I tried supermarket Christmas sandwiches with quirky flavours and the £4.50 winner has an Italian festive twist
THE countdown to Christmas has begun – and you can even enjoy the festivities while on your lunch break.
Festive sandwiches have hit shelves everywhere and while we already rated Pret and Greggs top for their turkey sarnies, there are lots of alternatives on offer for those who are waiting until the big day for a taste of the classic Christmas meat.
There are some returning favourites including Pigs Under Blankets sandwiches and brie and cranberry, but 2024 brings with it a whole host of new flavours too.
We asked mum-of-three LynseyHope, 42, from West Malling, Kent, to taste some of the quirky flavours for this festive season. Here she reveals her favourites…
Aldi Christmas Club Sandwich Triple
- £2.39
- Nutrition: 585 calories, 20.1g fat, 10.5g sugar, 3.14g salt
This is a bulky sandwich and a lot going on flavour wise. This festive feast features three layers of white and rye bread and it is filled with Emmental cheese, smoked turkey, ham, lettuce and streaky bacon.
I thought the meat was a little grisly. There’s a lot going on and for the price, it’s huge. I couldn’t even finish so at £2.39, this is excellent value from Aldi.
Impressive.
3/5
Asda Let It Spice Wrap
- £3
- Nutrition: 412 calories, 12g fat, 12g sugar, 1.6g salt
This is meant to emulate your Boxing Day curry. The filling is vibrant and colourful, the chicken was tender and it had a crunchy cabbage slaw which provided a nice texture.
The curry sauce was mild, but sweet. It’s chicken rather than turkey but more moist as a result.
Definitely one of the more unusual varieties to try before December 25.
4/5
Sainsbury’s Festive Porchetta and Stuffing Sandwich on Onion Bread – WINNER
- £4.50
- Nutrition: 494 calories, 16.8g fat, 11.9g sugar, 1.86g salt
I loved this one as the bread was soft and lovely to eat with just a hint of onion in the flavour.
The lettuce was fresh and crisp and the pork was really flavoursome.
The gravy mayo was barely noticeable but there was just enough to stop this being dry and there was a lovely sweetness from the cranberry. Loved it.
5/5
By Amazon Brie and Cranberry
- £3.90
- Nutrition: 517 calories, 24.9g fat, 8.8g sugar, 1.50g salt
Pairing creamy French brie with a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, this malted bread sarnie was a firm favourite.
Simple, but easy to eat and bursting with ingredients. It’s a generous size.
I’m not sure there’s anything terribly special about it but no complaints whatsoever.
3/5
Pret Boxing Day Toastie
- £5.85
- Nutrition: 634 calories, 25.9g fat, 8g sugar, 3.19g salt
A close second favourite, this is a hearty toastie packed with ham, turkey, pork stuffing, a more-ish caramelised onion chutney and sage mayonnaise.
It’s a whopper, filling and though it’s nearly £6, there is quite a lot packed in. It’s incredibly high in calories, fat and salt, but no doubt it’s delicious.
Pure heaven when freshly toasted – just don’t indulge in too many.
4/5
Waitrose Brie and Cranberry
- £3.75
- Nutrition: 536 calories, 26.9g fat, 6.4g sugar, 1.57g salt
A well priced offering from Waitrose and the brie in this was really delicious.
The cranberry was sweet and tangy and there was just the right amount lathered inside.
I’ll probably have a few of these before December 25.
4/5
Starbucks Pigs Under Blanket Panini
- £5.50
- Nutrition: n/a
I loved the sausages and bacon in this panini which were plentiful, beautifully seasoned and well cooked.
The bread was lovely when cooked too giving you a nice crisp bite. There was quite a strong mustard flavour, which might put some off, and it didn’t feel terribly festive. But overall, an enjoyable lunch.
4/5
Pret Very Merry Lunch
- £4.75
- Nutrition: 396 calories, 7.4g fat, 21.5g sugar, 2.26g salt
A great option for vegetarians, this is filled with chargrilled carrots, crushed sweet potato and the highlight – chickpea spiced stuffing.
It also had a little baby spinach, pickled cabbage and carrot and onions all in soft malted bread.
Morrisons Slow Cooked Beef and Roast Potato
- £4
- Nutrition: 498 calories, 16.1g fat, 7.3g sugar, 2.24g salt
The beef in this sarnie was delicious and it made a change from all the turkey options.
The overall flavour was spot on, the beef was plentiful and it’s super filling. However, it was let down overall by the thinly sliced potatoes which were under-cooked and a bit hard to eat.
2/5
Greggs Hot Festive Flatbread
- £3.50
- Nutrition: 395 calories, 13g fat, 8.4g sugar, 1.5g salt
A surprising win, this was a really hearty, warming lunch. The flatbread was nice and a great alternative to all the malted bread festive options and the chicken inside had a lovely sage and onion flavour.
The cranberry and red onion relish kept this from being dry – loved it. Comforting and it’s a great price, too.
4/5
Tesco Jingle Brie
- £3
- Nutrition: 444 calories, 21g fat, 7g sugar, 1.50g salt
A classic comb of brie with sweet cranberry sauce.
The French brie itself was creamy with a lovely flavour and the added spinach was nice. The malted bread could have been softer, but for £3, it wasn’t too bad.
A lovely festive lunch.
3/5
Morrisons Pigs Under Blankets
- £3
- Nutrition: 452 calories, 16.2g fat, 10g sugar, 2.12g salt
One of the only white bread options amongst dozens of festive options.
The Lincolnshire sausage and bacon were basic but a nice flavour and it was easy to eat.
The onion was a little overpowering and the chutney was quite strong. I didn’t mind it but it put some of my fellow testers off and they couldn’t finish theirs.
2/5
M&S Christmas Sando
- £4.50
- Nutrition: 609 calories, 28.3g fat, 13.4g sugar, 1.75g salt
The best thing about this was the deliciously soft brioche bread. It contained breaded chicken, pickled slaw, cranberry chutney and gochujang mayo and it looked really bright, colourful and appetising.
I would have preferred a bit more chicken and less slaw and the cranberry was not very strong.
The gochujang mayo was beautifully spiced with a real kick. None of it was very festive, but it tasted good.
3/5