Sandwich Melts (15+ Ideas)

Sandwich melts are a super quick and easy lunch or dinner to make, great for kids and teens, and can be endlessly customized. Get tons of ideas and variations to try!

Three different sandwich melts stacked on top of each other on a white plate.

Who else loves a meal that is quick and easy to make, tastes delicious and also feels a little like cheating?

You know, like you’re calling it in?

Sometimes that means breakfast for dinner, sometimes it means making a big snack plate or charcuterie board and calling it a meal.

You’ll hear no complaining for me. And definitely no judging!

(Check out these meals for one for tons of ideas, tips and recipes when you're going solo for dinner.)

One of my go-to “cheater” meals when my kids were little was to make sandwich melts.

It’s basically just taking a sandwich and getting it all cheesy and melty and maybe stepping it up a notch or two with your add-ins.

And suddenly, wow, you’ve got something.

Three cheesy sandwich melts on English muffins stacked into a baking dish.

It’s warm and tasty and comforting. And sure to be a hit with everyone!

Particularly because you can customize these in endless ways, so you can accommodate different tastes and preferences. As well as picky, picky eaters.

These sandwich melts work for an easy lunch or dinner (even breakfast!), they would be a great after-school snack for hungry teens or before a sports practice and they can even be made ahead.

Oh, and they are great for a late-night snack, too!

Plus, there are just SO many opportunities to adapt these to your family’s favorites.

So you pretty much need these in your life.

A variety of different English muffin sandwich melts assembled and stacked on a white plate.

Speaking of, if you love melts and sandwiches like we do, you’ll want to check out this turkey patty melt sandwich and open faced turkey, spinach and mushroom melts.

Also, my son has these homemade egg McMuffins at least once a week for breakfast. So quick and easy!

Or if school lunch packing is the bane of your existence, see this list of healthy school lunch ideas with tons of sandwich variations that you can try to mix things up.

OK, back to today’s sandwich melts.

First up, I’ve got some tips and tricks to help you have success in your kitchen.

After that, I’ve got tons of ideas for different variations and combinations.

I think you’ll see how easy it is to swap things out and customize them to your hearts content. As well as brainstorm your own creations!

(And if you just want the list of ideas, feel free to scroll on down.)

So let’s dive in.

A trio of different sandwich melts lined up on a long wood cutting board.

Tips and Tricks:

Broil time: These need 3-5 minutes under the broiler. Check them at 3 minutes for sandwiches that are just warmed through with melty cheese. Give them up to 5 minutes to get the sandwich more toasted and the cheese more browned. Just keep an eye and don’t let them burn!
Broil temp: You can safely broil these on high if they are at least 4-5 inches from the heat source. Otherwise, you could use low broil but you might need to increase the time.
Oven: I actually use and love my toaster oven for these cause it’s so quick. However, you could definitely make them in a regular oven. Most don’t need preheating time for the broil function.
Protein: To be clear, the protein for these sandwiches needs to be already cooked. Whether you’re using chicken or turkey or steak or pulled pork, etc., those need to be cooked before making the sandwich, since we are just heating them.
Spreads: Add spreads like mustard or jams or sauces after you toast the bread so it doesn’t get soggy.
Greens: Add fresh, crunchy greens like romaine after the sandwich is toasted. You can add spinach before toasting and it’ll get just lightly wilted - so good!
Quantity: You can make a single sandwich for yourself or load up a whole sheet pan of sandwiches for a group.

Speaking of quantities and making a whole sheet pan worth of sandwiches, let’s talk about making these ahead.

They can be great for meal prepping and pulling out to pack or eat.

(Yes, they are super fast to make, but some days, you need something that’s already assembled.)

English muffin halves on a baking sheet with sandwich fixings added to one side before being cooked.

English muffin melts being assembled on a round cutting board with sandwich fixings and toppings to the side.

Round sandwiches being assembled on a white plate.

Stacked sandwiches topped with tomato slices being assembled on a white plate.

Here’s what I’ve found from my many years of making these and my more recent rounds of testing different methods.

Make Ahead Tips:

These sandwiches can be made in a big batch ahead of time and then stored until ready to use.
Let cool completely, then store sandwiches in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. I like wrapping them individually in plastic wrap to keep them covered and easy to see and grab.
You can also make and freeze these sandwiches. I wrap them in aluminum foil, place in a freezer bag, label it and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw sandwiches overnight in the refrigerator.
To reheat, you can place it back in a toaster oven or in a regular oven. Broil on high for 3-4 minutes, at the same 4-5 inches from the heat source, until warmed through and lightly toasted. Add spreads and serve.
Or you can rewarm them in a microwave for about 1 minute, until heated through. It will lose the crunch of the toasted bits, but will still be melty and delicious.
Many of these combinations are also good cold and can be packed in a lunch box and eaten without rewarming. (I personally still enjoy that the cheese had been melted over the fillings.)

OK, let’s tackle some different combinations and ideas for sandwich melts.

Three different English muffin melts lined up on a wooden cutting board.

Feel free to try what looks best to you or mix and match your favorite parts.

For what it’s worth, my general formula is: Protein + Cheese + Extras

The extras can be anything from greens to roasted red peppers or sautéed veggies to pickles to spreads like a spicy mustard or some pesto or guacamole.

Ideas for Sandwich Melts:

Chicken + baby spinach + mozzarella
Ham + cheddar + mustard
Tuna salad + white cheddar (or provolone) + lettuce and tomato
Roast beef + cheddar + horseradish mayo/mustard
Turkey + pepper Jack + guacamole
Chicken salad + mozzarella + grapes
Pulled pork + cheddar + coleslaw
Greek chicken + roasted red peppers + feta
BBQ chicken + cheddar + red onions
Chicken + bacon + cheddar + Ranch dressing
Turkey + spinach + havarti cheese
Sliced steak + sautéed onions + mozzarella
Turkey + bacon + American cheese + pickles
Chicken + brie cheese + cranberry sauce
Turkey + goat cheese + roasted red peppers + a fruity spread
Marinara sauce + pepperoni + mozzarella

A pesto chicken and white cheese sandwich with avocado and tomato on an English muffin set on a cutting board with a wooden spear in it.

A melted ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mustard on a wooden cutting board.

If you were hoping for a shout-out to breakfast sandwich melts, you can’t go wrong with scrambled eggs plus bacon and American cheese!

Or use Canadian bacon or sausage patties and other add-ins to change it up.

So those are some specific ideas to get you going.

Here are a few last thoughts on ways to change these up and keep them fun. Cause that means more easy lunches and dinners!

Other Ideas for Variations:

Add spinach or roasted red peppers to just about anything. Or add your favorite combo of sautéed veggies to your melt.
Use sliced cheese or cheddar and try different kinds/flavors.
Sprinkle just about anything with Parmesan cheese.
Top with your favorite sandwich fixings - lettuce, tomato, avocado, mayo, mustard, etc.
Get creative with your finishing spread - try jams or jellies or pesto or hummus or Ranch dressing or other fun spreads and sauces.
Finish with hot sauce or sriracha for a spicy kick.
Try different breads. English muffins, hoagie rolls, buns or sliders all work. Other types of breads can be subbed in as well.