Best Christmas sandwiches to buy 2024: Pret a Manger, M&S, Waitrose and more

For more Christmas inspiration, check out the results of our BBC Good Food Christmas Supermarket Awards (for everything from turkey to Christmas pud) and our best Christmas crisps taste test.

Best Christmas sandwiches to eat in 2024

Ole & Steen Turkey Toastie

• Available from Ole & Steen (£9.15 eat in, £8.95 eat out)

Rating: 5/5

If you have an Ole & Steen near you then this should be your lunch hour treat. A hefty looking sandwich (and the most expensive on our list), this generous focaccia is filled with roast turkey, crispy bacon, sprout and cranberry slaw, cheddar cheese, and chilli jam. The focaccia makes this extra special and there is lovely texture to the roasted and pulled meat. The unique slaw adds tart pops from the cranberry and nice herbaceous crunch from the sprouts.

Available from:
Ole & Steen (£9.15 eat in, £8.95 eat out)

M&S Surf & Turf Brioche Rolls

• Available from M&S (£6.25)

Rating: 5/5

Who says Christmas sandwiches have to be all about turkey? This duo of surf and turf brioche rolls is inspired by alternative Christmas classics – one roll is filled with lobster and king prawns (with a good mix of large and small chunks of the seafood), coated in a creamy Marie Rose sauce, while the other combines British rare roast beef and a creamy Dijon mustard mayonnaise. They look appetising and beautifully decorated, with a luxe feel. The buttery brioche is super soft.

Available from:
M&S (£6.25)

Pret A Manger Christmas lunch sandwich

• Available from Pret a Manger (£5)

Rating: 4.5/5

Our favourite of the Pret festive range is always the Christmas lunch sandwich in pleasingly soft bread, complete with Pret’s signature crispy onions. It has a generous filling of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce (with the decadent addition of port) so it's fully loaded. Plus, 50p from every Christmas lunch or nut roast sandwich is donated to The Pret Foundation. Pret is where to head pre-office Christmas party, or perhaps to revive you the day after...

Available from:
Pret a Manger (£5)

Leon The Christmas Cracker

• Available from Leon (£7.99)

Rating: 4.5/5

Some days, you need something a little warmer than a sandwich and that is where the Leon Christmas Cracker wrap comes in. This generous hot wrap is an extremely hearty lunch – fully loaded with turkey (marinated in miso and caramelised onion butter), large chunks of herby stuffing and lettuce. Crispy onions add crunch whilst the combo of cranberry chutney and aioli keep everything moist.

Available from:
Leon (£7.99)

Morrisons Brie and Cranberry Sandwich

• Available from Morrisons (£2.85)

Rating: 4.5/5

This classic combination pairs creamy cheese with tangy cranberry. The wholemeal bread is nice and soft with a good amount of brie inside.

Available from:
Morrisons (£2.85)

M&S Turkey Feast

• Available from M&S (£4.25)

Rating: 4.5/5

A popular choice every year, the M&S turkey feast returns again for 2024. The bacon has a good smoky flavour, the turkey is juicy and there is rich onion flavour in the stuffing. Judges appreciated the combination of the mayo and cranberry sauces, although this generous level of sauce means it can become a touch softer than other sandwiches we tested.

Available from:
M&S (£4.25)

PAUL Christmas Club

• Available from PAUL (£6.50 in-store, platters available for £44.95 online)

Rating: 4.5/5

This Christmas sandwich stands out for the bread – a crusty yet chewy sage and onion baguette studded with cranberries for extra festive flavour. The fillings inside are classic but well-balanced with sliced turkey, stuffing, bacon, cranberry sauce and a generous amount off fresh baby spinach.

Available from:
PAUL (£6.50 in-store, platters available for £44.95 online)

Pret a Manger Boxing Day toastie

• Available from Pret a Manger (£5.50)

Rating: 4.5/5

On the coldest winter days, upgrade your Christmas sandwich choice to a toastie. We enjoyed the thick granary bread and many layers of filling in the Pret Boxing Day toastie. Melted cheddar cheese holds everything together, with turkey, ham and herby stuffing adding lots of texture and familiar festive flavours. Eat it quickly whilst still melting and warm for a very hearty lunch.

Available from:
Pret a Manger (£5.50)

PAUL Brie & Flaked Almond Christmas Sandwich

• Available from PAUL (£5.85 in-store, platters available for £40.95 online)

Rating: 4.5/5

An interesting twist on a classic brie sandwich, this has the pleasing addition of crunchy toasted flaked almonds. These balance out the generously thick slices of creamy brie wedged in a crusty baguette. A generous sandwich that's big enough to share.

