13 Peanut Butter Sandwich Ideas That Are Far From Traditional
Peanut butter is an American pantry staple. Loved by children and adults, the creamy nut butter can be eaten by the spoonful straight out of the jar, used as an ingredient in recipes spanning salad dressings to holiday pies, and of course, spread across a slice of bread for a hearty and satisfying sandwich.
It's no wonder that half of the peanuts consumed in the United States every year are in the form of peanut butter. Hunger-satisfying, delicious, and loaded with nutrients, peanut butter as we know it was introduced to America at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 and quickly gained popularity as it fed the military in both world wars. In fact, the U.S. army is credited with popularizing the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich during World War II. The standard peanut butter and jelly sandwich hasn't changed much over the years, but there are many ways to upgrade an average PB&J into something special – and the same is true for a plain old peanut butter sandwich.
I have been a food blogger and recipe creator for more than a decade. I'm pulling from that experience as well as some top food websites to bring you this collection of peanut butter sandwich ideas that go beyond your basic PB&J.
Fluffernutter
A New England sandwich staple, the fluffernutter is a glorious combination of peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff slathered between two slices of white bread. Sticky, sweet, and delightfully gooey, the fluffernutter is commonly made with creamy peanut butter, but you can always change it up and go with crunchy if you prefer some crunch. Fluffernutter fans suggest starting with the peanut butter first and then adding a generous scoop of Marshmallow Fluff (the more you start with, the easier it is to spread).
For the uninitiated, Marshmallow Fluff is a light and fluffy spreadable marshmallow creme that was created more than a century ago. The product was originally developed in 1917, but after World War II, its creator, Archibald Query from Massachusetts, sold the recipe to candy-making entrepreneurs H. Allen Durkee and Fred L. Mower for the bargain price of $500. Today the Marshmallo Fluff is still manufactured by Durkee-Mower. The light, fluffy spread is made with four ingredients (corn syrup, sugar, egg whites, and artificial flavoring) and is a perfect pairing with hearty peanut butter.
Peanut butter and honey
You can't go wrong with peanut butter and honey. This classic flavor combo works with smooth or crunchy peanut butter and is delicious on any type of bread (but when in doubt, classic white or whole wheat can't be beaten).
To add extra nutrients to your sandwich, choose a local raw honey. Raw honey hasn't been pasteurized, which allows it to keep most of its nutrients. Raw honey can have more than four times the antioxidants of processed honey, and it has some healing properties — it can even be used to treat coughs. Never feed honey (raw or processed) to an infant, though — it can be unsafe for anyone under the age of a year old.
You don't need to add anything special to a peanut butter and honey sandwich to make it shine, but if you'd like a little variety, try adding sunflower or chia seeds, coarse sea salt, or crumbled pretzels. A sprinkle of cinnamon never hurts, either.
Peanut butter and trail mix or granola
Add your favorite trail mix to your next peanut butter sandwich for extra crunch, protein, and fiber. You may have noticed that most trail mix recipes rely heavily on peanuts, which works out perfectly for a sandwich based on, well, peanut butter. Common trail mix ingredients include chocolate, pretzels, raisins, and seeds, and you can often choose from sweet, savory, or a sweet-and-savory combo flavor.
If you don't have a particular trail mix in mind, it's super simple to whip up your own recipe. Start with your favorite granola (these days, you can even find protein granola if you're looking for a protein boost). Add in some seeds, such as pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds. You can also add dried fruit — chopped dried apricots or cherries come to mind. Most trail mixes contain nuts, but you may want to bypass them if you're making this trail mix just for your peanut butter sandwich. If you have a sweet tooth, you can also sprinkle in some chocolate chips.
Peanut butter and caramel apple
Caramel apples are a real treat, but you don't have to suffer the mess of an actual caramel apple to get your fix. A caramel apple sandwich will satisfy your craving and fill your belly. Start with some sourdough bread. Add a generous amount of creamy peanut butter to both slices of bread. Next, add some thinly sliced green apples (if you don't have green apples, red will do, but they won't be as tart). Drizzle your favorite caramel over the top, and finish off the sandwich with a sprinkling of coarse sea salt. If you want to make it extra rich, toast the bread and butter the bread first.
