20 Messy Sandwiches Worth Every Napkin

ByJD Alewine Published OnJune 19, 2025June 19, 2025 Updated onJune 19, 2025

These sandwiches are not neat. They drip, ooze, spill, and stain. And yet, every single bite is worth it. Grab extra napkins before diving into these 20 over-the-top favorites.

Sloppy Joe

Close-up of a sloppy joe sandwich on a wooden surface, featuring a soft, golden bun filled with classic sloppy joe seasoned ground meat, diced onions, green peppers, and a layer of creamy mayonnaise. — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Ground beef in sweet tomato sauce, falling out of the bun with every bite. Sloppy in the best way.

Sonoran Hot Dog

A side view photo of sonoran dogs. — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Bacon-wrapped, smothered in beans, sauces, and jalapeños. Arizona’s messiest street food star.

Pueblo Slopper

pueblo slopper — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Cheeseburger drowned in spicy green chile. Knife and fork required. Extra napkins a must.

Brisket Sandwich

Sliced smoked brisket sandwich with a charred edge, served alongside pickles, raw onion slices, two slices of white bread, and a small cup of barbecue sauce on a brown paper surface. — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Juicy, smoked beef packed between buns. Saucy, drippy, and absolutely worth the cleanup.

Burnt Ends Sandwich

burnt ends sandwich — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Sticky, smoky brisket ends piled high and often slathered in BBQ sauce. Pure meat chaos.

Roast Pork Sandwich

philly roast pork sandwich — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Overflowing with juicy pork, melted provolone, and sautéed greens. Drippy and bold.

Muffuletta Sandwich

muffuletta — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Cold cuts, olive salad, and oil packed between round bread. Slices fall out, but you won’t mind.

Shrimp Po Boy

A shrimp po boy sitting on a wooden cutting board. — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Fried shrimp tumble out with every bite. Add hot sauce and expect to wear it.

North Shore Beef

Two open-faced North Shore Beef sandwiches topped with melted cheese and generously covered in rich brown gravy, served on a metal baking sheet. — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Roast beef soaked in jus and squished in a soft roll. Drenched and delicious.

Polish Boy

A hot dog inspired by the Polish Boy sandwich, topped with shredded coleslaw and drizzled with barbecue sauce, placed on brown paper, with a few French fries scattered around. — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Kielbasa, fries, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce stacked high. Cleveland’s king of messy bites.

Hot Beef Sandwich

A plate featuring a classic hot beef sandwich: two slices of bread piled with shredded roast beef and brown gravy, served with a scoop of mashed potatoes smothered in rich gravy. — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Beef, white bread, and ladles of gravy. Classic Midwest comfort. Serve with a fork.

Cudighi Sandwich

cudighi sandwich — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Spicy Italian sausage with sauce and cheese. Roll barely holds it all in.

Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich

Two crispy chicken fried steak sandwiches with lettuce and tomato on shiny brioche buns, placed on a wooden cutting board next to a wire rack with more fried chicken. — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Crispy battered steak on a bun with gravy or sauce. It’s crunchy and leaking from every side.

Crab Melt

An up close shot of a crab melt from the side. — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Melty cheese and crab meat ooze out with each bite. Gooey and rich.

Lobster Roll

Two hands hold a classic lobster roll packed with creamy lobster salad over a wooden cutting board, with a small pile of potato chips on the side. — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Cold lobster salad packed into a buttered roll. Every bite overflows with meat.

Patty Melt

patty melt — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Cheesy, beefy, and buttery rye grilled until it slides apart. Messy in a perfect way.

Pork Chop Sandwich

A close-up of a crispy fried chicken sandwich and a Pork Chop Sandwich on a wooden board, topped with lettuce, tomato slices, and mustard in soft, shiny buns. The background shows an out-of-focus kitchen setting. — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Bone-in or boneless, the chop is big and the drips are bigger.

St. Paul Sandwich

St. Paul Sandwich — Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Egg foo young between white bread with pickles, slaw, and mayo. Fills your hands and your plate.

Liver Mush Sandwich

A hand holds half of a livermush sandwich with two beef patties and a bun, showing the cross-section. The other sandwich half and a large knife rest on a wooden cutting board in the background. — Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Fried slices of liver mush slide around the bun. Southern, strange, and drippy.

Tuna Melt

Tuna melt sandwich on a baking tray — Tuna melt sandwich

Mayo-heavy tuna salad topped with melted cheese. Gooey, greasy, and lovable.

For more recipes: https://thembites.com

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