Forget flavour packed fillings. When it comes to sandwiches, Brits are keeping it classic!
To celebrate British Sandwich Week (19-25 May), food box delivery service HelloFresh surveyed 1,000 UK adults to uncover the nation’s all-time favourite sandwich fillings, and the results are anything but complicated.
Simplicity takes the crown, with classic choices such as cheese, bacon, tuna and egg mayonnaise topping the list. When lunch time rolls around, it’s clear that Brits prefer their sandwiches fuss-free and full of classic flavours.
The UK’s favourite sandwich fillings
| Rank | Sandwich Filling | Percentage |
| 1 | Cheese | 37% |
| 2 | Bacon | 37% |
| 3 | Egg mayonnaise | 32% |
| 4 | Tuna | 32% |
| 5 | Cheese and pickle | 31% |
| 6 | Ham and cheese | 29% |
| 7 | Cheese and tomato | 29% |
| 7 | Ham | 29% |
| 8 | Chicken salad | 29% |
| 9 | Sausage | 29% |
| 10 | BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) | 26% |
The humble cheese sandwich reigns supreme as the UK’s favourite filling, with 37% of participants naming it their go-to lunchtime choice. Cheese also proved especially popular with Gen Z, with 45% of younger respondents picking it as their top sandwich choice.
Following closely behind is bacon, a meatier favourite that captured 37% of the vote. It was particularly popular among men, with over two-fifths (42%) choosing it, compared to just under a third of women (32%).
Coming in third is the classic egg mayonnaise, preferred by almost a third (32%) overall and nearly two-fifths of women (38%). Egg and cress also made a solid showing, with a quarter (25%) of those surveyed naming it their favourite.
Across the UK, it’s clear that every city has its own favourite when it comes to the perfect sandwich filling. In Edinburgh (33%) and Southampton (36%), the flavour-packed cheese and pickle sandwich takes the top spot. Meanwhile, cities like Liverpool (44%) and Newcastle (42%) show a strong preference for the classic taste of tuna.
The UK’s least favourite sandwich fillings
The study also uncovered some sandwich fillings that just don’t make the cut for many Brits at lunchtime. Topping the list of least popular is jam, with only 13% naming it as a favourite. Following closely behind is peanut butter at 14%, suggesting the classic American combo of peanut butter and jam hasn’t quite caught on in the UK.
Other less-loved fillings include cucumber (15%) and prawns (19%). Interestingly, prawns remain a hit with the over-65s, with 27% in this age group choosing it as their top pick. Crisps, in any flavour, also landed low at just 19%.
HelloFresh’s Senior Recipe Development Manager, Mimi Morley comments,
“It’s fascinating to see how the nation’s sandwich preferences continue to celebrate simple and timeless flavours. While food trends often push bold and adventurous tastes, the research clearly shows that these often don’t stick around, compared to classic, comforting flavours like cheese or egg mayonnaise.
“These staples clearly resonate across generations, proving that less really is more when it comes to lunchtime favourites!”
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