I’m a huge fan of turkey sandwiches. I like them with lots of mayo, good bread and a cheese with lots of flavor.
The day after Thanksgiving I’m the first one making a big sandwich with the leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. That’s really the perfect way to use Thanksgiving leftovers.
But here at Mortadella Head I try to come up with ways to turn American favorites into Italian recipes.
It’s made with a really nice deli style turkey. The same kind you usually get on a turkey sub.
There are so many different kinds of cheese to choose from when you make a delicious turkey sandwich.
I tried a few different types of cheese and I think I came up with the perfect sandwich.
The guy who maintains our deli slicer told me it was the best turkey sandwich he’s ever had. And he’s been in a lot of delis over the years.
It’s simple enough to make for an easy lunch, but it’s also good enough to serve to a crowd of friends and family.
Turkey sandwiches are a classic lunchtime favorite. With thinly sliced turkey, cheese, lettuce, and tomato between two slices of bread they make for a tasty and satisfying meal. But a great turkey sandwich deserves an equally delicious side dish to complement it. The right side can round out your lunch and add extra flavors and textures.
So what should you serve alongside your favorite turkey sandwiches? Here are 15 sensational side dish ideas to make your turkey sandwiches even more appetizing.
Salads
Salads are a natural pairing for turkey sandwiches. The fresh flavors and crunch pair perfectly with the savory sliced turkey.
Green Salad
A green salad is a classic. Mix together lettuce, spinach, kale or other greens with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, red onions or other chopped vegetables. Drizzle your favorite dressing over the top. The combination of crispy greens and tangy dressing complements turkey sandwiches flawlessly.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is another traditional pairing with turkey sandwiches. Chop boiled potatoes and fold in mayonnaise, mustard, chopped celery, onions, eggs and seasonings. The cool, creamy potato salad balances the turkey sandwich. Sprinkle extra paprika on top for color.
Pasta Salad
Pasta salads also match turkey sandwiches wonderfully. Toss pasta with chopped bell peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes, olives, cheese and your desired dressing. The flavors mingle together for a bright, summery side.
Fruit Salad
For a sweet contrast, serve fruit salads alongside turkey sandwiches. Dice up melons, berries, apples, grapes and other fresh fruits. The juicy sweetness offsets the turkey’s savory taste.
Coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw makes another excellent turkey sandwich accompaniment. Shred cabbage and carrots, then dress with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, pepper and spices. The tanginess contrasts the turkey perfectly.
Warm Dishes
While salads pair well with turkey sandwiches, warm dishes can also make tasty companions. Their comforting flavors balance the cool sliced turkey.
Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes or squash are fantastic with turkey sandwiches. Toss the vegetables in olive oil, salt, pepper and spices, then roast until caramelized. Their deep, sweet flavors complement the turkey.
Baked Beans
Warm, savory baked beans offer hearty flavors alongside turkey sandwiches. Kidney beans or navy beans baked with bacon, onions, molasses and spices make a satisfying southern classic.
Mac and Cheese
For ultimate comfort food, serve ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese with your turkey sandwiches. The creamy, cheesy pasta bakes up rich and delicious.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are another soothing option. Boil and mash russet or Yukon gold potatoes with butter, milk, salt and pepper for a creamy, smooth side.
Stuffing
Bread stuffing or dressing baked with vegetables, broth, eggs, herbs and spices makes a marvelous match for turkey sandwiches. The familiar Thanksgiving flavor combination is tough to beat.
Crunchy Dishes
For more texture contrast, serve your turkey sandwiches with crunchy side dishes. The crispness plays off the soft bread and tender turkey.
Chips
Potato chips, tortilla chips or another favorite crunchy chip make easy turkey sandwich sides. Opt for fun flavors like barbecue, salt and vinegar or ranch to keep things interesting.
French Fries
Crispy french fries, sweet potato fries or waffle fries pair fabulously with turkey sandwiches. Fry up the potatoes, then season them with salt for the perfect crunch.
Onion Rings
Golden fried onion rings offer irresistible crunch and sweetness with turkey sandwiches. Dip the onions in batter and fry them up hot and crispy.
Pickles
For acidity and crunch, serve bread-and-butter pickles, dill pickles or your favorite variety alongside your turkey sandwich. Their tart, briny taste balances the sandwich flavors.
