A toasted grilled cheese. A sweet Monte Cristo. A filling Italian sub. Everyone has their favorite sandwich, but even favorites can get a little stale.
Although comfort food has maintained its hold on America’s stomachs since the start of the pandemic, months of cooking the same meals over and over again is prompting consumers to seek out twists on the classics. Restaurants can help consumers get out of their bland meal cycle while providing familiarity through switching up popular sandwiches.
The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
White, rye, wheat, sourdough—it’s those two slices of bread that tie everything together. But to give consumers new ways to enjoy their favorites, explore different carriers.
Piadina: This Romagna flatbread might look like a tortilla, but the addition of fat into its dough gives it a crumblier texture. Traditionally filled with cured meats and cheese, the piadina is flexible enough to be a carrier for just about anything, from BLTs to breakfast sandwiches.
Nori: Nori sheets aren’t just for rolling up sushi. Onigirazu, or the sushi sandwich, is made by layering common sushi ingredients like rice, cucumber, and salmon in between two nori sheets. The sheets can also hold together hummus, egg salad, tomato, and other sandwich fillings.
Pancakes: While we might immediately think of stuffing sausage patties or eggs between two small pancake buns, there’s a lot more that can go into a pancake sandwich. Buttermilk fried chicken, pulled pork, and burger patties are just a few options.
Grown-Up Classics
Plenty of adults want the warm, gooey comforts of a grilled cheese sandwich, but not the version on the kids menu. Bold flavors, international ingredients, and healthy alternatives elevate childhood classics.
Grown-Up Grilled Cheese: Elevate this classic by looking beyond cheddar and American cheese. Look to stronger cheeses, like Brie, Gruyere, and Gouda for a more intense flavor. Truffle oil, rosemary, dates, and caramelized onion can also add a sophisticated touch.
Super PB&J: For an adult take on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, throw in some superfoods. Use pomegranates or figs instead of grape jelly. Replace peanut butter with almond or sunflower butter. Put it all between chia seed or whole grain bread. Drizzle honey on top for extra sweetness.
Fancy Joe: For a different take on sloppy joes, consider replacing ground beef with ground chicken, chorizo, or even wild boar. Top with anything from avocado to Asian slaw, and play around with sauces and spices.
Plant-Based Alternatives
Meat and cheese are two prime sandwich ingredients. They also have the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions among food categories. Plant-based ingredients can give consumers a twist on familiar sandwiches while doing good for the planet.
BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich: Give the pulled pork sandwich a vegetarian spin by substituting the meat with shredded jackfruit.
Going Back to Cauli: Cauliflower adds a nice crisp and mild flavor to vegan offerings. Fry it up to replace the shrimp in a po’boy or ditch the chicken and make a buffalo cauliflower sandwich.
Vegan Cheese Sandwich: For a plant-based sandwich that still has that gooey, stringy texture, replace traditional cheese with a dairy-free alternative.
Non-Sandwiches
Haven’t we all been torn between ordering sandwiches or a pizza? Creating pizza and other comfort foods based on popular sandwich flavors is a fun way to give consumers two familiar favorites in one. Some possible sandwich-inspired creations include:
Reuben Pizza: Replace the rye bread with pizza crust. Then, slather on Thousand Island dressing for the sauce and top with Swiss cheese, corned beef, and sauerkraut.
Patty Melt Fries: Transform fries into a fun meal or appetizer by topping with ground beef, cheese, and carmelized onions.
French Dip Burger: Top a hoagie bun with elongated burger patties instead of sliced roast beef to put a twist on this dippable sandwich.
Your Sourcing Solution
Relieve consumers of their comfort food fatigue by putting a spin on classic sandwiches. Dot Foods has the carriers, fillings, and condiments to inspire sandwich switch-ups.