The best sandwich ideas don’t always come from new ingredients. Sometimes, they come from looking at familiar ones in a different way.
For operators and brands developing new menu and product offerings, deli meats provide a versatile foundation for innovation. Ideal for more than just cold lunch sandwiches, they can easily be incorporated into a variety of concepts across dayparts, cuisines, and flavor profiles.
To showcase this versatility, we put our products to work in the Food Discovery Center, developing six unique sandwich ideas ranging from classic deli builds to globally inspired creations. Special thanks to our newest intern, Kingston, who helped support the project throughout the photoshoot.
California-Style Smoked Turkey & Avocado Sandwich
A California turkey club served as the inspiration for this concept. We paired our Mesquite Smoked Chicken Breast with creamy avocado, crisp sprouts, pickled red cabbage, and spicy mayo on rye bread. Combining the familiar appeal of turkey and avocado with the unexpected depth of mesquite smoke, it delivered a bold, savory twist on a West Coast classic.
Hickory Smoked BBQ Turkey Sandwich
Our Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast set the tone for this smokehouse-inspired sandwich, layered with savory bacon, crisp lettuce, and juicy tomato on marble rye. To build on the turkey’s rich, smoky flavor, we added sweet barbecue sauce and crunchy French-fried onions. The finished sandwich balanced the freshness of a turkey club with the rich, comforting character of Southern barbecue.
Vietnamese-Style Pork Bánh Mì
Our new Pork Bánh Mì deli protein was developed to capture the signature flavors of the traditional Vietnamese sandwich in an easy-to-execute format at scale. For this build, we kept it simple and traditional, serving the seasoned pork on a French baguette with pickled vegetables. The result captured everything we love about the original — savory, tangy, and crunchy, with layers of flavor in every bite.
Canadian Bacon Breakfast BLT
Built on an English muffin, this concept paired our Canadian Bacon with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, fresh greens, and tomato, bringing BLT-inspired flavors to a classic breakfast sandwich. An unexpected touch of grape jelly added a hint of sweetness that complemented the smokiness of the bacon.
Bonus Application: Beyond breakfast, our Canadian Bacon proved equally at home on pizza, where its savory flavor paired naturally with sweet pineapple.
Classic Pastrami on Rye
Few sandwiches are more iconic than a classic pastrami on rye. To recreate this New York deli staple, we layered a generous stack of our Pastrami onto rye bread and finished it with spicy brown mustard. The rich, peppery flavor of the pastrami took center stage, delivering the straightforward deli experience that made the sandwich famous.
Pastrami Reuben
For a more indulgent take on pastrami, we turned to another deli favorite: the Reuben. Here, we paired our Pastrami with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and brown mustard on marble rye. The sandwich delivered the hearty, comforting experience people expect from a great Reuben while allowing the distinctive character of the pastrami to shine through.
Let’s Build Something Craveable
Whether you’re developing a signature sandwich, refreshing an existing item, or creating a limited-time offering, Deli Star deli meats help bring your menu ideas to life without adding complexity to your back-of-house.
Have a sandwich idea in mind? Connect with a Deli Star protein expert to get started.
