This grilled Turkey and Cranberry Sandwich is one of my favorite things to make with Thanksgiving leftovers. This holiday sandwich is made with layers of cranberry sauce, sliced turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamy brie, buttery muenster and honey mustard between two buttery slices of sourdough.
Table of Contents
What is Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
The Turkey Cranberry Sandwich is a delightful culinary creation, perfect for savoring the flavors of Thanksgiving any time of the year.
Imagine this: a luscious stack of tender, savory turkey, nestled between generous dollops of tangy cranberry sauce, creating a dance of sweet and savory notes on your palate.
But wait, there's more!
Each bite is further enriched with the comforting presence of hearty stuffing and smooth, creamy mashed potatoes, providing a diverse range of textures.
And the vessel for this festive feast?
Two slices of rich, buttery sourdough, toasted to golden perfection, smothered in melted brie and muenster cheese.
This sandwich isn't just a meal; it's a celebration of flavors, a reminder of cozy gatherings, and a testament to the joy of repurposing leftovers into something spectacularly delicious.
It's a delightful twist on holiday favorites that brings the spirit of Thanksgiving to your table any day of the year.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Sourdough - Feel free to swap sourdough bread for another bread you prefer. You'll just want to adjust the amounts since the bread size could change depending on the brand/bread you prefer.
- Brie - Brie is so buttery and creamy but if you're not a fan, swap it for another meltable cheese.
- Muenster Cheese - Same goes for muenster - it works beautifully in this sandwich but if you're not a fan, use something you like. I recommend white cheddar, asiago, havarti or even a smoked gouda.
- Honey Mustard - I love using a really nice honey mustard to bring more flavor but if you're not a mustard fan, you can leave it off, try may or agarlic aioli, or use something you like better.
- Mashed Potatoes - No real sub for mashed potatoes but if you don't have any leftover, you can use the microwavable single serving containers for a quick hack.
- Leftover Turkey - If you don't have any hard carved turkey leftover, you can absolutely use sliced turkey from the deli section.
- Cranberry Sauce - Any sort of tangy cranberry sauce will work. Doesn't matter if it's jelly, jam or even relish or chutney. Use what you prefer.
- Salted Butter - If you're using unsalted butter, just add a pinch of salt to make up for it.
How to make it
Making a turkey cranberry sandwich is a total breeze!
To begin, you'll just want to lay out two slices of bread on your cutting board.
Smear one slice of bread with the honey mustard then top with half of the brie.
Add mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry and stuffing, followed by the remaining slices of muenster cheese.
Butter the exterior of the outside of the sandwich and place in a nonstick fry pan heated over medium high.
Cook for a few minutes on each side, flipping once the bread is golden and most of the cheese has melted.
Remove from heat and let it cool for a minute before slicing in half and serving with gravy.
What goes with Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
This cranberry turkey sandwich goes really well with any of your traditional thanksgiving sides. I would pair it with my cheesy green bean casserole. Or try this southern squash casserole, or even these candied yams with ritz crackers.
It also goes really nicely with soup! I recommend my roasted feta soup, this curried cauliflower soup or even this white lasagna soup.
Frequently asked questions
What is a turkey cranberry sandwich called?
The turkey cranberry sandwich is affectionately known as the Pilgrim or Gobbler. It is a delightful hug of flavors, nestling tender turkey and zesty cranberry between slices of bread in a way that's just utterly scrumptious and irresistibly cozy!
Where did turkey and cranberry sauce originate?
Turkey, with its deep American roots, originated in North America, where Native Americans first domesticated it, while cranberry sauce, a tart yet sweet delight, emerged from the bogs of New England, lovingly crafted by early settlers and Indigenous people.
Does cranberry go on turkey?
Cranberry on turkey? Absolutely! This sweet and tart berry sauce brings a joyful pop of flavor (and color!) to the savory, rich turkey, making each bite a delightful dance of tastes.
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Recipe
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices Sourdough
- 3 slices Brie (or enough to cover the bread)
- 1 tablespoon Honey Mustard
- ⅓ cup Mashed Potatoes
- ⅓ cup Leftover Turkey thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon Cranberry Sauce (or jam or relish)
- ⅓ cup Stuffing
- 2 slices Muenster Cheese
- 2 pats Salted Butter
- Gravy for dunking
Instructions
- Place the two slices of bread on your cutting board.
- Smear one slice of bread with the mustard then top with half of the brie.
- Add mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry and stuffing, followed by the remaining slices of muenster cheese.
- Butter the exterior of the outside of the sandwich and place in a nonstick fry pan heated over medium high.
- Cook for a few minutes on each side, flipping once the bread is golden and most of the cheese has melted.
- Remove from heat and let it cool for a minute before slicing in half and serving with gravy.
Alyssa Pettingill
Hi!
If we’re not big fans of Brie, what type of cheese do you recommend substituting for? 🙂
grilledcheesesocial
Just use more muenster 😉