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From beach picnics to hot August nights when you don't feel like cooking, summer sandwiches come to the rescue. And while you can grab old standbys like PB&J or a club sandwich, you don't have to! The great thing about sandwiches is just how creative you can get when you make them. From crisp summer veggies to savory seafood, these are the summer sandwiches you'll love to make to beat the heat.

Sure, a lobster roll is a summer classic, but don't count out shrimp. Made with a similar formula to the lobster roll, these shrimp roll sammies are so tasty for summer. Makes 4 sandwiches.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound bay shrimp (cooked with tails off)
• 1 celery rib, minced
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 bunch chopped, fresh chives
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 hotdog buns, toasted (or small brioche buns, split)
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

1. In a skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter on medium high. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Drain the shrimp, allow it to cool, and put it in a large bowl.
2. Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, chives, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
3. Brush the toasted buns with the melted butter. Fill with the shrimp mixture.

This sandwich is a long-time favorite of my family. While it's a warm sandwich, it's fast and easy to put together. This makes 4 sandwiches.

Ingredients

• ¼ unsalted butter, melted
• 1 small garlic clove, through a press
• ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup Boursin garlic & herb cheese, softened
• 1 pound lump crab meat
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and the garlic.
3. Brush the cut side of the baguettes with butter and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
4. In a bowl, combine the lump crab meat with the soft cream cheese and the Boursin cheese.
5. Spoon onto the prepared baguettes.
6. Top each with the cheddar cheese.
7. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Bacon and summer tomatoes are so good together — especially when you use garden-fresh tomatoes. But add in some crisp garden lettuce and a few slices of creamy avocado, and a classic goes next level. This makes one sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 slices of your favorite bread, toasted
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 4 slices fresh tomato
• 2 pieces of crisp lettuce
• 4 slices bacon, cooked to crispy
• Half an avocado, sliced

Instructions

1. Brush the toasted bread with the melted butter and spread with the mayonnaise.
2. Add the tomato, lettuce, bacon, and avocado slices and top with the other piece of bread.

I love a pita pocket stuffed with whatever fresh vegetables I have at the moment, but adding humus makes it even better. There's really not so much a recipe for this one as an idea. You can make your own hummus or buy your favorite premade hummus at the grocery store, slice any veggies you want (I'm a fan of radish, cucumber, kale, tomatoes, and pickled red onions), stuff it all in a pita, and you're off to the races. 

Focaccia is such a flavorful bread, and it's perfect for making a big, giant sandwich that you cut into smaller sandwiches. You can usually get 4-6 sandwiches from a loaf of focaccia. To make it, warm up the focaccia in the oven according to package directions and then split it horizontally. Spread with melted garlic butter, a flavored cream cheese, or even Italian salad dressing. Then, layer on your favorite Italian-style meats like prosciutto, ham, or salame, add some fresh basil leaves and sliced tomatoes, and finish with slices of fresh mozzarella. You can even add olives, pickled onions, pepperoncini, or other veggies that sound delicious to you. Put the top back on the focaccia and cut it into sandwich-sized pieces.

Related: What to Eat When It's Too Hot to Cook: 15+ Cool Ideas

I'm a huge fan of a cobb salad, and you can use the flavors and ingredients on a sandwich, too. This makes one chicken cobb sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 pieces bread of your choice, toasted
• 1 tablespoon blue cheese salad dressing
• 1 tablespoon honey mustard salad dressing
• 1 4-ounce piece grilled chicken breast
• ¼ cup chopped tomatoes
• ¼ cup chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 soft-boiled egg, peeled and chopped
• 2 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
• Half an avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
• ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese

Instructions

1. Spread one piece of bread with the blue cheese dressing and one piece with the honey mustard.
2. Top one piece of the bread with the chicken breast.
3. Top with the lettuce, tomatoes, crumbled bacon, chopped eggs, crumbled blue cheese, and chopped avocado.
4. Top with the second piece of bread.

Ciabatta bread makes for a hearty sandwich, and you'll love this classic combo of salmon and dill. Add capers for a little extra crunch and a salty bite. This makes 1 sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon capers, chopped (or to taste)
• 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh dill
• 1 ciabatta roll, split in half lengthwise
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1-2 lettuce leaves

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, dill, and capers.
2. Spread on the ciabatta rolls.
3. Top one half of the ciabatta with the salmon, lettuce, and tomato.
4. Add the second half of the ciabatta.

Caprese sandwiches are packed with fresh flavor, but super low effort. You can serve them cold or toss them on the grill for a warm sammie. This makes 1 sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 slices sourdough bread
• 2 tablespoons basil pesto
• 2 slices mozzarella cheese
• 2 slices tomato
• 5-10 fresh basil leaves

Instructions

1. Spread both pieces of bread with the pesto.
2. Top one piece of bread with the tomato, mozzarella, and basil leaves.
3. Top with the second piece of bread.
4. Grill the sandwich, if desired, until the cheese is melty and the bread is toasted.

Vietnamese-inspired bahn mi sandwiches are a thing of beauty. And when you make 'em with tender, juicy pork belly? Next level. I really like this from recipetineats, and I'm betting you'll love it, too. 

One of the things I love about making sandwiches (aside from how easy they are) is what a creative endeavor it is. I've spent most of my life trying to make the perfect sandwich, and I've discovered there isn't one perfect sammie because, like my children, they're each special in their own way. So this summer, when the heat hits, make a sandwich for a simple summer supper that'll taste like a dream.