Here’s the most irresistible avocado sandwich: the Avocado Club! It’s filling and full of hearty flavor, the ideal easy lunch idea.

No matter how many new recipes we find, Alex and always need more easy lunch ideas to keep things fresh. So here’s an easy sandwich recipe that hit the spot with both of us: our Ultimate Avocado Sandwich, aka the Avocado Club! Contrary to what you might think, simply slapping an avocado on a sandwich is not as delicious as it sounds. Alex and I have had lots of sub-par veggie sandwiches that aren’t hearty or filling. So we created this Avocado Club: full of umami flavor and so satisfying that it surprised us both. The combination of smoky, rich, hearty, crunchy and savory is so irresistible…you’ll want to eat it all over again once it’s gone.

Ingredients in this avocado sandwich

What makes this avocado sandwich the ultimate sandwich? Well, often veggie sandwiches are just comprised of crunchy veggies and no savory elements, making them crunchy and unsatisfying. This Avocado Club combines the best hearty and rich flavors to make a killer sandwich. Here’s what you need:

Bread: A hearty, whole grain bread with lots of nuts and seeds is delicious, or do an artisan bread or sourdough loaf
Avocado: Of course, make sure it’s perfectly ripe before you attempt this sandwich.
Tomato & lettuce: Same deal: make sure it’s ripe and juicy. If it’s the off-season, hydroponic greenhouse grown tomatoes have the best flavor.
Mayonnaise: The mayo brings massive savory flavor and moisture to the sandwich: do not omit! Use vegan mayo as necessary.
Cheese: Use both cheddar and provolone for contrasting color and flavor.
Coconut bacon (or bacon): The best part! Coconut bacon is so smoky and savory, you’ll forget this is a vegetarian sandwich (see below). Or you can use regular bacon if this is part of your diet.

Put it all together, and you’ve got a sammie that’s so savory and delicious, you’ll want to keep eating it over and over. (At least we have!)

How to cut an avocado…the safe way!

Heard those stories of people cutting their hands when trying to cut an avocado? Don’t worry: there’s a safe way to cut an avocado and remove the pit. Once we learned this trick, we’ve used it countless times when making our favorite avocado recipes. Here’s what to know (or watch this video):

Cut in half: Using a large chef’s knife, cut lengthwise around the avocado. Twist the two halves to separate them.
Remove the pit: Place a towel in your hand and put the avocado on top. With a gentle but quick motion, tap the knife into the avocado pit, then twist it to remove it.
Safely pull the pit from the knife: Do not attempt to remove the avocado pit with your hand! Instead, pull the cutting board close to your body, then place the pit against the far edge of the cutting board and pull back to release it from the knife. (Watch the video for this part!)
Remove from the peel and slice: Use a large spoon to scoop out the avocado from the peel. Place the avocado with the cut side down, then cut it into slices.

The flavor maker: coconut bacon (or use standard)

Over here we eat vegetarian or plant-based most of the time, so we have a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to adding a savory bacon flavor. There are three different ways to make vegan bacon, and they would each work well in this sandwich! Here’s a little breakdown on the types of vegan bacon, with coconut bacon as our top choice here:

Coconut Bacon: It’s easy to make with large coconut flakes and tastes amazing. You can barely detect a coconut flavor: it’s savory and smoky, with a nice crunch. Go to this Coconut Bacon recipe.
Shiitake Bacon: You can also make bacon out of shiitake mushrooms! It’s incredibly delicious, but doesn’t have the crunchy texture contrast. But if you prefer, go to Shiitake Bacon recipe.
Tempeh Bacon: Another option is using tempeh, a pressed soy cake that’s an alternative to tofu with more texture. We use it in our Vegan BLT and it would be great here. Go to Tempeh Bacon recipe.

Variations on this avocado sandwich

If you’re not into the Club sandwich vibe for this avocado sandwich, there are lots of variations! Overall, we like to include hearty, savory ingredients to keep the sandwich satisfying. Here are a few other flavors that pair well with avocado:

Cream cheese or goat cheese: Substitute a creamy cheese instead of the cheese slices.
Hummus: Want a vegan avocado sandwich? Hummus brings in savory notes that can stand in for cheese. (Go to Hummus Sandwich.)
Avocado egg sandwich: Add a fried egg or chopped hard boiled egg to make an avocado egg sandwich. (Go to Pesto Breakfast Sandwich and add avocado.)

Make it a meal: a few great sides!

Honestly: we more often eat this avocado sandwich for dinner! The Avocado Club concept makes it seem fancy enough to write on a meal planning chalkboard, right? If you’re planning it for dinner, here are a few nice ideas for side dishes:

Salad: Try it with our easiest Arugula Salad or Cabbage Salad to make a fast and easy dinner.
Coleslaw: It would be great with Best Coleslaw.
Fries: Got more time? Try it with Carrot Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potato Wedges or Greek Fries.

This avocado sandwich recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, use vegan mayo or hummus and skip the cheese.