To keep it simple, you can use store-bought caramel. However, if you have the time, you can make your own caramel at home (just take care not to burn it). Homemade caramel is delicious and can be used in other recipes, too. Try drizzling leftover caramel (if you have any!) over an ice cream sundae or salty, buttered popcorn.
Peanut butter, bananas and bacon (aka the Elvis)
What's sweet, savory, and a little creamy? It's Elvis' favorite sandwich, a delightful combination of peanut butter, crispy bacon, and bananas served between two slices of your favorite toasted bread. Maybe you've heard of this sandwich before. Sometimes called the Elvis or the Velvet Elvis, this combo marries different flavors, textures, and crave-worthy foods into one sandwich that checks all the boxes. Elvis' favorite sandwich can even be fried for a rich Southern flair (that's how the King liked it, after all).
The Elvis sandwich was born when Elvis stumbled into a Denver restaurant in 1976 and ordered a sandwich called a Fool's Gold Loaf. The sandwich was enormous. It was served on sourdough bread and loaded with 1 pound of bacon and a jar each of peanut butter and jelly. Elvis loved the sandwich and reportedly returned for more later, but he made some changes when he recreated the sandwich back in Memphis. The version he is most known for today is pan-fried and skips the jelly in favor of sliced bananas.
Thai-inspired peanut butter and chicken basil sandwich
Fuse popular Thai-inspired flavors (peanut, basil, and chicken) with everyone's favorite nut butter for an out-of-this-world sandwich experience. This protein-packed combo is not your average peanut butter sandwich. Peanut butter, chicken, and basil are a delicious trio of flavors that bring out the best in each other, and it's very easy to customize this sandwich to your liking.
While you can make the sandwich with any bread you have in the kitchen, try serving as a wrap with roti for a more authentic experience. This pan-fried bread is an Asian staple, and it is commonly served in Thailand dipped in something sweet — but you can also find it stuffed with savory meats and vegetables.
This sandwich (or wrap) is a fantastic way to use rotisserie chicken. You can also add your favorite herbs, like cilantro, and even kick up the heat with Sriracha if you like it spicy.
Peanut butter cheesecake
Is it dessert? Is it lunch? We think the peanut butter cheesecake sandwich is the best of both worlds. This hearty sandwich will satisfy your sweet tooth and bring some protein to the plate at the same time. This is an easy-to-customize sandwich — you can lean heavily into the sweet aspect, or use a sugar-free sweetener for more emphasis on protein.
To make your own peanut butter cheesecake sandwich, start by mixing peanut butter and cream cheese to your preferred consistency (soften the cream cheese first for easy mixing, or use a whipped variety). Stir in a touch of honey or sugar to make it sweet. Spread the mixture on the bread of your choice (try cinnamon bread for dessert-like decadence). Once you've spread your peanut butter and cream cheese mixture on the bread, add a sprinkle of cinnamon before closing up your sandwich. You can also add sliced fruit, such as strawberries, for a little tartness.
Peanut butter and toasted coconut
Peanut butter and coconut are a divine flavor combo, and a peanut butter sandwich layered with toasted coconut is as good for you as it is satisfying to eat. Both peanut butter and coconut bring healthy fats to your sandwich and can satisfy your hunger. Coconut, which has fiber and protein, is known to reduce inflammation and has been associated with weight loss. Peanut butter is a solid source of vitamin E, is loaded with antioxidants, and has been linked to improved heart health — just be sure to check the label for added sugar. Serve this combination on sprouted bread to keep the health benefits going.
You can buy toasted coconut or you can make your own at home. It's quick and easy, and it elevates the flavor and texture. Toasted coconut is nutty, crunchy, and sweet. You can toast it in the oven or pan. The trick to toasting coconut and getting it just right is to remove it as soon as it starts to brown (it can burn very, very quickly). Spread the peanut butter on your bread, add a liberal layer of toasted coconut, and top with chia seeds, sea salt, or sliced bananas (or all three) for a satisfying meal.
