Anyone who has eaten a good torta knows that a sandwich is a kitchen skill. The roll has to hold up, the rich part needs something sharp beside it, and the heat from the plancha does a lot of the work. Most people still treat it as something you make without thinking.
This guide gives eight books from named authors and established publishers that take the job seriously, from a very funny chef’s book to a whole history of bread and filling. Each entry says which picks rest on a named review and which rest on the publisher’s details.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for in a cookbook, the Amazon listing, publisher and author information and published reviews, which we name where we use them.
Quick verdict: the best sandwich cookbook to start with
For most home cooks, start with Owen Han’s Stacked, which earned a warm Publishers Weekly review and includes bread, pickles and sauces. For a book you will also read for fun, choose Tyler Kord’s A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches. For the story behind the lunch, choose Barry W. Enderwick’s Sandwiches of History.
The other five cover a family all-rounder, banh mi, chef-level weekend projects, grilled cheese and a bigger book that shares its pages with soup and salad.
Five sandwich recipes books side by side
Five of the eight, one for each kind of cook. All eight are described in full below.
| Cookbook | Best for | Recipes | Length | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stacked, Owen HanBest overall
|
Big modern sandwiches | Not stated | 256 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches, Tyler KordMost personality
|
A chef with a sense of humor | Not stated | 192 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Sandwiches of History: The Cookbook, Barry W. EnderwickBest for history
|
Sandwich history you can eat | Nearly 100 | 160 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
The Book of Sandwiches, Jason SkrobarBest all-rounder
|
One book for the whole family | 85+ | 264 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
![The Banh Mi Handbook: Recipes for Crazy-Delicious Vietnamese Sandwiches [A Cookbook]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51L+90e-cEL._SL500_.jpg)
The Banh Mi Handbook, Andrea NguyenBest single sandwich
|
A single sandwich, in depth | 50 | 132 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Cover images from Amazon. Page counts and formats are from the Amazon listings for the editions linked. Recipe counts are from the publisher’s copy or from PW.
Our picks for the best sandwich cookbook, one by one
All eight were in stock, in print and new, and sold by Amazon when we checked. We have not cooked from these books; where we describe a strength, we say whose view it is.
1. Stacked, Owen Han – Bold Flavors, Warm Review
Owen Han built his following on TikTok, and this is his debut cookbook. Publishers Weekly, reviewing it in August 2024, called the options “inventive” and said “there’s nothing timid about the flavors.” Its verdict is clear: “It’s a must for anyone looking to take their sandwich game to the next level.”
PW mentions three bread recipes along with a selection of pickles, sauces and sides, which is what you want from a serious sandwich book. Great fillings need good bread and something sharp to cut through them. The title also promises tacos, wraps and burgers, so the book goes beyond two slices.
We could not open a publisher description, so we have no recipe count to give you, and this pick rests on the PW review and the Amazon listing. We lead with it because it is the strongest review of a sandwich-first book that we could read.
Why we like it
- Warm Publishers Weekly review
- Three bread recipes, per PW
- Pickles, sauces and sides, per PW
- Recent, from 2024
Key specifications
| Author | Owen Han |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Harvest |
| Year | 2024 |
| Pages | 256 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Big, modern sandwiches |
| Best for | Everyday sandwich fans |
Why we recommend it
If you want a current, confident book of big sandwiches you can make this week, start here. The bread and pickle recipes also mean you can build from scratch when you have the time.
Skip it if you want light, delicate sandwiches. PW says plainly that nothing here is timid.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong PW review
- Builds the whole sandwich
- Modern flavors
Cons
- Recipe count not confirmed by us
- Rich, by PW’s account
2. A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches, Tyler Kord – The Funny One
Tyler Kord is the chef-owner of the No. 7 restaurant group, according to his publisher, and this book sounds like nothing else on the page. The copy promises “sandwich philosophy,” along with recipes such as roast beef with crispy shallots and smoky French dressing, and a mayonnaise that tastes like pho.
Publisher copy quotes Keith Pandolfi of Serious Eats: “It’s the best sandwich cookbook I’ve ever come across.” It also quotes the Los Angeles Times calling it “an essay-ish cookbook that reads like a very funny blog.” We read those lines through the publisher, and we found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN.
