oil: This might be unconventional, but adding olive oil to your sandwiches can make a huge difference. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on the sandwich bread and grill the insides of the bread for a few minutes in the oven or on the stove. Then, your sandwich will be lightly grilled with some oil and crispness, bringing out the best flavors from the olive oil.
We Hope You Found Your Favorite Among the Best Breads for Subs and Sandwiches
Our picks for the best sandwich and sub bread are a wide range of selections. For a fresh deli-style sandwich, rye bread could be your top pick, or a French baguette for a filling sandwich will work for you. Concentrate on different textures and flavors and what complements each other, and pick the right bread accordingly.
Experiment with different toppings and bread to create that perfect sandwich. There’s always more than one great way to make a delicious lunch!
