everythingtess

If you’re a 9-5 worker looking for the easiest, tastiest cold lunch idea (on a budget!), look no further! This sourdough pesto sandwich is high in protein thanks to the turkey and provolone, has a sneaky veggie, and is my current obsession. I’ve been taking it work myself for a few weeks now and I look forward to having it with my lunch every day!

Note: Typically, I use the ciabatta rolls from Aldi instead of the sourdough loaf, but at the time of creating this post, they didn’t have ciabatta rolls in stock. If you’re looking for a thicker, crustier bread, use sourdough. If you’re looking for a softer bread, use the ciabatta rolls. While I enjoy both, I prefer the ciabatta rolls because the macros are easier for me to track. The sourdough slices are not uniform, although they do give it that cafe style feel.

The best part of this simple lunch is that it comes from ONE store: ALDI! All the ingredients can be found there and makes it an ideal meal on a budget (the breakdown will be below)! Pair it with a Greek yogurt and you have yourself a high protein meal that’s satisfying for the rest of the day.

Macros Breakdown:

My favorite thing about this sandwich is that it is almost 40g in protein! Add a greek yogurt and you’re looking at a 50g protein filled lunch. The macros will vary because the sourdough bread is not uniform. This macro breakdown is assuming you’re using 4 oz of sourdough bread.

Calories: 555 cal

Fats: 17g

Carbs: 52g

Protein: 38g

Price Breakdown

• 1 package Sourdough or Ciabatta rolls = $3.29
• 1 jar of pesto = $2.19
• 1 package of Provolone (12 slices) = $1.85
• 2 packages of 8 oz. honey deli sliced turkey = $5.78 ( $2.89 each)
• 1 cucumber = $0.69

I usually get about 6 sandwiches out of this. With ciabatta rolls, it’s a perfect 6. However, the last sandwich will not have as much protein as the others.

Total = $13.80 ($2.30 for each sandwich!) I typically have some pesto leftover that I add to pasta dishes. You can also save the leftover pesto by freezing it in an ice cube tray lined with plastic and then transferring to a freezer bag.

These prices reflect current 2025 prices at Aldi in Chicago at the time of writing this post (can’t wait to see wait inflation brings!)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 slices of Sourdough or 1 Ciabatta roll
• ~15g pesto
• ~25g of thinly sliced cucumber
• 2 slices of provolone cheese
• 2.8 oz of turkey (~3 slices)
• Microgreens or other greens (optional)

How To Make The Best Sandwich:

Grab your two slices of bread and add ~15g of pesto divided to each slice.

Add your cucumbers and one slice of cheese to one of the slices.

Top with 3 slices of turkey and an additional slice of cheese! I like to rip the turkey up to fit perfectly on the sandwich and give it that rustic feel. (Optional: I added homegrown spicy microgreens).

Lastly, add your last slice of bread and toast in the toaster oven or stovetop. Just be careful flipping if on the stove.

Enjoy!