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    Home » Lunches » Sandwiches

    How to Prep Freezer Sandwiches for Easy Make-Ahead Meals

    Published: Oct 19, 2023 · Modified: Oct 19, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

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    Freezer sandwiches are a great, make-ahead item to add to your freezer cooking repertoire. The variety is endless as is the convenience when you’ve got delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner sandwiches all ready to go in the freezer. Check out this list of freezer sandwich recipes and ideas to make mealtimes easier.

    To really up your game, check out these Tips for Making the Best Sandwiches as well as the Best Breads for Sandwiches.

    turkey pesto sandwiches stacked on a wood cutting board. this …

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    I’ll never forget the day I realized I could make a batch of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches to stash in the freezer. It wasn’t complicated, I layered a slice of cheese between every other slice of bread in the loaf, divided by small patty papers, and froze the whole kit and caboodle.

    A few days later I pulled the bag from the freezer and loaded the sandwiches into my panini press – no thawing required! In minutes my entire family was enjoying tasty sandwiches and soup for a perfectly easy lunch time meal.

    I was hooked in that moment, realizing there were so many frozen sandwich combinations I could make, everything from easy freezer breakfast sandwiches to more elevated sandwich fillings like pulled pork or Italian beef. And the panini options were endless. 

    What a boon to busy mornings and a busy schedule at lunch. Make your favorite homemade sandwich and freeze it!

    Why Do This

    Freezer sandwiches can serve as quick meals at breakfast, lunch or dinner. English muffins or biscuits, filled with cheddar cheese and sausage patties can be reheated in the toaster oven for a great start to the day for the whole family.

    A frozen Peanut Butter & Jelly tossed in the lunch box in the morning will thaw to perfection by lunchtime. And a hot sub sandwich filled with roast beef and Swiss cheese is a great way to wind down a long day.

    You can say goodby to fast food when you’ve got individual sandwiches as well as sandwich kits stashed away in the freezer!

    close up of cut side of two sandwiches stacked with cheese pulls and pesto showing.

    Types of Freezer Sandwiches

    Over the years, I’ve experimented with many different kinds of freezer sandwiches. I’ve played with different fillings and different ways to reheat sandwiches until I’ve landed on some options that are sure-fire winners. Be sure to scroll down for our winning freezer sandwich recipes!

    Building a sandwich to freeze is akin to building a sandwich fresh: you want to keep the textures in mind and avoid sogginess wherever possible. In my experience, these sandwiches freeze best:

    • nut butter and jam/jelly – be sure to have nut butter on both sides of the bread, wrap each well in wax paper, parchment paper, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or sandwich baggies and store in the freezer.
    • cheese sandwiches – to eat cold or as a grilled cheese that you cook later. I often assemble these for the whole loaves of whole grain bread and then store them in the plastic bags the bread came in.
    • meat sandwiches with or without cheese – to serve cold or as a hot sandwich. In some instances, you can freeze it as a kit to assemble later or as individual sandwiches.

    Best Tips for Freezer Sandwiches

    Do you freeze the sandwich cooked or uncooked? Having done a lot of this last 25 years, I’ve found that the taste and texture of frozen food is almost always best if they are cooked after freezing and right before serving.

    This is true for sandwiches, with one caveat: cook the fillings first. Since a sandwich is a multi-layered affair and you would never assemble any sandwich (hot or cold) with uncooked fillings, you’re not going to do this with sandwiches you freeze, either.

    Whether you’re filling your sandwiches with cooked bacon, chicken, beef, or pork, be sure to cook the filling well. Cool it completely before assembling the sandwich to eliminate sogginess. Whether you serve the thawed sandwich cold or hot later, really depends on your preferences.

    cut side view of hot chicken sandwich with cheese and chunks of bacon showing alongside the chicken.

    Follow these tips for best results:

    1. Cook and chill the fillings, if needed. Chilling the filling helps you avoid freezer burn as well as sogginess.
    2. Avoid sauces or package them separately. 
    3. Add raw veggies and cooked eggs right before serving for best flavor and texture.
    4. Some thick spreads like pesto can be added, just tuck it in between the fillings instead of directly on the bread.
    5. Store individual sandwiches in foil or deli wrap and then in a gallon freezer bag, squeezing out as much air as possible.
    6. Store frozen sandwiches or sandwich kits in the freezer no longer than six weeks for best taste and texture.
    7. Thaw the sandwiches in the refrigerator if serving cold. Otherwise, they can usually be cooked from frozen.

