Sandwiches are a go-to lunch option, regardless of whether you brought one from home, stopped at the deli counter or are enjoying a catered midday meal. It’s hard to overstate how convenient sandwiches are; they’re easy to prepare, customize and serve. Unfortunately, they can also get a little bit boring. The good news is, these gourmet sandwich platter ideas will have you rethinking sandwiches!
Artisan Breads
Swap the usual store-bought sliced bread for a loaf from a local bakery. Try French or sprouted grain bread for hearty sandwiches. Mix croissants and pretzel buns with the usual Kaiser and ciabatta rolls for an upgraded platter. If you’re feeling adventurous, give open faced sandwiches a try.
Paninis
A few seconds in the panini press and your regular sandwich becomes a melty upgrade that pairs perfectly with soup. This is also a great option when you’re serving vegetarians; grilled cheese is much better than a cheese sandwich! To make your office lunch a panini buffet, ask your caterer to provide premade sandwiches and set up a press onsite.
Sliders
You’ll be able to try a few sandwich options when they’re slider-size. There are lots of different options here, with both ultra-casual and more gourmet options. For a laidback event, try chicken and biscuits, chicken parmesan, breakfast sandwiches and burgers. Casual gourmet-style events can serve slider-sized versions of chicken cordon bleu, chicken and waffles, French dip, salmon BLT, crab cakes and portabella mushrooms.
Hummus
No longer is hummus just the standard vegetarian option on sandwich platters. Offer a wide variety of hummus flavors with assorted veggies and breads for a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly twist on a sandwich buffet. We like garlic, sundried tomato, roasted red pepper, avocado, white bean, lentil, beet and pumpkin hummuses, in addition to classic.
Global
Let your sandwich platter take inspiration from international menus. Fill pitas with shawarma or falafel. Serve a taco or lettuce wrap bar. Stuff Vietnamese baguettes with chicken or pork and tangy pickled vegetables for banh mi.
