Posted Nov 11, 2020, Updated Nov 11, 2024 This turkey cranberry sandwich was inspired by my husband’s favorite sandwich from a restaurant in our hometown. I’ve been making it ever since we got married, especially after Thanksgiving as a way to use up leftover roast turkey or crock pot turkey breast. In this Turkey Cranberry Sandwich recipe, turkey and cranberry sauce are nestled between two slices of buttery bread that have been grilled to perfection, all held together by melted cheddar cheese. A seriously delicious meal for any time of the day. Also try our ham and Swiss sliders, BLT recipe and the best grilled cheese!
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich: Ingredients
Here are some notes about the ingredients in this Thanksgiving turkey sandwich recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
Bread. I recommend a hearty bread that holds up well to being buttered and grilled. I used a brioche white bread in this post, but have used homemade white sandwich bread, homemade honey wheat bread, homemade burger buns or even these leftover dinner rolls after Thanksgiving to make this turkey sandwich! Choose gluten-free bread if you need a gluten-free sandwich. Cheddar Cheese. Technically you can use any cheese you’d like: Swiss, gouda, provolone, Colby jack, etc. the possibilities are endless. However a sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite. Cranberry sauce. I recommend using this homemade cranberry sauce – because it is the best you’ll ever eat and so easy to make. However, canned or jarred cranberry sauce works well too! Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted, but I don’t really recommend it because the salty, buttery grilled outside is part of what makes this turkey cranberry sandwich so great. Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy spreading. Leftover Turkey. I recommend using leftovers from our Roast Turkey Recipe – because it’s the best. Also – this slow cooker turkey breast. However you can use any turkey, including whatever you can find at your local deli counter.
How to Make a Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
Making a hot Turkey Sandwich that doesn’t fall apart is an art, an art that I have mastered. So let’s walk through the process step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video! Begin by placing a slice of cheese on each piece of bread. This is the “glue” of this turkey sandwich recipe. The cheese melts from both sides and holds everything together beautifully. Next, on one piece of bread, spread cranberry sauce on top of the slice of cheese, then arrange ¼ lb. of turkey on top of the cranberry sauce. Be sure to use thin slices and cover the bread area. Next, place the other piece of cheese, then the other slice of bread on top of the half with turkey & cranberry sauce. Butter the outside of one of the pieces of bread.
Grill
Place the Thanksgiving turkey sandwich onto a large non-stick skillet, buttered side down – leaving room for the second sandwich as well. Spread butter on the outside of the other slice of bread (that should now be facing up). Turn the heat on to medium-low and cover the skillet with a lid. Both the lid and the low temperature are important to heat the ingredients and melt the cheese. Cook on medium-low for 4-5 minutes, or until the bottom slice of bread is golden-brown. Flip the cranberry turkey sandwich over, turn heat to low and continue cooking an additional 4-5 minutes until the second side is golden-brown and the cheese is melted.
Serve
Serve this leftover turkey sandwich immediately, warm with a side salad, or some of your favorite Thanksgiving leftovers (like mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, Brussel sprout salad, butternut squash soup, etc).
Store
The cranberry turkey sandwich stores really well. If you have any leftover sandwich pieces simply let them cool to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat
Reheat in a nonstick frying pan over medium heat to re-crisp the outside of the bread. You can also warm leftovers in the microwave but it will lose some of the outer crispiness. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
