Serve up lunch quickly with these 15 gourmet-inspired Open Face Sandwich Ideas!
Lunch doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious! These open-faced sandwiches level up the gourmet factor while still being quick and easy.
Bonus: less bread means less carbs!
Do not get hung up on these just being for lunch. Add a side salad, sliced red pepper, tomato soup, and some boiled eggs to any of these for complete and easy dinner recipes, too!
Are open-faced sandwiches actually sandwiches?
So, they actually are NOT sandwiches. I am not really sure why we call them that. Though, to be fair, I don’t actually call them that. LOL! I just say “open faces”.
If you were to look up the actual definition of a sandwich, it requires not just one slice of bread, but TWO sliced of bread with food in the middle.
Since an Open Face has only one piece of bread or toast, it is technically NOT a sandwich.
By that logic, in case you were wondering, a hot dog is also NOT a sandwich. Also, wraps and burritos are not sandwiches.
The more you know… 😉
How can I make lunch faster?
When preparing lunch at home, we often do not want to spend hours. It is supposed to be a fairly light and super fast meal. This is why so many people rely on a quick sandwich. However, you can be eating all that bread every day AND it gets boring.
In addition to all the yummy recipes we have collected for you below, here are a few other ideas to help you speed up your lunch process.
- Make ahead! If you make the grilled chicken or sliced roast beef ahead of time, you only have to warm it (or serve it cold) when it is lunch time. I like to buy and cook these things in bulk and either freeze them or have it for the week.
- Pre-mix! An egg salad, tuna, or chicken salad sandwich comes together quickly when you’ve already put together the salad itself.
- Pre slice! If you go ahead and slice your red onions, bell peppers, and avocado toast type meals are faster.
These open face sandwich recipes go great with a side salad, {like our signature shrimp salad!}. They also pair well with a comforting bowl of soup.
Of course, you might choose to indulge in both of these and have a comforting soup and salad lunch, or for a lighter fare, perhaps a half sandwich and cup of soup will be sufficient.
You can also just enjoy one of the delicious open faced sandwiches all on its own!
Open Faced Sandwich Ideas
Delicious gourmet sandwiches with half the bread. These open face sandwiches made great lunches for your next busy weekend.
This is a really easy Open Face Crab Melt Sandwich recipe. There are very few ingredients.
The Jack cheese and sour cream gives them the gooey goodness, while the lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce gives the crab sandwich the perfect “zip”.
When you add in sweet Dungeness crab meat…oh my.
A Jersey Shore classic!
These meatless Boardwalk Italian Sausage & Peppers Sandwiches are vegan, gluten-free, and top 8 allergy-free!
A simple, delicious, and healthy recipe for your greasy favorite summer comfort food!
A Rainbow Sandwich is an easy vegan sandwich idea packed with flavourful and healthy vegetables and a smokey guacamole dip.
This simple ham and egg open-face can be enjoyed any time of the day! Don't lock yourself in to just breakfast!
Toasted Open Face Caprese Sandwiches with Avocado could be the perfect simple vegetarian meal for your next Meatless Monday, pairing well with either a cup of soup or a side salad for a complete comfort food dinner.
California tuna melt turns pantry essentials (canned tuna) into a fresh & warm open faced sandwich. Made with Greek yogurt & a touch of mayo, all topped with Havarti cheese!
These are seriously the easiest sandwiches ever. You can make them for Halloween or just for fun!
Creamy Open-Faced Tuna Melts transform cheesy tuna dip made with cream cheese into an ultimate comfort dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes. Slather it on bread, top with fresh tomato slices and cheddar cheese and broil it in the oven.
Gluten-Free Bagel with Vegan Carrot Lox & Cream Cheese (Allergy-Free)
Every good New Yorker knows bagels & lox are essential!
This Gluten-Free Bagel with Vegan Carrot Lox & Cream Cheese recipe is just the allergy-free recipe you need to still enjoy the classic Jewish deli sandwich!
This vegetarian smoked salmon will make your breakfast or lunch bagel sandwich the envy of every city dweller!
These crunchy cheesy sandwiches are great to serve during slumber parties and garden parties.
Beautiful and filling-- this open faced egg sandwich has the perfect mix of fiber, protein, and fat to keep you satisfied.
This simple open-faced bacon, tomato and avocado sandwich is easy to make and ready in no time. It is a good snack at any time of the day.
These quick and easy Open-faced Tuna Melts are made with cream cheese, no mayo, a little kick from the jalapenos and are the perfect last minute dinner or lunch.
You can make them ahead and reheat, so they're also perfect for the lunch bag!
They are also Weight Watchers friendly at 4 WW points on the blue plan.
Nothing screams New England summer than a lobster roll!
These Easy Vegan Maine Lobster Rolls are gluten-free, allergy-free, meatless, and fit for everyone to enjoy!
A simple, healthy, and delicious recipe that redefines this classic fast-food sandwich!
Open faced sandwich is fun to make for kids and even more, fun to eat!!
Tomato Bruschetta Recipe - A Simple and Delicious Italian Staple
These tomato bruschettas are fresh baguette slices topped with chopped tomatoes, onions, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
They're open-faced sandwiches carrying herbaceous essence - and you can add unique flavors to them!
More Sandwich Recipes:
Pretty much any sandwich can become an open-faced sandwich. Just leave the top piece of bread off. LOL!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Grab a slice of swiss cheese and put it on top, in place of the bun!
Toasted Santa Fe Turkey Sandwich – due to the cheese and the fact that you toast it, this one would be yummy as an open-face!
Enjoy this grilled veggie sandwich on Meatless Monday!
My mouth is watering! I will definitely be trying some of these out! Pinned.