The Ultimate Guide to Making the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich

Thanksgiving dinner is over, but what to do with all those leftovers?! Make this Thanksgiving Sandwich with leftover turkey and cranberry of course! Indulgent, festive yet easy for those of you who need a much deserved break from cooking. Jump to Recipe

Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around food, family, and gratitude. After spending hours preparing a huge feast, we all look forward to the leftovers almost as much as the main meal itself! One of the best ways to enjoy those leftovers is in the form of a delicious Thanksgiving turkey sandwich.

A Classic Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich

A classic Thanksgiving turkey sandwich consists of a few simple ingredients:

Bread – Sliced bread, rolls or croissants work well. Go for something that can stand up to moist and hearty fillings.
Turkey – Thinly slice or shred both white and dark meat turkey
Stuffing – Chopped up leftover stuffing adds texture.
Cranberry Sauce – A tart, sweet contrast to the other flavors.
Gravy – For extra moisture and turkey flavor.
Vegetable – Lettuce or heated greens like green beans or Brussels sprouts.
Mayo or Oil – Adds a richness and binds the other ingredients.

Stack up the ingredients on your bread of choice in your desired order. Some additional ingredients you may want to add are mashed potatoes, bacon, avocado, cheese, and pickles. The possibilities are endless!

Tips for the Best Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich

Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving turkey sandwich incredible:

Use a combo of white and dark meat – The white meat is lean and mild while the dark meat is juicy and rich. Together they make the perfect turkey flavor.
Try different breads – Croissants, pretzel buns, ciabatta, and potato rolls all make excellent bases for your sandwich.
Add cheese – Melty cheese takes the sandwich up a notch. Cheddar, Swiss, provolone and havarti are great options.
Top with lettuce or spinach – Crisp cool lettuce or spinach adds texture and color.
Spread mayo or oil on the bread – This helps keep the bread from getting soggy and adds moisture.
Heat it up – Warming the sandwich makes the cheese melty and the flavors meld together. Consider a panini press or warming it in the oven.
Get creative with cranberry sauce – Mix it with mayo or cream cheese for a spread, or add orange segments, pecans or herbs.
Layer on gravy – Drizzle extra gravy on top or dip the sandwich to add even more flavor.
Add crunch – Fried onions, crispy bacon, celery, or chopped nuts give a fabulous crunch.
Serve with soup – A comforting soup like turkey noodle or butternut squash makes the perfect accompaniment.

Innovative Ways to Enjoy Turkey Sandwiches

If you want to shake things up, here are some fun twists on the traditional turkey sandwich:

Stuffing waffles in place of bread
Sliders on dinner rolls or bread slices
Open-faced sandwiches on baguette slices
Grilled sandwiches with pesto or hummus
Wraps in tortillas, flatbread or lettuce leaves
Turkey club roll-ups or lunch kebabs
Monte Cristo or French dip style
Add BBQ sauce, pesto or salsa for flavor
Use waffles or donuts instead of bread
Make it a melt with tomato soup for dipping

So break out your leftover turkey and get creative with sandwiches this Thanksgiving! With such amazing ingredients, you really can’t go wrong.

Classic Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich Recipes

Here are some classic Thanksgiving turkey sandwich recipes to try:

Simple Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich

3 slices bread
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 cup cranberry sauce
6 ounces roasted turkey, thinly sliced
1/2 cup stuffing
2 green leaf lettuce leaves (optional)

Spread one side of each bread slice with mayonnaise. On the non-mayo side of one slice, evenly spread the cranberry sauce. Top with turkey, stuffing and lettuce if desired. Top with another bread slice, mayo-side down.

Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich

4 slices bread
2-3 tablespoons gravy
1/4 cup shredded or thinly sliced turkey
2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons stuffing
Sliced Swiss cheese

Spread both sides of bread slices lightly with gravy. On two slices, layer turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing. Top with Swiss cheese. Place remaining bread slices on top and press down lightly. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until cheese is melted and bread is browned on both sides.

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich

4 slices crusty bread
3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise
8 ounces shredded turkey
1/2 cup leftover vegetables, heated
2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons fried onions

Toast or grill the bread. Spread each slice with mayonnaise. Top with turkey, vegetables and cranberry sauce. Sprinkle fried onions on top.

Satisfy Your Leftover Craving

Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches are the perfect way to savor all of your holiday meal favorites long after the big feast is over. With so many possible combinations, feel free to get creative and come up with your own signature sandwich. Just make sure to pile it high with all your favorite flavors and textures. Your tastebuds will thank you!

thanksgiving turkey sandwich recipe

What is a Thanksgiving Sandwich?