    How to prep freezer sandwiches

    There are two main ways to prep your sandwiches for freezing:

    1. Assemble the sandwiches fully and wrap them individually. In this way, they will be all ready to go and packaged so that you can pull out however many that you need at a given time. This is great for make ahead breakfast sandwiches, PB&J, and sandwiches with dry fillings.
    2. Assemble a sandwich kit so that all the components of the sandwich are ready to go. Once thawed, you can assemble the recipe and serve. This works best for very saucy sandwiches, like the Meatball Sub or French Dip Sandwich.
    platter of french dip sandwiches with two cups of jus and waffle fries.

    FAQ

    Can you freeze sandwiches with mayo?

    Mayo doesn’t really like to be frozen. It tends to separate and make things soggy. Better to add your mayo when you serve the sandwich. Butter is a good alternative to mayonnaise in freezer sandwiches. You can also add herbs to the butter to add more flavor and pizazz. This means that it is best NOT to freeze tuna salad, chicken salad, or egg salad. 

    Can you freeze egg sandwiches?

    There are several kind of egg sandwiches: egg salad and a breakfast sandwich made with egg whites or a cooked egg mixture. Neither do well for freezing as the texture of the egg changes dramatically. Best to make egg salad sandwiches fresh. If you want to add eggs to your freezer-friendly breakfast sandwiches, I recommend adding freshly cooked eggs right before serving.

    Does it matter what kind of bread you use for freezing sandwiches?

    Any type of bread is acceptable for freezing sandwiches. Just remember the sogginess factor. A hearty roll is going to hold up better than sliced pieces of bread.

    Can you freeze sandwiches or wraps with dressing?

    Adding a salad dressing before you freeze the sandwich or wrap will increase the chances of a soggy sandwich. Better to save the dressing to add right before serving time.

    Freezer Sandwich Recipes

    Sandwiches to Make as Kits

    These recipes should be prepared as kits. Package the bread and fillings separately. Chill any hot foods completely before freezing in airtight containers and store in the freezer until the night before serving. Thaw and assemble according to the recipe.

    This is a reader-favorite way to do easy meal prep!

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    Meatball Subs
    Enjoy Meatball Subs any day of the week without heading to a sandwich shop or going to a lot of work. This easy recipe with a freezer kit option is just the ticket.
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    French Dip Sandwiches (Instant Pot & Slow Cooker)
    Looking for an easy meal? This French Dip can be prepped in the Instant Pot or the slow cooker, making for easy and delicious sandwiches that are very make-ahead.
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    Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
    Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches aren’t difficult to make. They taste amazing, are very freezer-friendly, and can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.
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    Sandwiches to Assemble Individually & Freeze

    These sandwiches do well assembled completely and then cooked or reheated before serving. You’ll have a delicious meal ready in minutes, no need to thaw! You can pop the frozen sandwiches in the air fryer, toaster oven, a hot pan, or even a slow cooker!

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    Come home to an easy supper: hot Ham and Swiss Sliders! Not only do they taste fabulous, but they’re also freezer-friendly.
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    Hot Chicken Sub with Bacon
    These Chicken Bacon Subs disappear lickety split at my house. They are the perfect hot chicken sandwich, so easy to assemble and very freezer-friendly.
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    Enjoy quick and easy lunches and suppers with these delicious, cheesy Italian Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches.
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    A Breakfast Sandwich is not only an easy meal on the go, but it’s also one that you can stash in the freezer for those super busy mornings. Check out how simple it is to make a batch for yourself!
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    Enjoy an easy supper with air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches, the perfect comfort food. These come together quickly and easily.
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    Garlicky pesto, juicy tomatoes, and gooey melted Jack cheese join forces in this grilled sammy that is packed with flavor.
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    Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwiches are super fun sandwiches to make. These Turkey Pesto Panini are uber-comforting, freezer-friendly, and great for potlucks! Grab the recipe and get pressing these gooey, cheesy, delicious, pesto-infused sandwiches.
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    Tri-Tip Sandwiches
    A classic from the central coast of California, tri-tip sandwiches are simple: toasted baguette, grilled tri-tip steak, and a spicy salsa. So good but so simple!
    Learn More

    This post was originally published on August 26, 2020. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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