Be aware of the tone. The publisher’s own list of topics includes getting drunk in the shower, so this is not the book for a child’s first sandwich lesson. We found no recipe total in the copy we read.
Why we like it
- Praised by Serious Eats, via the publisher
- Written by a working chef
- Unusual flavor combinations
- Fun to read as well as cook from
Key specifications
| Author | Tyler Kord |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Crown |
| Year | 2016 |
| Pages | 192 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Chef sandwiches with jokes |
| Best for | Readers who like a voice |
Why we recommend it
If you read cookbooks in bed and want to laugh while learning how a chef thinks about a sandwich, nothing else here comes close.
Skip it if you dislike rude humor or want straightforward recipes. The jokes are not optional.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Distinct voice
- Chef technique
- Strong praise, via the publisher
Cons
- Tone will not suit everyone
- Recipe count not found
3. Sandwiches of History: The Cookbook, Barry W. Enderwick – Old Recipes, Retried
Barry W. Enderwick shares classic sandwiches and his own creations on social media as @sandwichesofhistory, and he has been featured by Gastro Obscura, Today.com and The Guardian, according to his publisher. The book gives nearly 100 recipes, with “plus ups” to improve the old ones.
Publishers Weekly, reviewing it in October 2024, called it a “refreshingly well-researched ode to sandwich making through the ages” and “a usable cookbook with unusual but tested and recommended offerings.” PW also explains that recipes have been adjusted to be friendly to the modern kitchen and grocery store. We take “tested” as the reviewer’s word, not ours.
The chapters run through tea and snack sandwiches, club sandwiches, surprising sandwiches, vegetarian sandwiches, international sandwiches, open-faced and sauced sandwiches, and sweet sandwiches. Publisher copy also carries a Library Journal line on the nostalgia the book evokes.
Why we like it
- Nearly 100 recipes, per the publisher
- Warm Publishers Weekly review
- Vegetarian and international chapters
- Recipes adjusted for modern kitchens, per PW
Key specifications
| Author | Barry W. Enderwick |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Harvard Common Press |
| Year | 2024 |
| Pages | 160 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | Nearly 100 |
| Focus | Historic sandwiches, updated |
| Best for | History buffs |
Why we recommend it
If you like a story with your lunch, this is a great book to read and an unusually useful one to cook from.
Skip it if you only want modern, overstuffed sandwiches. Some of these are tea-party quiet, and some are simply strange.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong PW review
- Well researched, says PW
- Wide variety
Cons
- Some recipes are oddities
- Short book for its recipe count
4. The Book of Sandwiches, Jason Skrobar – Seven Kinds of Lunch
Jason Skrobar has spent over 25 years in food, starting as a restaurant dishwasher and line cook before about 15 years as a food stylist and recipe developer, according to his publisher. The book offers more than 85 recipes in seven sections: classics, breakfast, chic, open-faced, burgers, messy ones he calls Hot Hot Mess, and sweet.
Publisher copy carries warm words, including one from Pati Jinich, the chef and PBS host: “After reading this book, your sandwiches will absolutely taste better.” The Globe and Mail called it “full of hand-held meals you’ll start to crave just by flipping through the pages.” We read both through the publisher.
We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN. Its appeal is range: a grilled cheese, an egg breakfast, a fish burger and an ice cream sandwich all fit the plan, so everybody at the table can find something.
Why we like it
- More than 85 recipes, per the publisher
- Seven sections, from classics to sweet
- Praised by Pati Jinich, via the publisher
- Author worked in restaurants and food styling
Key specifications
| Author | Jason Skrobar |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Appetite by Random House |
| Year | 2024 |
| Pages | 264 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 85+ |
| Focus | Sandwiches of all kinds |
| Best for | Family cooks |
Why we recommend it
If you want one sandwich book for a whole household, with something for breakfast, dinner and dessert, this is the most balanced choice here.
Skip it if you want a strong single point of view. It aims to please everyone.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wide range
- Experienced recipe developer
- Strong blurbs
Cons
- No PW review at this ISBN
- Bread is not the main subject
5. The Banh Mi Handbook, Andrea Nguyen – One Great Sandwich, Explained
Andrea Nguyen is an author and teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and her publisher gives this book 50 recipes for one sandwich and everything that goes in it. Named fillings include crispy drunken chicken, shrimp in caramel sauce and grilled lemongrass pork, along with homemade condiments and pickled vegetables.
