Sometimes a holiday comes along that’s impossible to ignore, and National Sandwich Day is that kind of holiday. Not that anyone needs an excuse to eat a tasty sandwich, but how much sweeter is it when you can justify having a sandwich for lunch?

Of course, not all sandwiches are created equal! There are so many great sandwiches, from traditional clubs to a perfect gyro, but these three classic sandwiches will hit the spot. Bonus: they’re easier to make than you think. Treat your friends and family to a feast or, you know, keep them to yourself. There’s no judgement on Sandwich Day.

Sandwich 1: The French Dip

There’s something so comforting about a hearty French Dip. The tender beef, melted cheese, and warm au jus reaches all the way down to your soul somehow. It takes a little time, but with some patience and love, you can make an amazing French Dip sandwich on your own.

Step 1: Roast the beef. Prime rib is a classic choice, but any beef you can rub with spices and roast in the oven will work. Roasting low and slow will make it tender, and use a roasting tray so you can save those drippings.

Step 2: Make the au jus. Once your roast is cooked, move it to a cutting board and let it rest. In the meantime, take the roasting tray and put it on a burner. Add some beef stock and deglaze the pan by scraping off all the little bits of beef–this is the real secret to a great au jus–then add some red wine and boil for 5 minutes.

Step 2 1/2: If you’re into onions, carmelize some onions to go on your sandwich. It’ll be that extra little umph.

Step 3: Layer sliced beef, onions (if you made them), and provolone cheese on top of sliced hoagie rolls, then bake briefly just until the cheese is melted. Put your sandwiches together, cut in half, and serve with your homemade au jus. Voila!

Sandwich 2: The Reuben

When you hear the word “saurkraut,” there’s probably only a few things that come to mind: German food, Polish sausages, and the classic Reuben sandwich. There’s some dispute over which Reuben actually created the sandwich, but whoever it was, we can all be glad their mind works the way it does. Here’s how to make one at home, and it couldn’t be more simple:

Step 1: Rye bread is a must for a Reuben. Butter it on one side, then put it butter-side down on a plate.

Step 2: Layer Thousand Island dressing, corned beef (you can certainly make and slice your own, but grabbing some pre-sliced from your local deli is a-ok), saurkraut, Swiss cheese, and a little more dressing if you want.

Step 3: Put the other slice of bread on top and then grill the sandwich. Depending how big you’ve made your sandwich, this could be a little tricky, so take your time with it. It’ll be worth the effort.

That’s it! When the sandwich is done grilling, slice it in half and serve it with a pickle and your favorite cold drink.

Sandwich 3: The Italian Sausage Roll

All right, whether or not this is technically a sandwich is open for debate, but as a filling between two pieces of bread, it mostly qualifies. And it’s delicious, so it deserves to be included. Plus, the one you make at home will still be better than what you’d get at a state fair–promise.

Step 1: Start the sausage cooking, keeping an eye on it so that you get that nice brown color without overcooking it.

Step 2: Sauté sliced onions and peppers in olive oil. At the same time, brush the rolls with garlic butter (you can make this yourself by combining smashed, roasted garlic with olive oil) and toast them until just crispy. You can brush a little more garlic butter on after they’re toasted if you like garlic.

Step 3: Put the sausage on the roll and top with the onions and peppers.

When you take a bite, you’ll get the sharp crisp of toasted roll, the juiciness of the sausage, and the perfect bite of onions and peppers. Totally worth every second of cooking time.

Whether you make one of these sandwiches or your own favorite (or make up something entirely new!), celebrate National Sandwich Day with something delicious!

The post Three Perfect Sandwiches for National Sandwich Day! appeared first on Karma Kiss Blog.