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If you’re looking for the easiest, most satisfying way to use up holiday leftovers, this leftover turkey sandwich is everything you want the day after Thanksgiving—savory, comforting, and stacked high with all the good stuff. It’s the perfect balance of tender turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and yes, even the stuffing and gravy!
Still have more leftovers after making these epic sandwiches? Well, then it’s time to make my Easy Turkey Tetrazzini and Leftover Turkey Soup!
Why you’ll love this Thanksgiving leftover sandwich!
There’s one thing almost everyone does the day after Thanksgiving. No, I’m not talking about Black Friday sales—I’m talking about making a leftover turkey sandwich for lunch.
Okay, maybe you don’t do it on Friday. Maybe Friday is when you do Thanksgiving Part II, heating up all the leftovers and feasting again.
But by Saturday, you know you’re assembling what’s left behind into epic turkey sandwiches—and maybe this Leftover Turkey Casserole and other recipes for leftover turkey. It’s as much of a Thanksgiving tradition as the Macy’s parade and football games.
- Uses up multiple leftovers: So nothing goes to waste!
- Flexible and customizable: Add stuffing, cheese, or your favorite spreads.
- Hot or cold option: And both are delicious!
- Ready in minutes: So it’s ideal for post-holiday relaxing.
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll love this Thanksgiving leftover sandwich!
- What Do You Put in a Leftover Turkey Sandwich?
- Leftover Turkey Sandwich Ingredients
- Variations
- How to Make a Leftover Turkey Sandwich
- Serving Suggestions
- How to Store Leftover Turkey Sandwiches
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Ideas for Turkey Leftovers
- Leftover Turkey Sandwich Recipe
What Do You Put in a Leftover Turkey Sandwich?
So here’s the real question: what do you put in your leftover turkey sandwich?
Some people are staunch traditionalists and stick with turkey and maybe a smudge of mustard and mayo. Others pair the turkey with cranberry sauce and pile the two onto a dinner roll. In my house, we like to go to town, and that means making a leftover turkey sandwich with all the Thanksgiving leftovers.
Yep, we’ve got the roast turkey. We also use gravy, stuffing, and homemade cranberry sauce. If we’ve got leftover sourdough or French bread, all the better, but if not, store-bought slices of whole wheat bread will do.
While you could pile on some green bean casserole and mashed potatoes if you’re so inclined, we don’t want to go too crazy. You have to be able to fit the sandwich into your mouth, after all!
Leftover Turkey Sandwich Ingredients
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Whole wheat bread – Or another type of bread. Whatever you use, you want thick, sturdy slices that will hold together when you pile on the toppings.
- Turkey gravy – Use your favorite gravy recipe, my classic turkey gravy, or turkey gravy without drippings.
- Leftover roasted turkey – Dark meat, light meat, or a little of both. (You used my best turkey brine when you made it, right?!)
- Thanksgiving stuffing – Sausage & apple stuffing, cornbread dressing, or whatever you have on hand!
- Cranberry sauce – The saucy kind and the jelly-like kind from a can both work.
Variations
- Use a large Kaiser roll instead of sliced bread. A leftover dinner roll will also make great mini sandwiches, or use Hawaiian rolls to make sliders.
- If you love mayo on your turkey sandwiches, you can stir a small amount of cranberry sauce into mayo to make a cranberry aioli.
- Add your favorite slice of cheese to the sandwich. Cheddar, gruyère, Swiss cheese, gouda cheese, or brie would all be delicious.
- Feel free to use whatever you have left from Thanksgiving. There are no rules here!
How to Make a Leftover Turkey Sandwich
- Get started: Lay a piece of foil on a flat work surface and place one of the bread slices in the center of the foil. Spread a tablespoon of the gravy onto the bread.
- Add the turkey slices: A single layer will do ya. Gotta leave room for the stuffing!
- Add the stuffing and cranberry sauce: Now we’re talking!
- Finish and bake: Spread another tablespoon of gravy onto the remaining slice of bread, then gently press it onto the sandwich. Wrap the sandwich in the foil, and bake for 8 minutes, or until warmed through. Unwrap and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
- Green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and other Thanksgiving leftovers are the perfect sides for a leftover turkey sandwich.
- If you’re feeling a little Thanksgiving-ed out, pair your sandwich with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, steamed broccoli, or a handful of your favorite potato chips!
How to Store Leftover Turkey Sandwiches
What if you have leftovers of your leftovers?! If your leftover turkey sandwich proves to be a little too much for you to eat at once, wrap it back up in the foil, and refrigerate it for up to a day. You can eat it cold or reheat it in a 350ºF oven or the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is totally a personal preference thing. I like whole wheat bread, but you can also use sourdough, French, or your favorite sandwich roll.
Mustard, mayonnaise, and aioli are all great choices for turkey sandwiches. Get creative with your condiments and try something new! Other accompaniment ideas include tomato, avocado, pickle, caramelized onions, and arugula.
Yes, if it has been stored correctly in the fridge. As long as it smells okay and hasn’t developed any mold or discoloration, your turkey should still be good a few days after Thanksgiving. Just make sure to double-check before eating it!
A leftover turkey sandwich! Or, in some parts of the United States, you might call it a Pilgrim, a Gobbler, or a Bobbie (or Bobby). If you’re a fan of the TV show Friends, you may also know this sandwich as the Moist Maker, which just might be the worst name EVER for a sandwich if you ask me!
More Ideas for Turkey Leftovers
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Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Equipment
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 2 slices whole wheat bread
- 2 tablespoons turkey gravy
- 3 slices leftover roasted turkey about 3 ounces
- ½ cups stuffing
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Lay a piece of foil on a flat work surface.
- Place one pieces of the bread in the center of the foil.2 slices whole wheat bread
- Spread 1 Tbsp of the gravy over the bread.2 tablespoons turkey gravy
- Add the turkey slices to the bread then pile on the stuffing and cranberry sauce.3 slices leftover roasted turkey, ½ cups stuffing, 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- Spread the rest of the gravy over the other slice of bread then place the second piece of bread on top of the sandwich.
- Wrap the sandwich in the foil then place in the oven. Cook for 8 minutes.
- Carefully unwrap the sandwich then slice it in half. Enjoy while warm!
Video
Notes
- No need to heat: This sandwich is also fantastic when cold. No need to heat it up if you want to start eating sooner!
- Switch up the bread: Use a large kaiser roll in place of bread. A leftover dinner roll will also make great mini sandwiches.
- Restore dry turkey: Dry leftover turkey isn’t always the most appetizing. You can cover it up with a bit of gravy. However, to keep your leftover Thanksgiving turkey moist, I recommend reheating it separately, keeping it covered, and adding a bit of broth, butter, or gravy.
That leftover turkey sandwich looks cozy and packed with all the Thanksgiving flavors!
This looks like the ultimate post-Thanksgiving treat.
Nothing beats a good leftover turkey sandwich!
Such a smart idea! Turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry all in one bite — you can’t go wrong. The perfect way to enjoy those Thanksgiving leftovers!