Are sandwiches a staple at your house like they are mine? I’ve been making oven sandwiches for a long time. They are easy, but they are also perfect for the freezer. When I need a quick homemade meal, freezer sandwiches are great to have on hand.

Recently, I decided to quit making individual sandwiches {the process isn’t hard, but CAN be streamlined…} and instead make ONE BIG sandwich that serves the entire family! It takes the meal prep to about FIVE MINUTES!!  How awesome is that? This easy oven sandwich recipe is a family favorite and sure to be a keeper in your make ahead recipes for the freezer, too.

Ingredients for Oven Sandwiches for the Family

First, you’re going to build the foundation of your sandwich. Choose lunch meat, cheeses, and bread that your whole family loves. i like the lunch meat that is uncured as it has fewer preservatives or nitrites in it. Our favorites are:

• Uncured Black Forest Ham
• Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
• Hard Salami
• Organic Colby Jack Cheese
• 2 loaves Ciabatta Bread
• Herbed butter

Group your ingredients around a theme. For example a hot Italian sandwich recipe might include prosciutto, salami, and provolone. Chicken bacon ranch, Philly cheesesteak, and Ham and Cheese are other great options. Sandwich fillings to have on hand might include:

• Roast beef
• Roasted chicken breast
• Pulled pork
• Cheddar cheese
• Pepperoni
• Swiss cheese
• Pastrami
• Monterey Jack cheese
• Bacon
• French loaves
• Pepperjack cheese
• Banana peppers
• Hoagie rolls

Then, all you have to do is split the bread so it opens like a sandwich, butter with homemade herbed butter {I like to add 1 tsp Italian Seasoning to a softened stick of real butter}, add meat and cheese.

Bake a Family Oven Sandwich

If you want to bake it right away, loosely wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil, and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees on a cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes. The bread should be nice and crunchy and the meat and cheese bubbly and gooey.

Make Ahead Freezer Sandwich Recipes

I like to make two large sandwiches at once. I bake one for our meal and then save the other in the freezer. Add the herbed butter, meat, and cheese to the sandwich as directed above. Then, pack it tightly in aluminum foil. Place it in a 2-gallon freezer bag. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can. Freeze sandwiches for up to three months.

On serving day, bake the thawed sandwich in the oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. if you forgot to take it out of the freezer to thaw it, you can bake a frozen sandwich at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes. eat the baked sandwiches immediately.

If your bread gets soggy from being in the freezer and then baked, loosen the aluminum foil a little to let some of the moisture escape.

Add Condiments to a Freezer Sandwich

I build the foundation of my oven baked sandwiches with ingredients I know the whole family can get around. Once it is baked and cut into individual serving sizes, everyone gets to pick their own condiments. Some kids add ALL the toppings and others don’t add anything.

• Olives
• Bell peppers
• Jalapenos
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Pickles
• Italian dressing or other sauce

In the end, everyone should have a fully customized sandwich with toasty, crusty bread, melty cheese, and all the extras they desire.

Serve a Sandwich with Sides

I love adding vegetables as toppings on the freezer sandwich for quick meals. For a more robust meal, add in a few more veggies with side dishes. A side salad or simple fruit are more than sufficient but for additional flavor try:

• Coleslaw
• Greek salad
• Buttery Carrots
• Sweet potato fries
• Broccoli, feta, and sunflower seed salad

Make Ahead, Freezer Friendly Recipes:

I always recommend working smarter, not harder. That goes in the kitchen, too! Whenever possible, I double recipes and save the extra one in the freezer. If stored in airtight containers, freezer meals stay flavorful and perfect for busy nights. Give these a try:

• BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich
• Spinach Mozzeralla Meatloaf
• Chicken Oreganato
• Ground Beef Stroganoff
• Parmesan Garlic Chicken

Oven sandwiches and freezer sandwiches are a great staple for your family’s menu plan. They are quick and take just a few simple ingredients. I love that each person can add their own fillings and toppings to really indulge their taste buds. Have you tried baking sandwiches before? Let me know your favorite ingredients.