Publishers Weekly, in May 2014, called it “a bite-sized exploration of banh mi” with nine chapters covering bread, sauces and fillings. Publisher copy also quotes the Wall Street Journal calling it “a master course in banh mi construction.” We read that second line through the publisher.
A Mexican kitchen will feel at home here. A torta and a banh mi both turn on a crusty roll, something rich and something sharp, and those same pickles would not be out of place in either one.
Why we like it
- 50 recipes, per PW and the publisher
- Includes bread, sauces and fillings, per PW
- Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
- Pickled vegetables included
Key specifications
| Author | Andrea Nguyen |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ten Speed Press |
| Year | 2014 |
| Pages | 132 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 50 |
| Focus | Vietnamese banh mi |
| Best for | Banh mi lovers |
Why we recommend it
If this is your favorite sandwich, buy it. Nguyen’s approach of breaking a banh mi into its parts also teaches you a lot about sandwiches generally.
Skip it if you want variety across cuisines. It covers one sandwich in depth.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep on one sandwich
- Reviewed by PW
- Trusted author
Cons
- Single subject
- Short book
6. Sandwiches!, Joris Bijdendijk and Samuel Levie – One Sandwich a Week
Joris Bijdendijk is executive chef of Amsterdam’s Michelin-starred restaurants RIJKS and Wils, according to the publisher, and Samuel Levie is a chef, sausage maker and food writer. Together they offer 52 globally inspired sandwich recipes, one for each week of the year.
The range covers toasted sandwiches, open-faced ones, buns, rolls and wraps. What makes it stand out is the support cast: homemade loaves, baguettes, brioche, pita and buns, plus condiments such as chili oil, harissa, hot honey, sambal and pickles.
It is new, from May 2026 on the listing. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN, and the quoted praise in the copy is from people we could not weigh independently, so this rests on the publisher’s and authors’ details.
Why we like it
- 52 recipes, per the publisher
- Homemade breads and condiments
- Written with a chef from Michelin-starred kitchens
- Sweet sandwiches included
Key specifications
| Author | Joris Bijdendijk, Samuel Levie |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Harvard Common Press |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 160 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 52 |
| Focus | Global sandwiches, breads, condiments |
| Best for | Weekend projects |
Why we recommend it
If you enjoy a weekend kitchen project and want to make the bread and sauces too, this should suit you well.
Skip it if you want quick weekday lunches. Building it all from scratch takes time.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Chef authors
- Breads and sauces included
- Recent
Cons
- New, with little review history
- Only 52 recipes
7. Grilled Cheese Kitchen, Heidi Gibson and Nate Pollak – Seven-Time Champions
Heidi Gibson and Nate Pollak own the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco, and the publisher credits Gibson as a winner of seven grilled cheese championships. That is a very specific credential, and it suits a very specific book.
The publisher lists 39 sandwich recipes and 40 more for side dishes and accompaniments, such as soups, mac and cheese, spicy pickles and spreads. It also explains how to select cheese and bread and how to manage grilling temperature, and that is where most home grilled cheese goes wrong.
We found no quoted praise and no Publishers Weekly review for this title, so it rests on the publisher’s and authors’ details. Pair it with a cast iron grill press if you want a heavier, crisper crust.
Why we like it
- 39 sandwiches and 40 sides, per the publisher
- Advice on bread, cheese and heat
- Authors run a grilled cheese restaurant
- Glossary included
Key specifications
| Author | Heidi Gibson, Nate Pollak |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Chronicle Books |
| Year | 2016 |
| Pages | 176 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 39 sandwiches, 40 extras |
| Focus | Grilled cheese and sides |
| Best for | Comfort food fans |
Why we recommend it
If grilled cheese is what you actually make for lunch, this will teach you more about it than a general book can.
