The best turkey sandwich ever is made with leftovers from your favorite holiday meal. You can make it exactly as the recipe states or add other things you love.

Holiday Meal Leftovers

I don’t know about you, but we always have plenty of leftovers after Thanksgiving and other holiday meals. 

It’s fun at first, but after a day or two, I’m always looking for ways to make the turkey seem fresh and new.

For this sandwich, I used turkey, cheese, and my favorite homemade cranberry sauce. It’s super easy to make from scratch, and it tastes better than the store-bought version.

My dad used to put a lot of other leftovers on his post-holiday sandwich. I even remember him adding the dressing (or stuffing, if you call it that). But he liked it, so he did what made him happy.

I’ve made a variety of soups and stews with leftovers. Even this green bean casserole deluxe adds a delicious element to any soup.

Best Turkey Sandwich Ingredients

The ingredients I have listed below are for one sandwich, since everyone might want something different. If you make two sandwiches, simply double the recipe.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 slices of your favorite bread (white, whole grain, or gluten-free)
• 2-4 ounces of leftover turkey (depends on how much protein you want)
• 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise (or more if you want)
• 2 slices of cheese (havarti, provolone, muenster, etc.)
• 1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce
• 2 tablespoons of butter

This time, I used havarti cheese. However, I really like provolone because it melts so well.

If the cheese doesn’t melt to your liking, you can stick the sandwich in the microwave for 10 seconds. But don’t leave it in there too long, or the bread will get rubbery.

Other things you can add to this sandwich are olives, pickles, mushrooms, peppers … or whatever you want.

This is your sandwich, so make it to suit your taste. I just wanted to give you some ideas.

How to Make the Best Turkey Sandwich Ever

First, you need to peruse your selection of leftovers. Of course, you’ll need turkey, since this is a turkey sandwich.

If you don’t have cranberry sauce, you can substitute marmalade or any kind of berry preserves.

Line everything up on the counter so you don’t forget anything. I’ve forgotten so much lately, that I have to do this.

Now it’s time to put it all together. While you’re constructing your sandwich, start melting the butter in a skillet on medium-high heat.

Spread the mayonnaise on both slices of bread. I like a moderate amount, but if you want more, then go for it.

Place the turkey and cheese on the bread. I didn’t want to overpower the flavors of other items, so I only put cheese on one side.

However, you might prefer more cheese to help everything stick together once it melts.

You can also add gravy, pesto, or anything else that sounds good. I started to use pesto, but I didn’t want it to compete with the cranberry sauce … so I didn’t.

Add the cranberry sauce. Don’t worry about it being gooey. Part of the fun of eating this sandwich is licking the sauce as it oozes out the sides.

Grill the Turkey Sandwich for the Best Flavor

Close the sandwich and carefully put it in the skillet. You don’t want to lose any of the filling … at least not yet.

Grill it until the bottom side is as toasty as you like it. I like it dark brown, but it’s up to you how long you want to grill it.

Flip the sandwich and make the other side toasty.

You can press the sandwich with a spatula to flatten it out a bit, or you can place a heavier pan on top of it until the cheese melts.

Remove the sandwich from the skillet, place it on a plate, and cut it in half. 

I like to have some sort of chips with most sandwiches. Since this sandwich is so packed with flavor, I opted for plain potato chips without any dip.

After the Sandwich

After you finish your sandwich, you might be in the mood for dessert. Of course, you can have a slice of leftover pumpkin pie … that is, if there is any left.

Or maybe you sent all the pies home with your guests in order to get the temptation out of the house. And that’s fine because I have plenty of suggestions.

First, there’s this absolutely wonderful 2-ingredient cherry chocolate cake. It’s easy to make and super delicious. 

Or if you prefer a cookie, try these flourless peanut butter cookies. They’re a favorite around our house.

My friend Julie makes this yummy and super popular buttermilk Texas sheet cake. Everyone who tries it loves it!

Another dessert you’ll love is one of these easy peanut butter fudge bars. They’re fun to make, so get your kids in the kitchen and let them help.

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