Also known to some as a Pilgrim or Puritan, it honestly can be whatever you want it to be depending on what leftovers you have. This version is my favorite though. Its basically a turkey club sandwich, but way fancier. The star of the show is, of course, leftover turkey from Thanksgiving dinner. I love turkey, but I can only eat it on its own for so long before I get bored (typically by the day after Thanksgiving). Turning it into a sandwich is a lot more fun and filling.

Leftover Turkey Sandwich Ingredients:

Along with the turkey, my Thanksgiving sandwich features cranberry sauce, cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese, gravy and lettuce served on Ciabatta. You can definitely substitute or customize however you like. Any cheese topper will do. If you have some leftover from a charcuterie board instead of cheddar, feel free to grab it. I personally love the combination of cream cheese and cranberry though so try to add it if you have it! Bacon is another amazing addition. I typically add bacon to dishes Im making for Thanksgiving (i.e. my bacon wrapped green bean casserole bundles or my bacon and goat cheese Brussels sprouts), so I generally have extra on hand. Sometimes Ill add leftover stuffing as well. Ive even thrown mashed potatoes on there, because the more carbs the better.

Brioche is another great option for bread, especially if you prefer a softer variety. I like using toasted Ciabatta with these ingredients though. You dont have to worry about your Thanksgiving sandwich being too dry as long as your have cranberry sauce and gravy! Some people like to add a “moist maker” also known as a piece of bread which is soaked in gravy in the middle (and which gets its name from Friends). You can totally do that here if youd like, but I opt to leave it out. I cant stand when a sandwich starts to feel soggy and prefer a little crunch!

As I mentioned earlier, there is not much cooking required for this recipe. I do recommend toasting the Ciabatta though. And youll want to heat up the turkey and cook the bacon (unless you have leftover bacon cooked from the day before). On one half of your Thanksgiving sandwich spread cream cheese and the other your cranberry sauce. Then stack on turkey, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce and drizzle with gravy!

Also I really love our toaster oven if youre looking for a good one! They typically have good Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals.

Since this is already a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich recipe, I recommend only making what you plan to eat in each sitting. If your eyes were too big for your stomach though (something Im commonly guilty of), simply wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate to finish later. Enjoy and happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Leftovers | Hot and Cold Turkey Sandwiches

FAQ

What is the best condiment on a turkey sandwich?

Mayonnaise is favored by the majority, however. (Both Hellmann’s and Duke’s have adamant fan bases.) Mayo is a simple and apt pairing when the sandwich consists of richly flavored dark meat. Pat Eby takes it up a notch, though, mixing equal parts of Duke’s with a country Dijon.

What cheese is best for Thanksgiving turkey sandwich?

I usually use cheddar which is always a solid choice. I have also used Swiss cheese in the past, which is always a great combo with turkey. If you want that classic melty, cheese pull then sub half of whatever cheese you’re using with mozzarella. You could use all mozzarella, it just won’t add as much flavour.

Does mustard or mayo go on a turkey sandwich?

Condiments: Personally, I like to keep it simple with a thin layer or mayonnaise. You can also add deli mustard, yellow mustard, or even a little ranch dressing. Cheese: Next is the cheese. Provolone, Swiss, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Havarti are all great cheese choices.

What is the best bread for Thanksgiving sandwiches?

Many sandwiches later, I’ve found sliced white sourdough holds up best. Regular, bagged sandwich bread gets soggy under the weight of the filling. Anything seedy or crusty doesn’t have the right amount of squish and will cut the roof of your mouth when you go to take a bite.

How do you make a turkey deli sandwich?

Toast 2 slices multigrain or whole-wheat sandwich bread. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on one side of each slice. Top one slice with 2 slices provolone or Swiss cheese, overlapping them if needed. Top with 3 ounces turkey deli meat and the tomatoes. Lightly season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Top with the lettuce.

How do you eat a turkey sandwich with mayonnaise?

Toast the bread, then spread mayonnaise on one slice. Place 2 slices of cheese onto the other slice of the bread. Put lettuce onto the mayonnaise side of the bread and sliced turkey onto the cheese side of the bread. Next, place tomatoes on the lettuce and cucumbers on the sliced turkey. Finally, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.

How do you make a good leftover turkey sandwich?

Here’s how I make the best leftover turkey sandwiches: First, spread some mayonnaise on each slice of bread. Then place the slices of turkey onto one piece of bread. Cover the turkey with some stuffing, then mashed potatoes. I like to warm both in the microwave first to make them easier to spread.

How do you make a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce?

Step 1 In a small bowl, mix together mayo and mustard. Spread one side of two pieces of bread with Dijonnaise mixture. This is your base for both sandwiches. Step 2 Top each of the two slices of bread with 1 cup of turkey, ¼ cup of mashed potatoes, 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce, ¼ cup of stuffing, and then 2 tablespoons of gravy and spinach.