Skip it if you rarely eat cheese. Nearly everything here depends on it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Focused expertise
- Technique on heat and cheese
- Useful sides
Cons
- Single subject
- No named review in our sources
8. Matty Matheson: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, Matty Matheson – A Big Chef Book, One-Third Sandwiches
Matty Matheson is a Canadian restaurateur, television personality and an actor and executive producer on FX’s The Bear, according to his publisher. This book gives 126 recipes split across what the publisher calls cooking’s iconic trinity of soups, salads and sandwiches.
The sample dishes include a Giant Meatball Soup, Griddled Salami Panzanella Salad and a Cubano. The listing labels it a New York Times bestseller. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN, and we read only a bookseller’s staff note, which we do not quote.
It belongs on this list with a clear warning: sandwiches are one of three subjects, and we did not find how many of the 126 they account for. Buy it for the soup and sandwich lunch, not as a sandwich specialist.
Why we like it
- 126 recipes, per the publisher
- Soups and salads alongside
- From a well-known chef
- Largest book here
Key specifications
| Author | Matty Matheson |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ten Speed Press |
| Year | 2024 |
| Pages | 368 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 126 across three subjects |
| Focus | Soups, salads and sandwiches |
| Best for | Fans of the author |
Why we recommend it
If you want a big, lively chef book with a full lunch menu in it, and you enjoy Matheson on screen, this is good value for the shelf space.
Skip it if you only want sandwiches. Any other book here gives you more of them per page.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Soup, salad and sandwich together
- Big personality
- Large recipe count
Cons
- Sandwiches are only part of it
- No named review in our sources
How to choose a sandwich recipes book
Five questions will narrow this list quickly.
- Do you want to bake your own bread? Stacked and Sandwiches! both include bread. If that side interests you, our bread baking book guide goes further.
- Hot or cold? Pressed and griddled sandwiches need steady heat and some weight. Our panini grill guide covers the machine, and a grill press does a similar job in a skillet.
- How much time do you have? Weekend projects need homemade condiments. The Book of Sandwiches has a wider spread of simpler ideas in its classics and breakfast sections.
- Do you want one subject or many? Nguyen and Gibson go deep on one sandwich each. Skrobar and Enderwick go wide.
- Do you care about the writing? Kord and Enderwick are the two you might read straight through. That counts for a lot if a cookbook has to earn its place on a small shelf.
How we chose these sandwich books
We searched Amazon’s book listings first and kept print editions from named authors at established publishers, plain in stock with a new lead offer. We checked each title against our other book pages so nothing is repeated, and we avoided anonymous and self-published titles. Author, year, format and page count come from the Amazon listing. Recipe counts and descriptions come from the publisher’s copy, as carried by booksellers, unless we credit someone else.
Here is what stands behind each pick. Stacked, Sandwiches of History and The Banh Mi Handbook have Publishers Weekly reviews that we read ourselves. A Super Upsetting Cookbook and The Book of Sandwiches have praise that we read only as quoted by the publisher. Sandwiches!, Grilled Cheese Kitchen and the Matheson book rest on the publisher’s and authors’ details, and we found no Publishers Weekly review at those ISBNs, which does not mean none exists anywhere.
We left out one in-stock title, Idiot Sandwich, because its listing credits a pseudonym as lead author and we could not read enough about it to judge it.
Sandwich cookbook questions, answered
What is the best sandwich recipes book for families?
The Book of Sandwiches, with sections for breakfast, burgers and sweet sandwiches, is the most flexible.
Which book is best for the funniest read?
A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches. The Los Angeles Times line quoted by the publisher compares it to a very funny blog.
Do any of these cover tortas?
None that we could confirm, and we did not find a torta chapter in the publisher copy we read. The balance they teach still applies, so the banh mi book is a good place to start.
Do I need a panini press to use these?
No. A heavy skillet and something to press with will handle most griddled sandwiches. Our grill press guide can help if you want that weight.
Which book has the most sandwich recipes?
Sandwiches of History, with nearly 100, and The Book of Sandwiches, with more than 85. Stacked may compete, but we could not confirm its total.
Which sandwich cookbook should you buy first?
Buy Stacked if you want a confident modern book. Choose Kord for laughs, Enderwick for history, Skrobar for the family and Nguyen for one great sandwich. If you want the machine that goes with it, go to our best panini grill guide.
And if you would rather let someone else make lunch, see the menu or call to order.