Easy Midday Sandwich Recipes Perfect for a Shower or Girls Luncheon

I recently hosted a bridal shower for my sister-in-law where we had a bunch of yummy finger foods. These items would be perfect for an afternoon bridal or baby shower, or they'd be delicious options to serve at a casual girls luncheon that you might have with friends. I even love to just whip these up occasionally to switch up my everyday lunch options at home. Each of these recipes are quick and delicious. I don't make anything that's not! Hope you can use some of these!

Chicken Salad
Serves 8-10
Prep Time: 20-30 mins

• Whole rotisserie chicken or 4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Hellman's mayonnaise
• Salt
• Pepper
• Yellow onion or green onion
• Celery (optional)
• Grapes (optional)
• Almonds (optional)

1. Prep your chicken. If using a rotisserie chicken, let cool entirely, peel skin off outside and pull apart the breast, leg, and thigh meat into chunks and shreds. Once entire chicken is pulled apart, cut chunks and shreds into small chunks. Set aside. If using chicken breasts, boil a large pot of water. Once water is boiling, place chicken breasts into boiling water. Boil until cooked through (maybe 15 minutes; test by taking out a breast and cutting into the middle to make sure there's no pink meat). Let chicken cool. Once cooled, shred if possible and/or dice into small chunks. 

• I like using a rotisserie chicken because of all the flavor it imparts. It's already slow roasted and seasoned so you get all that yummy goodness in your chicken salad. But, you're using dark meat and inevitably will end up with a little chicken skin in your chicken salad. This makes this method a bit less healthy than the other. 
• Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts is the healthier of the two options. You don't get the fat from the dark meat and skin. But, the chicken isn't seasoned so you'll have to do more seasoning on the back end if you go this route. 

2. Prep your veggies. Dice onions and celery. If adding grapes, cut in half long ways. If adding almonds, you can buy bagged sliced almonds or you can smash whole almonds into chunks. (Easier to buy the bagged stuff that's already cut up!). 

3. Add chicken, veggies, and all your extras you may be using to a large bowl. Using a large spoon, spoon a couple spoonfuls of mayo onto your chicken and veggies and mix. Continue adding mayo to your liking. 

4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you've used the rotisserie chicken, you'll need less salt and pepper. Just taste test as you go along! Yum :)

Serve on the bread of your choice. I like french, sourdough, or italian. Something with a nice crust on the outside but still soft on the inside. You can serve open faced or in a closed sandwich. Chicken salad is also good on croissants. 

Egg and Olive (Egg Salad)

Serves 8-10

Prep Time: 45 minutes

• One dozen eggs, hard boiled
• Hellman's mayonnaise
• Green olives

1. Boil one dozen eggs. Let cool, take off the shells, and dice. Set aside. 

2. Using a handy chopper or a food processor, process about 1/2-3/4 of a jar of green olives. 

3. Add eggs and olives to a large bowl. Spoon a couple spoonfuls of mayo into the bowl and mix. Continue adding mayo to your liking. 

4. Taste and season with a little pepper if necessary. 

Serve on the bread of your choice. I like a soft oat or wheat bread for this sandwich. 

Cucumber Tea Breads

Serves 15-20

Prep Time: 30 minutes

• One cucumber, sliced with skin on
• Two 8 oz. containers of plain whipped cream cheese
• 1-2 packets of dry italian salad dressing mix
• Cocktail rye bread 
• Dried dill

1. Slice cucumber (not too thick, not too thin) and set aside.

2. Mix packet(s) of dry italian mix with cream cheese. 

3. Spread a decent layer of cream cheese mix on a piece of cocktail rye bread, add a cucumber, and top with a light dusting of dried dill. 

Cucumber Tea Breads (top left), Open Faced Chicken Salad (Middle), and Egg Salad on Oat Bread (top right)