For Creamy Tomato Sandwiches, Grab This Breakfast Staple From Your Fridge

A tomato sandwich is where you will find bits and pieces of summer days, tucked in between slices of fresh, juicy tomatoes and gentle smears of mayonnaise. That inherent vibrancy is occasionally punctuated by small sprinkles of salt, and perhaps even a hint of fragrant herbs. Cream cheese is how you take all of this goodness to the next level — all without changing or overshadowing any bit of it. This staple is only here to give your tomato sandwich a creamier, more luxurious upgrade.

It's not without reason that Tasting Table deemed cream cheese to be one of the best ingredient additions for better tomato sandwiches. Even though mayonnaise already gives the dish some of its luscious mouthfeel, cream cheese's spreadable smoothness is a whole other level of satisfaction. It thickens up the sandwich by a small margin, with a richness that somehow still melds with such lightness on the taste buds. Seeping onto every morsel of the sandwich, cream cheese's milky tang harmoniously complements the bright, acidic tomatoes. When everything meets the comforting mildness of white bread, or perhaps even its toasty warmth, there's no doubting this tomato sandwich's permanent spot in your sandwich repertoire.

Obviously, a mix of cream cheese and mayonnaise spread onto the bread is sufficient enough. But why stop there when you can layer even more flavors into this ingredient, and the sandwich subsequently, by adding chopped herbs and seasonings as well? There are some ingredients for DIY flavored cream cheese that might work wonders in this case, such as garlic powder, or Ranch seasoning to tie it back to the mayo base. Jelly, as unusual as it sounds, also has a spot should you want a touch of sweetness to contrast all that savory tang. Opt for pepper jelly, and it's a sweet heat you're getting.

Tomato sandwiches are also 10 times more flavorful when you add pimento cheese, and yes, it works even with cream cheese already in the mix. Simply mix both cheeses together, along with condiments and seasonings for a hearty spread. This twist is precisely for those who want a subtle heat in their sandwiches, which comes in spades if you also add mustard or smoked paprika. Alternatively, for folks who like a savory twist, bacon jam or crispy bacon bits are just the thing. Add fresh lettuce, and you've made your very own BLT sandwich.

Keeping the sandwich's freshness intact, a few slices of cucumber will also do. Or, in pairing with tomatoes, basil is how you create a Caprese sandwich, or a near-similar version of it, with cream cheese bringing that tangy melt instead of the usual mozzarella cheese. Avocado and its pleasant nutty tone go everywhere, and your cream cheese tomato sandwich is no exception. You can even serve them together as an open-face sandwich for breakfasts and brunches.