Peanut butter and Nutella
Enjoy a sweet treat when you mix peanut butter and Nutella for your next sandwich spread. Nutella graced the world with its presence shortly after World War II. Cocoa was hard to come by, and Italian brand Ferrero was looking for a sweet alternative. It turned hazelnuts, sugar, and a teeny bit of cocoa into the original recipe for what we now know as Nutella. This creamy spread has a similar texture to peanut butter, but is easier to spread. And while it's not quite chocolate, it does have a mild chocolatey flavor (thanks to the cocoa in the ingredients) that works oh-so-well with peanut butter.
Serve peanut butter and Nutella on a warm croissant for a sublime sandwich experience. You can eat it as-is, or you can add the toppings of your choice. For a sweet finish, add mini marshmallows or even a dollop of Marshmallow Fluff. For something pleasantly tart, try mashed fresh raspberries. For a more savory finish, add crunchy pretzels or crumbled bacon.
Peanut butter and mozzarella
Don't knock it until you try it: Peanut butter and mozzarella sandwiches are delish. Mozzarella is a mild cheese that is quite complementary to peanut butter. We often eat cheese and nuts together as a snack, so it makes sense that mozzarella would pair nicely with peanuts. Mozzarella was originally made with buffalo milk, but today it's commonly made from cow's milk. Mozzarella is lower in sodium and calories than many other cheeses, but remains high in protein and calcium – it's a healthy cheese choice for your sandwich.
This sandwich can be served hot (like a grilled cheese) or cold. Use whole or sprouted grain bread to add more nutrients to your meal. Spread the peanut butter on the sandwich and add sliced or grated mozzarella. While creamy peanut butter is probably the best option for this one-of-a-kind sammie, crunch lovers need not be disappointed — crunchy peanut butter will work just fine.
Peanut butter, cinnamon, and raisin
If you ever ate the classic snack "ants on a log" as a child, you'll enjoy this nostalgic peanut butter, cinnamon, and raisin sandwich. The quintessential ants on a log snack is made by filling celery stalks with peanut butter and adding a line of raisins on top (it looks like ants marching along a log). This versatile sandwich will be loved by kids and adults, and you can have lots of fun with variations on this classic.
Try adding cream cheese or Greek yogurt to the peanut butter for more protein and a satisfying tangy flavor. Raisins are controversial, but you have options here. If you're firmly in the anti-raisin camp, try swapping them out for dried cranberries, cherries, or strawberries. You can even add some mini marshmallows to delight the littles (although grownups will probably be a fan of this, too). Finally, drizzle honey or caramel for the finishing touch.
Peanut butter and pickle
Maybe you saw the viral peanut butter and pickle sandwich once making the rounds. As weird and off-putting as it sounds, this sandwich has a strong cult following and passionate fan base. While the sandwich might not have enjoyed viral fame until recent years, this pickle and peanut butter combo isn't new – people have been eating pickles with peanut butter since the Great Depression.
If you're a pickle lover, this strange sandwich is absolutely worth a try. You probably have some pickles in the fridge that need to be used, anyway, so this is a good idea to put them to the task of enhancing your next peanut butter sandwich. And, of course, making this sandwich is super easy — add peanut butter and sliced pickles to your favorite bread. There is no wrong way to make this sandwich. You can reach for creamy or crunchy peanut butter. And you can use sweet pickles, dill pickles, or spicy pickles.
Peanut butter burger
Peanut butter burgers are having a moment. That's right — your favorite sandwich ingredient is now an addition to craft burgers. Restaurants and home chefs are adding the nut butter to burgers for a savory, crave-worthy, rich and creamy burger-eating experience that some people claim is unmatched. This creative burger might sound weird, but is anything really off-limits when a burger is involved? There are many unique ingredients that can be used to upgrade a burger from average to extraordinary, and it turns out peanut butter is one of them.
Top your burger with bacon, cheddar cheese, and of course, pickles. Like it spicy? Add some sliced jalapeños. Don't forget the mayo on this one, either. Get ready to be surprised and delighted by how these flavors pull together as the peanut butter melts into your burger. This might be a good time to pull out that crunchy peanut butter, as a burger can always benefit from a little crunch.