Returning to a school or work routine is bittersweet. Schedules and agendas don’t have to be boring, though, when your lunch routine is anything but. Run-of-the-mill PB&J and turkey and cheese standbys are making way for a new hero: gourmet sandwich creations that inspire envy.
Craveable ingredients, like savory green olives, peppery salami and smoky roasted tomatoes can be lunch staples with these delicious recipes. Skip those weekday blues and mix up your lunch with a layer of excitement.
Makes Great Meal Any Way You Stack It
Weekday lunch breakers rejoice – the sandwich is making a comeback. Kick-start your lunch routine with these easy tips and craveable recipes that are sure to inspire lunch envy:
Prep the Week: Create a shopping list based on your week’s menu, and prep your ingredients in advance so creating a delicious sandwich is easy. Have a little fun and experiment. Bet you didn’t know that if you put two pieces of bread in the same slot of the toaster, the outside of the bread gets crispy and the inside stays soft and pillowy.
Spread the Love: Spice things up with a Smoked Bacon Ranch or Spicy Chipotle Pepper Hidden Valley Sandwich Spread & Dip – it’s a simple addition and guaranteed to be tasty. For more recipes, visit Hidden Valley Ranch.com
Nibble Ready: Stock your fridge with quick, grab-and-go snacks and sides. Fresh vegetables are a tasty treat when dipped in Country Herb Ranch or Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Hidden Valley Sandwich Spread & Dip. Made with white beans and cream cheese, each tablespoon has one-third the calories of mayonnaise. Cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower or bell pepper strips also make great dippers.
Leftover Magic: Repurpose boring leftovers into delicious sandwiches to take on-the-go for school and office lunches. Simply add spread and bread. Yesterday’s roast chicken is today’s tasty Chicken Bacon Club.
Recipe: BLT Boats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Hidden Valley Smoked Bacon Ranch Sandwich Spread & Dip, divided
- 2 cups chopped lettuce, 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 cup seeded and chopped tomato
- 1 cup chopped, sliced turkey (about 6 ounces)
- 6 hot dog buns
- Crumbled crisp-cooked bacon, optional
Instructions
- In medium mixing bowl, gently stir together sandwich spread, chopped lettuce, tomato and turkey.
- Fill hot dog buns with mixture. If desired, garnish with bacon.
Number of servings (yield): 6
Recipe: Louisiana-style Muffaletta Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce loaf sweet Italian or French bread, cut inhalf lengthwise
- 1/2 cup Hidden Valley Oven-Roasted Garlic Parmesan Sandwich Spread & Dip
- 3/4 pound assorted Italian deli meats, such as ham, salami and mortadella
- 1/4 pound sliced provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced green olives
- Lettuce, if desired
Instructions
- Open loaf of bread and spread sandwich spread on both sides of cut surfaces.
- Top one side with layers of meat, cheese, olives and lettuce and then close with other side.
- Slice into 2-inch wide segments for serving.
Number of servings (yield): 10
Recipe: Veggie Lovers Sandwich with Roasted Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 sourdough sandwich roll, toasted
- 2 tablespoons Hidden Valley Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Sandwich Spread & Dip
- 8 slices of mixed grilled vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, yellow
- squash, red bell pepper, red onions and mushrooms
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Spread both sides of sandwich roll with garlic sandwich spread.
- Top with layers of grilled vegetables and a sprinkle of cheese, if desired.
Number of servings (yield): 2
Recipe: Fusion Reuben Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices rye bread
- 2 tablespoons Hidden Valley Spicy Chipotle Pepper Sandwich Spread & Dip
- 2 slices (2 ounces) corned beef or pastrami
- 1/4 cup drained sauerkraut
- 2 slices Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Spread one side of each slice of bread with sandwich spread.
- Top with meat, sauerkraut and cheese.
- Close sandwich and grill until cheese is melted.
Number of servings (yield): 2
Recipe: Chicken Bacon Club Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup Hidden Valley Smoked Bacon Ranch Sandwich Spread & Dip
- 10 slices buttermilk sandwich bread, toasted
- 5 leaves lettuce
- 1 large tomato, sliced
- 1 large avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Stir chicken and sandwich spread together. Spread 1/2 cup chicken salad on 5 slices of toast. Top with lettuce, tomato, avocado and remaining toast to create sandwiches.
Number of servings (yield): 5