Available from:
PAUL (£5.85 in-store, platters available for £40.95 online)

Asda Festive Feast Sandwich

• Available from Asda (£3)

Rating: 4/5

This meat-heavy sandwich includes turkey breast, sausages and smoked bacon. There are clear distinguished layers of each filling, with a dominant meaty flavour balanced by the tangy cranberry sauce for a solid all-rounder festive sandwich.

Available from:
Asda (£3)

Orée Turkey & Pastrami Noël Sandwich

• Available from Orée Boulangeries (take away: £6.80, eat in: £7.80)

Rating: 4/5

The glossy and soft challah bun on this generous-sized sandwich looks attractive and is a luxurious step above many Christmas sandwiches, although it is pretty thick which makes this quite a bread-heavy option. Judges enjoyed the unique addition of pastrami alongside the familiar turkey along with generous chunks of roasted carrots and parsnips. The double addition of cranberry mayo and cranberry sauce add juicy sweetness without being overpowering.

Available from:
Orée Boulangeries (take away: £6.80, Eat in: £7.80)

Co-op Festive Feast Sub Roll

• Available from Co-op (£3.25)

Rating: 4/5

Judges enjoyed the sub roll of this Co-op festive sandwich as an alternative to plain bread. The bread is really soft, the cranberry has good flavour and the turkey is moist.

Available from:
Co-op (£3.25)

Waitrose No.1 Festive Wiltshire Ham & French Brie Sandwich

• Available from Waitrose (£4.95)

Rating: 4/5

This has good bread and plenty of creaminess from having both brie and mayonnaise, balanced by some crunch from a layer of fresh spinach. The ham is honey roasted and lightly spiced, and the cranberry sauce adds an extra boost of festive flavour.

Available from:
Waitrose (£4.95)

Asda Let It Spice Festive Curry Wrap

• Available from Asda (£3)

Rating: 4/5

Asda have channelled the essence of your best Boxing Day curry into this festive wrap. The filling is vibrant and colourful, with a good contrast of textures from tender chicken and a crunchy cabbage slaw. The curry sauce is mild with a hint of sweetness and the use of chicken makes a good Christmas sandwich alternative for anyone who is not a fan of turkey.

Available from:
Asda (£3)

Orée Brie and Cranberry Petit Pain

• Available from Orée Boulangeries (take away: £6.40, eat in: £7.60)

Rating: 4/5

Another brie contender in our list, this time served in a crunchy petit pain roll. This is intensely chewy but has good flavour. Inside, there's an indulgent combination of both brie and emmental cheese and judges enjoyed the caramelised onion chutney as an alternative to cranberry sauce (although there is still a touch of cranberry mayo for festivities).

Available from:
Orée Boulangeries (take away: £6.40, eat in: £7.60)

Waitrose Pigs Under Blankets

• Available from Waitrose (£4)

Rating: 4/5

Waitrose's 'pigs under blankets' sandwich is another familiar treat returning for 2024. The sausages have good peppery flavour and the bacon is well-smoked. The addition of redcurrants gives extra tang to the cranberry chutney alongside its familiar sweetness. There may be slightly too much mayo for some tastes.

Available from:
Waitrose (£4)

Aldi Plant Menu Limited Edition Vegan Festive Feast Sandwich

• Available from Aldi (£1.99)

Rating: 4/5

This is a delicious, colourful option for a vegan Christmas sandwich. The parsnip fritter (reminiscent of a falafel) is slightly on the drier side and the inclusion of raisins may be divisive for some, but the pickled cabbage adds a good texture and the overall sandwich tastes fresh.

Available from:
Aldi (£1.99)

Morrisons The Best Christmas Club Sandwich

• Available from Morrisons (£4)

Rating: 4/5

This loaded sandwich looks attractive with plenty of colour. There is lots going on – from umami stuffing to citrussy chutney – but overall the flavours are well balanced, the meat is succulent and the bread has good flavour.

Available from:
Morrisons (£4)

Waitrose Brie and Cranberry Sandwich

• Available from Waitrose (£3.75)

Rating: 4/5

Cream cheese adds a pleasant creaminess along with the brie. The brie has a good flavour but is not too strong, the spinach and cranberry sauce is also subtle but not overpowering. The bread is pleasantly soft, but the overall sandwich could do with some extra crunch.

Available from:
Waitrose (£3.75)

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