Skip the PB&J! These vegan sandwiches are far more creative (not to mention much tastier) and are perfect for back to school lunches or lunch at the office. Here you'll find lots of different ideas for sandwich fillings, from tempeh and cheesesteaks to vegan tuna and egg salad.
Vegan Sandwiches
Back to school season is upon us! I've been seeing posts about kids going back to school on Facebook for a few weeks now, but here in New Jersey the first day of school isn't until after Labor Day.
School lunches can be stressful for little vegans. I don't have kids myself, but I do remember my lunches from my younger days vividly. I picked out a new lunch box with glee every September. One year I had a Hardy Boys box, and another it was Hong Kong Phooey. My favorite was the Tupperware lunchbox that came with lots of little containers for my meal, but it was stolen during recess just a few days into the school year.
Unless there was something I really liked on the menu, I didn't buy lunch at school often. (Hoagie Day was my favorite!) Often my lunch was a packed sandwich, a bag of chips, a thermos of Kool-Aid, and maybe some fruit. (How did I survive?) Sandwiches were often salami and American cheese on white bread with Hellman's mayo (NEVER Miracle Whip!), tuna salad, or peanut butter and jelly. There wasn't very much variety or excitement to them.
My sandwiches this days are far more varied, and they're much tastier. I work from home, but when I do need to food for lunch on the go, I often make my favorite eggplant wrap or a chickpea salad sandwich. I recently asked some of my blogger friends for their favorite sandwiches for packed lunches, too.
15+ Vegan Sandwiches for Back to School Lunches
Vegan Wraps
Grilled Eggplant Wraps with Spicy Tahini Slaw
These wraps travel well, so they’re perfect for meals on the go, too. The heat can be toned down for little vegans with sensitive taste buds.
Raw Sunflower Seed Tuna Wraps
These are a little more delicate than the eggplant wraps, but I've taken them with me to work lunches and picnics in the past, so they do hold up to travel well.
Curried Mango Chickpea Wrap from The Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan by Heather Nicholds
Sweet mango is paired with creamy tahini and flavorful curry in this easy-to-make recipe recipe.
Raw Vegan Sushi Wraps
Loaded with veggies and an easy-to-make sunflower seed cheese, these wraps are a deliciously light meal for warm summer days.
Soy Curl Shawarma
Grab a napkin, because things are about to get messy! Made with Soy Curls, loaded with vegetables, and drizzled with sauce, Vegan Shawarma is lunchtime perfection.
Veggie Wraps from Veggie Inspired
Jenn's veggie wraps are loaded with broccoli slaw and spicy hummus.
Pita Sandwiches
Seitan Gyro with Tahini Sauce
Made with seitan, veggies, and tahini sauce all wrapped up in a whole wheat pita, vegan gyros are the perfect lunch!
Baked Falafel in Pita with Cucumber Dill Dip from The China Study Cookbook by LeAnne Campbell
This healthy falafel recipe come together quickly, and it makes a terrific lunch or light dinner.
Vegan Salad Sandwiches
Tahini Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
These sandwiches are one of my favorites for a quick and easy lunch.
Soy Curl Chicken Salad
Pile this Vegan Chicken Salad onto a sandwich or stuff it into a wrap or a pita. If you’re in the mood for something bread-free, serve it on a pile of greens for a salad.
Apple Pecan Tempeh Salad
These sandwiches are perfect for autumn when apples are in abundance.
Vegan Egg Salad Sandwich from Cadry's Kitchen
Cadry has veganized childhood favorite of mine in her vegan egg salad.
Tofu Tuna Sandwiches
This veganized tuna recipe is made with tofu and seaweed.
Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwiches from Vegan Huggs
The secret ingredient in Melissa's tuna salads hearts of palm.
Tempting Tempeh Sandwiches from Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson
Robin's sandwiches are loaded with of celery, pineapples, and cashews.
Other Types of Vegan Sandwiches
BLT with Tempeh Bacon
Tempeh bacon is the base of this vegan BLT sandwich. Add a little avocado for a TTLA!
Famous Coconut BLT from Baconish by Leinana Two Moons
Leinana's coconut bacon will make any vegan-bacon skeptic a true believer.
Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches
With the combination of meaty mushrooms and creamy dairy-free cashew cheese, these tasty sandwiches are a lunchtime favorite in my house!
White Bean & Artichoke Vegan Sandwiches from A Virtual Vegan
Who can so no to Mel's tasty sandwiches?
Picnic Sandwich from Cadry's Kitchen
Cadry's vegan sandwiches are loaded with a slathering of jalapeño cashew cheese spread, red bell peppers, thinly sliced onion, and local spinach.
What are your favorite type of vegan sandwiches?
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I wouldn't mind having these sandwiches for lunches every day! Thank you for including my Vegan Cream Cheese Sandwich.
Cadry
That's so sad that someone stole your lunchbox early in the school year. What a bummer! How were you able to photograph your food without a cute lunch set? 😉 Thanks for including me in the round-up. There are so many tasty options here!
Dianne
Yeah, I could have started blogging so much sooner if my lunchbox hadn't been stolen!
Dianne
Thanks for sharing your recipe with me, Amy!
Kari
That picnic sandwich looks good.
Sandwiches are so easy to make vegan and there's so much variety.
This post made me think of the time I was given sandwiches that were supposed to be vegan but they were actually made with dairy with cream cheese. It was at my best friend's brother's funeral and it was the worst feeling ever to have to refuse the food. She had put her trust in the caterers and they obviously pretended to know what vegan meant when they didn't.
Dianne
It's always so annoying when people offer vegan options that aren't vegan!