Quick Breads
Quick breads like muffins or rolls round out a turkey sandwich plate nicely. Their soft, fresh-baked taste complements the sliced turkey.
Muffins
Whip up a batch of cornbread, blueberry, banana nut or other muffins to enjoy with your lunch. The muffins make a sweet, handy accompaniment.
Bread Rolls
Fresh from-scratch rolls like Parker House rolls, cloverleaf rolls or rustic Italian rolls go splendidly with turkey sandwiches. Their pillowy texture soaks up any sandwich drippings.
Garlic Bread
For extra flavor, whip up cheesy garlic bread dotted with butter and minced garlic. Toast up slices of a baguette or loaf of bread for a warm, aromatic side.
Simple Snacks
You can also accompany your turkey sandwich with easy simple snacks like:
- Carrot and celery sticks
- Crackers
- Granola bar
- Yogurt
- Apple sauce
- Trail mix
- Cheese cubes
- Hummus and pita
Whichever side you choose, be sure to indulge in a delicious dessert after your sandwich. Treat yourself to cookies, brownies, fresh fruit or another sweet finish. With so many wonderful side dish options, your turkey sandwich lunch possibilities are endless! Experiment to find your favorite pairings.
What You Need to Make A Great Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
All of the ingredients you need for this delicious sandwich are going to be simple. You should be able to find them all in your local grocery store.
This turkey sandwich recipe is going to be easy. I basically took the classic turkey sandwich and elevated it with a few simple touches.
Some people might even call it a gourmet sandwich.
It’s also going to be a cold sandwich.
When I made this sandwich I used a really basic deli turkey. Nothing fancy. I swear.
The most important thing is that you have the guy behind the deli counter slice the turkey breast as thin as possible.
Don’t be shy. Ask to inspect a piece of turkey after he slices it.
I see a turkey sandwich as being a blank canvas when it comes to cheese.
For this sandwich, I used provolone cheese. It’s one of the best cheeses for Italian style sandwiches.
I made sure to slice it fresh and slice it thin. That’s the only way to do it in my opinion.
But if you don’t love provolone, you don’t have to use it. There are so many different cheeses to choose from.
You could use American cheese, mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese.
Like I said before, whatever you use, make sure that your slices of cheese are thin.
Pick your favorite cheese and go with it.
The bread is a really important part of any sandwich. If you use bad bread, you’re starting off on the wrong foot.
For my turkey and cheese sandwich I decided to use one of the sub rolls we serve at Mortadella Head. It’s crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.
If you don’t have a sub roll, you could use a baguette, a ciabatta roll or sourdough bread.
Any type of Italian bread that is soft on the inside and crusty on the outside will be great.
I made a really quick basil pesto aioli for this sandwich. I took mayonnaise and basil pesto and put it in a bowl.
Then I mixed it all together. It adds a lot of flavor to the sandwich.
Who doesn’t love a good turkey pesto sandwich?
Feel free to use store bought pesto for this recipe.
I strongly recommend that you always spread your mayo on both sides of the roll for even distribution of flavors.
If you’re using sliced sandwich bread, apply it to both slices of bread.
When you spread your mayo on the top slice of bread and the bottom slice, you’ll be able to tell the difference.
I made my sandwich with mixed greens and tomatoes.
I made sure the greens were nice and fresh. I dressed them in our homemade red wine vinaigrette.
I sliced my tomatoes nice and thin.
Always season the veggies on your sandwich. A liberal amount of salt and pepper makes every sandwich better.
Add a nice drizzle of olive oil and you’re golden!
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Can this turkey and cheese sandwich be served hot?
Yes. When I made it, I ate it at room temperature. If you like hot turkey and cheese, here are a couple ways to do it.
It’s a great way to improve on a traditional grilled cheese and turkey sandwich.
Make a turkey melt in a large skillet or frying pan. Add some real butter to the pan and put it on medium heat. Put the sandwich in the pan for a couple minutes on each side.
You’ll know it’s done when the cheese melts and the bread is a nice golden brown.
You can also put the sandwich in the oven and make a melty cheese and turkey sandwich.
If you have a panini press you can use it to make a hot turkey sandwich. Put it in the press until you can see the melted cheese oozing out the side of the bread.
Turkey Sandwich (1917) on Sandwiches of History
FAQ
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