Our 13 Best Hot Sandwich Recipes to Warm You Up By Lily Menk Lily Menk Lily Menk is EatingWell’s editorial fellow. As a native Vermonter, Lily combines her hands-on experience with local and sustainable food systems with her background in journalism. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 20, 2025 SAVE RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: See More Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Paninis, melts and hot sandwiches are the perfect lunch or dinner to make when you need a little warming up. With cozy and comforting flavors like creamy mozzarella and rich mushrooms and healthy proteins like chicken and tuna, these sandwich recipes are all rated 4- and 5-stars. From our Cheesy Spinach & Chicken alla Vodka Sandwich to our High-Protein Tuna & White Bean Melt, these hot sandwiches are the perfect solution to colder days. Love these recipes? Join MyRecipes to save them all with one click. It’s so easy—and free! 01 of 13 Grilled Cheese with Spinach & Tomato Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen. This grilled cheese with spinach and tomato is a flavorful twist on the classic sandwich, cooked to golden perfection on the stovetop. Wilted spinach is infused with plenty of garlic. Juicy tomato slices add color and a fresh bite to the melty mozzarella filling. This sandwich makes for an easy lunch or dinner and pairs well with tomato soup or a simple green salad. View Recipe Save 02 of 13 High-Protein Tuna & White Bean Melt Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This ultra-quick tuna melt with white beans is a protein-packed sandwich that’s perfect for a fast and satisfying lunch or dinner. The beans add creaminess and fiber, while the tuna provides lean protein and omega-3s, making this dish as nutritious as it is flavorful. Plus, it comes together in minutes—ideal for days when time is in short supply. View Recipe Save 03 of 13 Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver Dinner guests are guaranteed to be impressed with this deceptively easy Pulled Chicken Sandwich recipe, which includes a seven-ingredient rub and a simple 15-minute sauce that comes together while the chicken grills. Serve on buns, over fresh greens, or on top of a baked potato for a filling dinner. View Recipe Save 04 of 13 Cheesy Spinach & Chicken alla Vodka Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser This cheesy spinach-and-chicken alla vodka sandwich is full of textures and flavors. Crispy chicken cutlets are smothered in creamy tomato sauce, wilted spinach and gooey mozzarella cheese. As an alternative to frying, you can coat both sides of the chicken cutlets with cooking spray and cook them in a preheated air fryer at 375°F for about 5 minutes on each side until they’re cooked through. View Recipe Save 05 of 13 Turkey & Cheese Panini Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall. This turkey panini is one of the best panini recipes we have ever tried. Basil pesto and sourdough bread are key to this sandwich's unique flavor. View Recipe Save 06 of 13 Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar. View Recipe Save 07 of 13 Chicken Caprese Sandwich Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely This chicken caprese sandwich has all the classic flavors of a caprese salad with an added boost of protein from grilled chicken. Using store-bought grilled chicken makes assembly quick and easy. This sandwich for one is made in a skillet, but would work equally well in a panini press if you have one on hand. View Recipe Save 08 of 13 Tuna Melt Robby Lozano In this updated tuna melt recipe, we go light on the mayo and top it with fresh tomato slices and shredded sharp Cheddar. This allows us to use considerably less cheese while ensuring that there's great cheese flavor in each gooey bite of this healthy tuna melt recipe. View Recipe Save 09 of 13 Air-Fryer Katsu Sandwiches Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan Katsu is a Japanese dish featuring a fried breadcrumb-coated piece of meat, often sliced and served with a dipping sauce on the side. Here, we take the crispy chicken cutlet and use it as a base for a sandwich. A tonkatsu-inspired tangy sauce pairs well with the chicken, while a napa cabbage and radish slaw provides freshness and crunch. View Recipe Save 10 of 13 Vegetarian Reubens with Russian Dressing Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie Probst The spinach, mushroom and onion filling is so satisfying, you won't even miss the corned beef in this vegetarian take on a Reuben sandwich. This exceptional sandwich was inspired by a dish at the now-closed Penny Cluse Cafe in Burlington, Vermont. View Recipe Save 11 of 13 Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwich Victor Protasio This turkey pesto sandwich features fresh mozzarella cheese, which melts beautifully, creating a gooey, cheesy bite. Serve for lunch or dinner alongside a bowl of soup for a filling meal. View Recipe Save 12 of 13 Collards & Portobello Grilled Cheese Meaty portobello mushrooms and sautéed collards turn this easy grilled cheese recipe into a healthy meal. If you don't have Dijonnaise on hand, make your own by stirring 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard into 3 tablespoons mayonnaise. View Recipe Save 13 of 13 Chicken Pesto Panini In this chicken pesto panini recipe, the extra-thin bread gets nice and crispy, the mozzarella melts beautifully and the arugula adds a fresh and peppery note to complement the pesto. It's a delicious and easy panini to throw together! View Recipe Save Explore more: Healthy Recipes Main Dish Sandwich Hot Sandwich Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit