My Favorite Trader Joe's Finds To Make The Perfect Sandwich For Under $10

I am fortunate enough to live right across from one of the busiest Trader Joe's stores in San Francisco. That means a few things: First, I visit far too often and have a drained bank account to show for it. But it also means that I've tried nearly every item on the shelves, including the great range of sandwiches available in the grab-and-go section. However, I often prefer to build my own using a few simple ingredients, and one of my favorite combinations can be purchased for less than $10 before tax.

The first thing we need is some good bread. For this particular recipe, which is an affordable take on the classic French sandwich, I like to use the Trader Joe's Organic French Baguette, which usually costs $1.99, depending on location. Next up, we'll need to buy salted butter, the Trader Joe's Butter Quarters cost just $2.99 for 16 ounces, and some Sliced Prosciutto ($4.29 for 4 ounces) to bring the grand total to $9.27.

That's literally it. I'm from Europe, where we grew up eating some sort of variation of a crunchy bread roll with a slathering of salted butter and thinly sliced ham for lunch. The Trader Joe's baguettes are lovely and soft, especially when cut fresh, and the in-house prosciutto is rich and tender, which pairs well with the creamy butter and offers a different, more Mediterranean alternative to plain ham.

If you're open to spending a little more, you can bulk up the sandwich further. Try it with some sharp cheddar cheese (the New Zealand Sharp Cheddar, $7.99 per pound, is a nice splurge) or the Fresh Mozzarella Pearls ($4.49 for 8 ounces). A few juicy, ripe tomatoes, like the Teeny Tiny Tomatoes ($1.99 per pack) are also a delicious add-on, as is a layer of arugula ($2.49 per bag).

Use the rest of the baguette and arugula by picking up a can of tuna and a tub of whipped ricotta (which should only cost $5.48) or pair the prosciutto and leaves with the Fire Roasted Red Peppers ($3.29). Here are 15 other Trader Joe's finds you should be adding to your sandwiches, if you feel like getting creative.

If you don't have time to make your own sandwich, there are a lot of great ready-made options available at TJ's. The Ham and Cheese Sandwich is only $5.49 and the Chicken Caesar Wrap is the same price. There are also two new croissant sandwiches packed with chicken or tuna salad for $4.49, which Tasting Table deemed one of the best new Trader Joe's prepared foods of 2026. Here are some of our other favorite Trader Joe's grab-and-go lunches for $8 or less to give you even more to work with.