Meatless Monday Challenge

The Best Veggie Sandwich I’ve Ever Had

on September 21, 2020
last updated April 4, 2024
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Forget about boring cold cuts, all you need is a loaded veggie sandwich flavored with both cream cheese and pesto. I can honestly say this is The BEST Veggie Sandwich I've Ever Had.
The Best Veggie Sandwich I've Ever Had

Okay, I know, it’s a big claim. But, I’m serious. This is THE BEST VEGGIE SANDWICH I’VE EVER HAD.

It’s not that good vegetarian sandwiches are hard to achieve, it’s just that they’re not always easy to find. Most sandwich places think: just leave off the meat and you’ll have a vegetarian sandwich.

Well, yeah. But do you really want a piece of bread with mayo, pickles, tomato, and lettuce?

You need the right combo of hearty vegetables and flavor-boosting spreads to deliver that delicious vegetarian lunch you deserve. And this recipe has just that.

Two Halves of a loaded veggie sandwich stacked on top of one another

As an environmental scientist, I’m always looking for tasty meatless meals to help me improve my ecological footprint, and this Best Ever Loaded Veggie Sandwich is a great place to start!

The plethora of different flavors and textures means you won’t even miss the meat in this sandwich.

Green tip: Industrial meat production has a huge impact on the environment, especially because of the amount of land it takes to sustain and its high amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing your meat consumption is one great way to improve your ecological footprint.

Best Ever Loaded Veggie Sandwich Ingredients


Here’s everything you’ll need:

  • Bread. Any bread of your choice! I love this sandwich on Italian bread, whole wheat, multigrain, or even Ezekiel bread.
  • Cream cheese. Or hummus. It adds a creamy texture that makes this sandwich out of this world.
  • Pesto. You can buy it at the store or make your own pesto.
  • Cucumber. For freshness and crunch.
  • Tomato. For that juicy, flavorful, subtle sweetness and tang that completes any sandwich!
  • Red onion. For a boost of earthy flavor and extra crunch.
  • Avocado. For an extra creamy and slightly nutty finish.
All ingredients for Best Veggie Sandwich including cream cheese, cucumber, tomato, bread, avocado, pesto, and red onion

Best Veggie Sandwich Tips and Tricks


Prep Your Vegetables

Get yourself all set up for sandwich making by prepping all your veggies first.

Peel your onion and slice it finely. I also like to peel my cucumber, but that’s up to you! Once peeled, slice your cucumber into thin coins.

Slice your tomato thin, too. Cut your avocado in half. You can choose to mash the avocado or slice it.

One of these veggie sandwiches only requires half of an avocado. The best way to save and store your second half is by keeping the half with the pit in its skin.

Then, place the half of avocado in a bowl and cover it completely with water. It can be stored like this in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.

Prepped vegetables for loaded vegetable sandwich
Prep your vegetables for your loaded veggie sandwich

Start With the Spreads

Lay your slices of bread out flat on plate. Spread one slice generously with pesto, and the other with cream cheese or hummus.

Starting out with a flavorful and creamy base is what makes this the best veggies sandwich ever!

Two slices of bread, one spread with cream cheese and one with pesto
Start by spreading cream cheese on one slice of bread and pesto on the other

Load it Up!

Load up your veggie sandwich by stacking all your elements.

I like to start with the tomato, then add the avocado, the cucumber next, and top it with the red onion.

Hot or Cold?

This sandwich can be enjoyed hot or cold. Eat it as is for a fresh and crisp sandwich with soft bread.

To get a hot sandwich with a crispy exterior, you can use a panini press as pictured below, or you can fry it in a pan in a little bit of oil. You can also opt to toast the bread ahead of time.

This loaded vegetarian sandwich is delicious hot or cold!

Pressing a loaded veggie sandwich in a panini press
For a hot sandwich, consider pressing the sandwich in a panini press!

Best Veggie Sandwich Frequently Asked Questions



What veggies are good on sandwiches?

My favorite veggies to add to sandwiches include cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes and avocados (I know, technically fruits, but a delicious add-on nevertheless!).

Some more veggies that are delicious on sandwiches include lettuce, leafy greens, bell peppers, pickles, and sprouts.

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Why You Should Make this Best Veggie Sandwich


  • It’s flavorful. Between the veggies and spreads this sandwich is bursting with flavor.
  • It’s healthful. Packed with tons of delicious and healthy vegetables!
  • It’s filling. The perfect pick me up halfway through your day.

If you’re looking for more meatless lunch options, try this Buffalo Ranch Tempeh and Quinoa Bowl or this Buffalo Chickpea Wrap.

The Best Veggie Sandwich I've Ever Had

The Best Veggie Sandwich I’ve Ever Had

5 from 2 votes
Marley Goldin
Print Save Rate
Forget about boring cold cuts, all you need is a loaded veggie sandwich flavored with both cream cheese and pesto. I can honestly say this is The BEST Veggie Sandwich I’ve Ever Had.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1 sandwich

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small vine ripe tomato
  • ½ English cucumber
  • ½ ripe avocado
  • ¼ large red onion
  • 2 slices bread of choice
  • 1 tablespoon cream cheese or hummus (vegan cream cheese works too!)
  • 2 tablespoon pesto
Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Instructions
 

  • Prep your veggies by slicing the tomato, peeling and slicing the cucumber, slicing (or mashing) the avocado, and peeling and thinly slicing your red onion.
    Spreading one slice of bread with cream cheese and one with pesto
  • Lay both slices of bread out flat on a large plate. Spread one slice generously with cream cheese (or hummus) and the other slice with pesto.
    Loading up sandwich with vegetables
  • Stack on tomato, avocado, cucumber, and red onion. Enjoy cold or toast in a panini press or on a pan.
    Toasting a veggie sandwich in a panini press

Pro Tips

  • If you don’t have a panini press and don’t want to fry the sandwich in a pan, but still want to enjoy it hot, you can opt to toast your bread before building your sandwich. 
  • Since one sandwich only calls for half of an avocado, you can easily save the other half! Slice your avocado in half and use the half without the pit for your sandwich. Keep the pit in the other half and place it in a bowl. Cover it completely with water and store in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. 
  • For another delicious vegetarian lunch idea, check out this Vegan Egg Salad Substitute. 

Share This Recipe

Course Lunch
Cuisine American
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword 30 Minutes or Less, Easy, Healthy, Quick, Veggie Sandwich
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