This page looks at popular sandwich spreads. These spreads will help you to create a wider variety of delicious sandwiches. Popular sandwich spreads include peanut butter, cream cheese, mustard, vegemite, hummus, ketchup, mayonnaise, etc. Less well-known sandwich spreads include anchovy paste, bacon jam and spam spread.
What is a sandwich spread?
A sandwich spread is a spreadable condiment used in sandwiches. Sandwich spreads add flavor to solid sandwich filings (i.e. sandwich meats). They also add a little more moisture in case the sandwich filling or bread is too dry for a person’s taste. In addition, some spreads are also used as the main filling in a sandwich (i.e. peanut butter for a peanut butter sandwich).
If you are looking for great sandwich ideas, you might like to visit our section on the Sandwich & Panini Cookbooks. Or visit Bread Dad’s section on the Best Sandwich Recipes on the internet.
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Types of Sandwich Spreads – Alphabetical Order
- Aioli – Aioli is a Mediterranean sauce originally made of garlic and olive oil. However, now there are a million flavors added to this basic spread.
- Almond Butter – Almond butter is a type of “nut butter” (similar to peanut butter and cashew butter). Updated.
- Anchovy Paste – This spreadable condiment is used in countries such as England and Italy.
- Apple Butter – Some people use apple butter as a sweet alternative to dairy butter, shortening, etc. It is also a way to add some apple flavor to a sandwich. Updated.
- Avocado – Mashed avocados makes a great sandwich spread.
- Bacon Jam – Bacon jam is a bacon-based relish. An interesting sandwich spread for bacon lovers!
- Barbecue Sauce – Barbecue sauce is often used as a condiment on meat-based sandwiches.
- Butter – Some sandwiches such as the traditional English cucumber sandwich use butter as an ingredient & condiment. Updated.
- Benedictine Spread – Benedictine spread is a sandwich spread made with cucumbers and cream cheese.
- Cashew Butter – Tired of boring old peanut butter? Some people use cashew butter as a delicious alternative. Updated.
- Cheese Spreads – Rather than adding a “slab” of cheese, some people like to try different cheese spreads on their sandwiches.
- Coconut Butter – Coconut butter can be used as a rich & creamy spread with sandwiches. For example, some people like to spread coconut butter on a slice of bread and then sprinkle fruit slices (i.e. banana) on top. Updated.
- Cream Cheese – Create a bagel sandwich with cream cheese and your favorite herbs (i.e. chives).
- Cranberry Sauce – Cranberry sauce is a great condiment for turkey sandwiches!!
- Dips – Some people like to use dips (i.e. French onion dip) as sandwich spreads. Add a few chips with the dip and you have a crunchy Superbowl sandwich. 🙂
- Guacamole – Guacamole is a wonderful addition to a sandwich. However, it turns brown quickly (oxidizes) so you should consider buying small packages or creating small batches in order to avoid wasting your delicious guac!
- Hoisin Sauce – A popular Chinese sauce. It is often made out of ingredients such as soybeans, chili peppers and garlic. However, there are many regional variations.
- Honey – Honey can be used as a sandwich spread (i.e. peanut butter & honey sandwiches).
- Horseradish Sauce – Horseradish is a spicy condiment that is good with roast beef sandwiches. Horseradish sauce is usually made from grated horseradish root and vinegar.
- Hot Sauce – Well-known hot sauces include Red Hot, Sriracha Sauce, Tabasco Sauce, etc.
- Hummus – Hummus is a spreadable condiment made from chickpeas. This condiment originated in the Middle East.
- Jams & Jellies – Jams & jellies can be made out of any kind of edible fruit or berry.
- Ketchup – Famous for use on hamburgers and hot dogs, ketchup is also used as a condiment on a wide range of sandwiches (i.e. fried egg sandwiches).
- Marmite – Marmite is a traditional British sandwich condiment made mainly from yeast extract and salt.
- Mayonnaise – Beyond regular mayonnaise, sandwich lovers also like to use flavored mayonnaises such as avocado mayonnaise, chipotle mayonnaise, wasabi mayonnaise, etc. Mayo is great on a BLT sandwich!
- Mustard – Famous on hot dogs but mustard is also used on a wide variety of sandwiches. Go beyond yellow mustard and explore different mustards such as sriracha mustard, dill mustard, sweet mustard, etc.
- Nutella – Nuttella is a spreadable condiment made with hazelnuts.
- Olive Oil – Many Italian-style sandwiches use olive oil as a condiment and spread.
- Peanut Butter – I think of peanut butter as a sandwich filing (i.e. a peanut butter sandwich). However, some nut lovers like to spread on a very thin layer of peanut butter in order to add a little bit of peanut flavor to many different types of sandwiches.
- Pecan Butter – Another popular “nut butter” (similar to peanut butter, cashew butter), etc. Updated.
- Hot Pepper Spread – Hot pepper spreads can add a little (or a lot of) fire to your sandwiches.
- Sweet Pepper Spread – For less heat, you can try a sweet pepper spread or relish.
- Pesto Sauce – Pesto sauce is wonderful on chicken sandwiches, mozzarella sandwiches, etc.
- Pistachio Butter – A “nut butter” made from pistachios. Updated.
- Pumpkin Seed Butter – Pumpkin seed butter is often used as a peanut butter substitute. Updated.
- Relish – Relish is product made of chopped up vegetables and herbs. It is often made with pickles or cucumbers.
- Russian Dressing – Russian dressing is an important ingredient for a number of different sandwiches such as the classic Reuben sandwich. Here is a great Reuben sandwich recipe.
- Salad Dressing – Some sandwich lovers like to add salad dressings (i.e. ranch dressing) to their sandwiches.
- Salsa – Salsa is a great condiment for wraps such as burritos.
- Spam Spread – Even Spam comes as a sandwich spread!
- Specialty Sauces – Specialty sauces (i.e. Worcestershire sauce) are a wonderful addition to many sandwiches.
- Soy Butter – Soy butter is a peanut butter substitute made from soybeans. Updated.
- Sunflower Seed Butter – Some people use sunflower seed butter as a substitute for peanut butter due to dietary issues. Updated.
- Tartar Sauce – Tartar sauce is often used on fried fish sandwiches.
- Truffle Spread – For all of you blue bloods, you can try a sandwich with a little truffle spread. Truffles have been historically seen as an upscale delicacy.
- Vegemite – Vegemite is an Australian spreadable yeast extract-based condiment similar to Marmite.
- Vinaigrette – Many Italian-style sandwiches also use vinaigrette as a condiment and spread.
- Walnut Butter – Another popular “nut butter” (similar to peanut butter, cashew butter), etc. Updated.
- Yogurt – Some people use yogurt spreads (i.e. yogurt with herbs) on their sandwiches as a low fat alternative to mayonnaise. Updated.
Reference Sources
- Wikipedia, Apple Butter
- Wikipedia, Nut Butter
- Wikipedia, Peanut Butter
- Wikipedia, Sandwich Spread