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Having a bunch of leftovers to use up after your Thanksgiving feast is no fun, especially when the fridge is full to bursting with them. There are only so many recipes you can use that leftover turkey in before you get tired of it – or are there? The following recipe might just change your mind. It’s a diner-style hot turkey sandwich with rich, meaty gravy, green peas, and more. In fact, you might want to opt for a holiday turkey a size up so you can be sure of having leftovers and making your own hot turkey sandwiches this year!
The combination of succulent turkey, thick fluffy bread slices, peas, butter, gravy, and cranberries is truly a magical one. It’s a dish that’s gaining popularity everywhere.
Also check out this turkey breast dinner, Instant Pot turkey wild rice casserole, turkey tenderloin, and these turkey cookies are amazing too.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: After spending hours sweating over a hot stove on Thanksgiving the last thing you want to do the following day is repeat the experience, which is why the simplicity of this recipe is going to make you want to make it!
Delicious: Although there are lots of different leftover turkey recipes you can make, perhaps also including mashed potatoes, green beans, sliced turkey, sweet potatoes, or anything else that’s left over, these hot turkey sandwiches are one of the most delicious options.
Family friendly: This isn’t a recipe just for the kids, just for the grownups or just for anyone in particular. It has huge appeal to anyone who loves turkey and likes to eat sandwiches. Oh, and if you’re a gravy fan then you’re sure to love it a lot.
Leftover Roasted Turkey Sandwiches Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Leftover turkey: The main component in these delicious sandwiches.
Bread: Thick-cut bread is best, as it holds up to the moist filling without disintegrating.
Peas: To add pops of color along with flavor and nutrients.
Gravy: Whatever you had with the turkey will work.
How to Make a Hot Turkey Sandwich
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Warm the turkey: Warm it up in a pan on the stove or a dish in the microwave.
Cook the peas: Follow the instructions on the packaging to cook the peas.
Prepare the gravy: Warm the gravy in a pan on the stove (or make fresh if you don’t have leftovers).
Toast the bread: Toast your bread and then butter one side.
Assemble the sandwiches: Put a piece of toast on a plate buttered side up and spoon the turkey, peas and cranberries on top, and then pour gravy over the top of that, and serve. Repeat with the rest of the bread, turkey and toppings.
Substitutions and Variations
White bread: Feel free to substitute Texas toast, thickly sliced Italian loaf or another kind of soft bread for the white bread.
Green peas: You can omit the peas.
Gravy: Use your favorite gravy recipe, chicken broth gravy or instant gravy mix.
Serving Suggestions
With buffet-style dishes: Serve these warm and with silverware because they’re messy! If you want to offer other sides for a buffet-style meal (always great the day after Thanksgiving!) something like festive pecan cranberry Brussels sprouts or green goddess salad if you want something light after your Thanksgiving indulgences!
With potatoes: A hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy is delicious! French fries are another option if you don’t mind the soft white bread and fries carb overload, or anything else left over from your holiday dinner can also go on the plate with your turkey and gravy sandwiches. Follow it up with a butter tart, another one of the iconic Canadian recipes afterwards.
How to Store Hot Turkey Breast Gravy Sandwiches
Store: Leftovers are going to get a bit soggy, so it’s best to only make what you’re going to need.
Freeze: You can freeze leftover turkey but it’s best not to freeze these assembled sandwiches unless you want to learn the true meaning of the word “soggy” when you thaw them!
Top Tips
Don’t overcook the turkey: It’s already cooked and just needs to be warmed up gently. Overcooking it makes it dry.
Use thickly sliced bread: The gravy sinks right through thin bread slices so pick something sturdy.
Serve right away: These hot turkey sandwiches are best served as soon as they’re ready.
Hot Turkey Sandwich FAQs
Actually the cranberries are an optional component, so don’t worry if you have none left after Thanksgiving. If you have cranberry sauce though, that would also work in this hot turkey sandwich, to add a tart/sweet fruit flavor. It’s quite sweet of course, so a little goes a long way.
The best bread option here is something thick, since the hot gravy is going to soak through thin bread slices too fast. Thick sliced bread, either bought that way or sliced at home, or Texas toast (which is handy because it comes frozen and keeps for months) is ideal. Make sure you toast at least the top side, so the bread doesn’t get saturated and soggy as soon as you add the fresh gravy and toppings. If you don’t like white bread at all, whole wheat will also work for this open faced sandwich.
Hot Turkey Sandwich Recipe
Canadian Hot Turkey Sandwich
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Cups roasted turkey, sliced
- 4 Slices bread, thick-cut
- 2 Cups peas, frozen
- 2 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 2 Cups gravy
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat turkey in the microwave or on the stovetop until hot. Set aside.
- Cook the peas according to packaging instructions. Set aside in a bowl.
- Heat the gravy in a saucepan on the stove until warmed through.
- Toast the bread, and lightly butter one side of each slice.
- Build the sandwiches by placing one slice of toasted bread on a plate, and top it with turkey and peas. Pour the gravy on top and serve.
Notes
Use thickly sliced bread: The gravy sinks right through thin bread slices so pick something sturdy.
Serve right away: These hot turkey sandwiches are best served as soon as they’re ready.
Nutrition
Post-Thanksgiving delicacies often involve turkey in some shape or form! Here the juicy turkey leftovers are paired with thick slices of bread, meaty gravy, green peas, and cranberries, to make it the perfect “day after Thanksgiving” lunch or supper. This hot turkey sandwich with gravy is very popular here in Canada but is gaining even more popularity everywhere.
Other Recipes to Try
- Another easy-to-make sandwich is this Italian Chicken Pesto Sandwich.
- This is the best Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich (well, along with this one!)
- For something cozy and hearty, make Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup.
- This Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe is the ultimate comfort in a sandwich!
- In need of a speedy meal? Whip up Easy to Make Crispy Turkey Tacos!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I found my new favorite lunch. So deliciously filling!
So flavorful! I love how easy this was! My new favorite sandwich indeed! 🥰
It was love at first bite. So good!!
This was too good! My new favorite snack.