The leftover turkey sandwich is a post-Thanksgiving holiday tradition. Our version layers roasted turkey with gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce!
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Pin RecipeThere’s one thing almost everyone does the day after Thanksgiving. No, we’re not talking about Black Friday sales—we’re 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. It’s as much of a Thanksgiving tradition as the Macy’s parade and football games.
Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich Recipe
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 them 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!
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, our classic turkey gravy, or turkey gravy without drippings.
- Leftover roasted turkey – Dark meat, light meat, or a little of both.
- 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.
Quick Tip
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, we recommend reheating it separately, keeping it covered, and adding a bit of broth, butter, or gravy. It will taste as good as new!
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
- Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400ºF.
- Assemble: 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. Then, add the turkey slices, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Spread another tablespoon of gravy onto the remaining slice of bread, then gently press it onto the sandwich.
- Bake: Wrap the sandwich in the foil, and place it in the oven on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Serve: Carefully unwrap the sandwich. Then, slice it in half, and enjoy.
Quick Tip
This sandwich is also fantastic when cold. No need to heat it up if you want to start eating sooner!
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.
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!
FAQs
This is totally a personal preference thing. We 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 for a sandwich ever if you ask me!
More Ideas for Turkey Leftovers
Recipes
Turkey Casserole
Recipes
Easy Turkey Tetrazzini
Main Dishes
Turkey Pot Pie
Soups and Salads
Leftover Turkey Soup
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 Thanksgiving 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 Thanksgiving 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!
Notes
- This sandwich is also fantastic when cold. No need to heat it up if you want to start eating sooner!
- Use all Thanksgiving leftovers for your sandwich. Be sure to save some turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy so you can enjoy this sandwich the next day.
- Use a large kaiser roll in place of bread. A leftover dinner roll will also make great mini sandwiches.
