17 Popular Sandwiches That Really Are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

What’s On It: What do a hoagie roll, pieces of beef steak or ribeye, and melted cheese have in common? They're the main ingredients in the Philly Cheesesteak, of course. It's served hot (after all, no one wants a cold Philly cheesesteak!). Some are served with vegetables like bell peppers and onions.

Alleged Origin: Unlike many modern sandwiches, the Philly Cheesesteak has pretty distinct origins. The Olivieri brothers (Pat and Harry) started serving chopped steak on an Italian roll. According to Pat's great nephew, Frank, it started at a hot dog stand. One day, Pat grew sick of hot dogs, asked his son to pick up some meat scraps, and placed them on a hot dog bun. Someone saw this and wanted one too. After that, the Philly Cheesesteak only grew in popularity and eventually spread across the city (and the world.)

How Does It Stack Up: Philly Cheesesteaks are an American institution. And they still love it in Philadelphia, where the original can still be purchased at Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks. A Philly Cheesesteak checks all the right boxes for a sandwich. It's hot. It's fresh. It has delicious meat, gooey cheese, and a variety of vegetables. Everything about it offers a blend of wonderful flavors guaranteed to satisfy anyone’s appetite.

Best At Home Recipe: For an unbeatable Philly Cheesesteak try this classic recipe from All Recipes.

What’s On It: A grilled cheese sandwich is two pieces of bread cooked using butter or mayo with melted cheese inside. Some variations include tomato, lunch meat, pickles, or other veggies. It's served hot. 

Alleged Origin: Distantly related to the French croque monsieur, grilled cheese sandwiches are a decidedly American take on melting cheese between two pieces of bread. The modern grilled cheese came about in the 1920s after sliced bread and processed cheese both became readily accessible. Navy cooks made grilled cheese sandwiches, and recipes were issued in government cookbooks. In the next few decades, restaurants began serving them. When individually wrapped sliced cheese came available in 1965, people could buy and make their own grilled cheese at home. The rest is culinary history.

How Does It Stack Up: The grilled cheese sandwich is not only instantly recognizable, but it's incredibly popular (especially among Americans). Available at many restaurant chains like Five Guys, Sonic, Culver's, and In-and-Out Burger, it's pretty easy to get a tasty grilled cheese-in an array of different styles. Grilled cheese sandwiches take a bit longer to make, but are very customizable and can be paired with many different types of food, like soup or salad.

Best At Home Recipe: For a grilled, gooey treat, try this recipe for a “Perfect Grilled Cheese” from Food Network.

What’s On It: BLT is short for “bacon, lettuce, and tomato.” It's a hot sandwich with simple ingredients. It has bacon, some type of lettuce (iceberg, romaine, red, arugula), and a tomato on toast, occasionally served with mayonnaise. 

Alleged Origin: The exact origins of the BLT are unclear, but some believe it originated as a club sandwich with bacon. The first recipes for BLTs go back to 1903. In the 1950s, diners started offering them and referring to the sandwich as a “BLT” to save time when preparing orders. 

How Does It Stack Up: BLTs are a simple, yet satisfying treat. The flavors contrast with one another to create something both crunchy and tasty. A uniquely American creation, many restaurant chains (like Jersey Mike's and Bob Evans) offer them to their customers.

Best At Home Recipe: For a great home version of the BLT, try this juicy version from The New York Times. 

What’s On It: When one thinks of a roast beef sandwich, they might think it's just roast beef and a slice of cheese. But some have horseradish, aioli, mayo, and other condiments. They can be served hot or cold. 

Alleged Origin: Some say the roast beef sandwich as we know it came about in Massachusetts in 1951. The story involves a leftover roast beef from a canceled wedding. A restaurant named Kelly's decided to cut it thin and sell it on rolls, effectively creating the modern roast beef sandwich. While this is a fantastic fable, the true origins of the roast beef sandwich are clouded by history. But the sandwich dates back at least to the 19th century, when John Keats (who apparently loved them) mentioned it in his poetry. 

How Does It Stack Up: Roast beef sandwiches are popular around the world for their taste and convenience. They're still available at Kelly's in Massachusetts and all over the world in restaurants and fast food chains like Arby's. They're also versatile and can be eaten as lunch, dinner, during picnics, or even as a snack. That's not even mentioning the sheer amount of toppings that can be used to supplement the roast beef and cheese.

Best At Home Recipe: Making a roast beef sandwich is pretty simple most of the time. But for a culinary treat, try this recipe for a New England-style roast beef sandwich.

What’s On It: Reuben sandwiches are a delightful mix of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. Many of them also have Russian or Thousand Island dressing. It's served grilled, usually on rye bread.

Alleged Origin: The fabled history of the Reuben sandwich begins with Arnold Reuben, who owned a deli on 58th street. According to his daughter, an actress once asked Reuben to make her a massive sandwich. Not one to dismiss the whims of an actress, Reuben mixed ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and dressing together. Later, he started offering it at his deli, and it became a hit from their as "Reuben's special sandwich." But wait; there's another possible history. In this one, Bernard Schimmel (a chef) was playing poker with some friends, including a man named Reuben Kulafofsky. One day, Reuben requested a sandwich featuring corned beef and sauerkraut. Schimmel made it for him, but decided to grill it. This sandwich became the precursor to the modern Reuben.  

How Does It Stack Up: Reuben sandwiches are popular in the US, especially in New York delicatessens. Katz's deli has a famous Reuben sandwich, as do many other delis across the US. The combination of flavors and its grilled nature make the Reuben a sandwich worth trying at least once. Everything from the meat to the bread choice is designed to make a delicious meal, and the Reuben should not be overlooked in favor of other grilled sandwiches. 

Best At Home Recipe: For a faithful take on this deli classic, try Boar’s Head’s classic Reuben recipe.

What’s On It: A typical ham sandwich has sliced bread, sliced cooked ham, and a slice of cheese. As long as it's cooked, a ham sandwich can contain any type of ham (smoked, BBQ, etc.). They can be served hot, cold, grilled, or baked. 

Alleged Origin: The ham sandwich has inauspicious yet mysterious origins. The first known recipe for one was published in Elizabeth Leslie's Directions for Cookery in 1840. But there are also some accounts of the humble ham sandwich being brought to England by an Irish immigrant named Patrick Connolly. 

How Does It Stack Up: The ham sandwich is an extremely popular lunch item in the United States. After all, there's nothing easier than making one and taking it for lunch or a snack. It's ideal for its taste, convenience, and how easy it is to make. It's a regular treat at famous restaurant chains like McAlister's Deli, and one would have no trouble finding a gourmet ham sandwich at most local restaurants in their area (in the US, anyway).

Best At Home Recipe: While it's easy enough to throw some ham and cheese in between two slices of bread, try this recipe for a gourmet ham and cheese sandwich instead.