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The Best Sandwiches at Panera Bread

By Lana Kisner | December 18, 2023

Sandwiches are among the most popular menu items at Panera, and for good reason. They’re made with fresh ingredients, savory meats, and of course, their hearty breads. The Panera sandwich menu includes hot and cold sandwiches, which are served with a complimentary side of chips, an apple, or a French baguette. Some are also available in the Value Duet deal and can be paired with one of their soups or salads. Here are all the sandwiches at Panera Bread ranked from good to best.  

14. Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Although many sandwiches at Panera are loaded with delicious ingredients, they also know how to keep it simple. Their Classic Grilled Cheese sandwich is only made with two ingredients – melted American cheese on white miche bread. Pair it with creamy tomato soup as part of the Value Duet combo, and you’ll have the ultimate comfort food meal.

13. Deli Turkey Sandwich

You can’t go wrong with a traditional deli sandwich, and Panera definitely knows how to make them. Their Deli Turkey sandwich is made with oven-roasted turkey, tomatoes, red onions, and mixed greens. Everything is topped with mustard and seasoned with salt and pepper before being served on country rustic sourdough bread. Want more with your sandwich? You can add bacon and avocado for an upcharge.

12. Tuna Salad Sandwich

Of course, no sandwich menu is complete without the classic tuna salad. Panera serves their tuna salad recipe with mixed greens, tomatoes, and red onions. But what takes it to the next level is actually the bread. They use black pepper focaccia bread for this sandwich, which is fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside with a lot of added flavors. 

11. Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT

This sandwich is perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner meal. It combines savory roasted turkey and applewood-smoked bacon. These are topped with tomatoes, mixed greens, fresh avocado and mayo and served on their country rustic sourdough bread. This is one of two sandwiches that can be ordered as part of the Premium Family Feast combo with soup, salad, and sides to feed 4-6 people.

10. Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich

This is one of my favorite sandwiches at Panera to order on a hot summer day. It comes loaded with fresh-tasting ingredients that perfectly complement each other. It starts with the chicken salad base, which includes grilled chicken, red grapes, celery, toasted almonds, and salad dressing. These are topped with mixed greens and sliced tomatoes and served on their country rustic sourdough bread. I’d recommend pairing this sandwich with the chicken & wild rice soup as part of their Value Duet combo deal. 

9. Deli Ham Sandwich

This is one of the newer additions to the Panera sandwich menu. It’s served on country rustic sourdough bread, which is layered with black forest ham, mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, and mustard. If you love a classic deli ham sandwich, I’d recommend Panera’s version. You can also add bacon and white cheddar cheese for extra flavor.

8. Toasted Frontega Chicken

This delicious sandwich starts with smoked pulled chicken and creamy chipotle sauce. These are paired with red onions, sliced tomatoes, melted mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Everything is seasoned with salt and pepper and served on my favorite sandwich bread at Panera – the black pepper focaccia.

7. Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich

This Panera sandwich has everything you could want in a hearty and flavorful sandwich. It starts with slices of oven-roasted turkey breast and savory applewood-smoked bacon. These are paired with smoked Gouda cheese, mixed greens, and tomatoes and finished with their signature sauce. The bread used here is tomato basil, which complements all ingredients and brings in another level of flavor depth. 

6. The Spicy Take Chicken Sandwich

This one brings some heat to Panera’s signature chicken sandwiches. If you love spicy food, this sandwich may be right up your alley. It starts with seared chicken breast, which is topped with spicy Buffalo sauce, pickle chips, and garlic aioli. Everything is served on a fluffy brioche bun, which is the perfect vessel to hold all these hearty ingredients. There are multiple flavors and textures that come through in every bite of this sandwich. The spiciness is prominent but not too overwhelming. You may still want to have a cold drink in hand, just in case!

5. Mediterranean Veggie

This vegetarian-friendly sandwich from Panera is stacked high with delicious Mediterranean flavors. It features sweet peppadew peppers, feta cheese, cucumbers, mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, and hummus. Everything is served on tomato basil bread, which just adds more flavor to the mix. You can customize it by adding avocado and Gouda cheese for an upcharge. 

4. Toasted Steak & White Cheddar

While you cannot get a classic steak dinner at Panera, their Toasted Steak & White Cheddar sandwich is a pretty good compromise. It’s made with strips of sirloin steak that are served on artisan ciabatta bread. The sandwich is topped with pickled red onions and white cheddar cheese and finished with a creamy horseradish sauce.

3. Smokehouse BBQ Chicken Sandwich

With a zesty BBQ sauce, smoked chicken, and two types of onions, this sandwich makes you feel like you’re eating an authentic Southern barbecue. It’s made with smoked, pulled chicken drenched in an apple cider vinegar BBQ sauce. These are topped with aged white cheddar cheese, red onions, and frizzled onions, and everything is served on classic white miche bread.

2. Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

This is another sandwich from Panera that comes with their smoked, pulled chicken. Smoked Gouda and creamy chipotle sauce are also added, and these are topped with fresh avocado, cilantro, and sweet peppadew peppers. Everything is served on black pepper focaccia, which adds a perfect hint of spice to the mix of flavors.

1. The Signature Take Chicken Sandwich

The Signature Take Chicken is my favorite sandwich at Panera, hands down. It comes with flavorful ingredients that complement each other perfectly. It starts with a seasoned and seared chicken breast patty. This is topped with mixed greens, parmesan crisps, and garlic aioli, and everything is served on their fluffy brioche roll. It may sound like a simple sandwich, but it hits the mark. I usually order mine as is but if you want to customize your sandwich, you can add bacon and avocado for an upcharge.

About the Author

Lana Kisner is a writer on the Shopfood.com team with more than 15 years of experience in the food service industry. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, listening to live music, and hiking with her dog.