No frills, no fuss: just a straightforward, delicious solution to your post-holiday food leftovers. Turkey, cran sauce, cheese and a few other ingredients. And a good piece of bread, of course. A sandwich so easy to make, it practically puts itself together.
SAVE THIS RECIPE
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Best leftover idea!
I like waking up the day after big festivities, those that have the good food and once-a-year dishes and eat the leftovers. I look forward to it as much as to the main event.
This sandwich checks every box.
- Flavor combination: the contrast between sweet cranberry sauce and savory turkey, creamy mayo and cheese, fresh lettuce and crunchy bread makes this sandwich a winner.
- Quick and easy: after lightly toasting the bread, you just pile the leftovers. It doesn't get much easier than that.
- Versatile: you can use different types of bread and cheese and customize it to your liking.
Testing Notes
Overloaded sandwich: Using too much of each ingredient can make it difficult to eat and lead to competing flavors. Focus on a few key ingredients that complement each other well, such as turkey, cranberry sauce, and a mild cheese. This ensures a harmonious combination without overwhelming the palate.
Warm sandwich: Consider using a panini press or grilling the assembled sandwich in a skillet for a few minutes on each side. This warms the ingredients and adds an extra crispness to the bread.
Dry turkey: This can be a problem, especially if using breast meat. Besides the cranberry sauce and mayo, you can drizzle a bit of warm gravy (if there is any leftover) or olive oil. This not only adds moisture but also enhances the flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- Turkey: dark or white meat.
- Butter lettuce: I find it's the most tender, but any type you like works.
- Bread slices: multigrain, seeded, classic whole wheat bread or white sandwich bread work really well. If using sourdough or ciabatta-style breads, look for those with a softer crust.
Variations
- Mayonnaise: spice it up with a pinch of nutmeg, Tabasco, add chopped garlic to it or go with a mayo-based garlic aioli.
- Cheese: we like Swiss cheese, but brie, Fontina, gruyere and cheddar work very well.
- Club sandwich: Use crustless, thin bread slices and make a triple-decker.
- Wrap or quesadilla: ditch the bread and use flour or corn tortillas with the same filling.
- Croissant sandwich: This is a sweeter version and more sophisticated.
How to assemble a turkey cran sandwich
The order of the ingredients can be varied, but we have a certain way of piling them on the bread slices.
- Lightly toast the bread. It should still be soft. Add a few tablespoons of cranberry sauce on one side and mayonnaise on the other slice.
- Top the sliced turkey and cheese slices. Place the lettuce leaves on top of the mayo. Close the sandwich, press down a little to compress and enjoy!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy.
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread, white, whole wheat or multigrain
- 6 slices white or dark turkey meat
- 4 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- 2 leaves butter lettuce, without stalks for a softer bite
- 2 slices Swiss cheese
- mayonnaise
Instructions
- Toast 4 slices sandwich bread until they are light golden brown.
- Spread 4 tablespoons cranberry sauce, divided evenly, on two of the bread slices.
- Layer 6 slices white or dark turkey meat on top of the cranberry sauce, dividing evenly between the two slices of bread. Add a slice of Swiss cheese on top of the turkey.
- Spread mayonnaise on the other half of bread and top 2 leaves butter lettuce, divided. Top with the second slice of bread and cut the sandwich in half.
Rate and review this recipe