This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
You know that feeling when you’re already dreaming about the Thanksgiving leftovers while enjoying the feast? Well, the day after, I love making a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich that might just outshine the main event! If you find yourself with leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, and other trimmings, why not make the ultimate turkey sandwich? This is a flavor extravaganza with plenty of juicy turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Swiss cheese, mustard, gravy, and more! This sandwich is packed with all the holiday favorites, and you can totally customize it to make it your own. So, why not take it easy and indulge in this delicious creation?
Transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into a mouthwatering sandwich to gobble up. This generously packed turkey sandwich is anything but boring!
In the mood for turkey? You might also like this hot turkey sandwich with green peas, these turkey sliders, or perhaps a leftover turkey shepherd’s pie.
Why You’ll Love It
Great way to use up leftovers: You don’t have to have the exact same Thanksgiving dinner two days in a row (well, unless you want to!) when you can repurpose the leftovers into this tasty sandwich.
All those fantastic flavors you love: Savory turkey, tasty stuffing, sweet cranberry sauce, meaty gravy, and more combine and contrast beautifully in this ultimate Thanksgiving dinner sandwich.
Easy to customize: Add whatever you want, even mashed potatoes if you have some leftover. I like a second scoop of stuffing on top as well as extra gravy. You can omit the cheese, salad leaves or anything else you don’t want to have in there.
Leftover Turkey Sandwich Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Turkey: I like to cut mine into thick slices.
Sourdough sandwich bread: You can use another kind of bread if you prefer.
Swiss cheese: The combination with the turkey is so good.
Salad greens: Any kind will work.
Dijon mustard: Optional but yummy.
Stuffing: Leftover stuffing is another tasty topping.
Gravy: Warm it up in the microwave.
Cranberry sauce: Adds a sweet component to your sandwich.
How to Make a Turkey Cranberry Sandwich with Stuffing
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Toast the bread: Melt the butter in a skillet and add the bread. Toast it to golden brown. Do this in batches.
Warm up the turkey and stuffing: Warm these up in the microwave. Also warm up the gravy.
Assemble the sandwiches: Spread mustard over half of the bread slices. Top with turkey, cheese and then stuffing. Pour over some gravy and add lettuce leaves and cranberry sauce on top. Add the rest of the toasted bread and press down. Secure with toothpicks if needed and serve immediately.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread and gluten-free stuffing.
Sourdough sandwich bread: Texas toast would also work, as the thick slices won’t disintegrate like thin slices of bread would. You can use any kind of bread you want though, but I do recommend toasting it first. If you have a 4 or 6-slice toaster, that would be quicker than using a skillet on the stove.
Cheese: Swap the Swiss cheese for another kind, perhaps cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, or fontina. Prefer cream cheese? You could mix in some fresh lemon juice and spread this over the bread instead of sliced cheese.
Salad leaves: Use any salad leaves you want – arugula, baby spinach, mixed greens, or iceberg. Anything goes!
Turkey slices: The sandwich would be just as tasty with leftover chicken or even pork. Or even leftover nut roast if you want a vegetarian version.
Chilled version: Don’t toast the bread or warm the turkey, stuffing or gravy. Or just warm one or two components.
Box lunch version: Omit the gravy, use less cranberry sauce and stuffing, and wrap the sandwiches in parchment paper. This is a drier version which won’t get soggy – ideal for a make-ahead lunch instead of eating Thanksgiving sandwiches at home. If you have access to a microwave though, you can always bring gravy along!
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Got leftover Thanksgiving charcuterie board meats and cheese too? Or roasted party nuts? Serve those up for an appetizer!
Side dishes: Enjoy your leftover Thanksgiving sandwich with potato chips on the side or potato salad. A lemon and parmesan salad would also be good.
Desserts: Enjoy those leftover cranberry tartlets or pumpkin s’mores cookies from your Thanksgiving dessert table. Or just make another Thanksgiving leftover sandwich and forego dessert (yes it’s that good!)
How to Store Turkey and Stuffing Sandwiches
Store: It’s best to eat a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich as soon as they’re made, as they’re already leftovers and will get soggy if assembled and then refrigerated.
Freeze: Don’t freeze these turkey sandwiches.
Top Tips
Use thick bread slices: Thin slices of bread disintegrate too easily with the gravy in leftover sandwiches, so I recommend thick slices which are more sturdy.
Toasting the bread: You don’t have to toast the bread but, if you want to, you can use a toaster instead of a skillet (oh, and it’s faster if you have a 6-slice toaster!)
Warming up the sliced turkey: Don’t microwave the turkey for too long, otherwise the meat might dry out and become chewy.
Don’t forget utensils and napkins: This might be the best Thanksgiving sandwich but it isn’t a grab-and-go type snack. You do need to serve it with silverware and napkins, as the gravy, cranberry sauce and stuffing can make it messy to eat.
Thanksgiving Sandwich FAQs
That’s up to you. I like to warm the turkey and gravy and use the toasted bread slices while they’re still warm, but if you want a cold sandwich, that’s fine too.
Sure, you can soak a slice of bread in gravy and add it in the middle of the sandwich if you like! This is known as Ross Geller’s Moist Maker Sandwich from the show Friends.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich Recipe
Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
Equipment
- Skillet Large, or a Toaster
- Metal Tongs
Ingredients
- 4 Slices sourdough bread
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 6 Slices turkey, leftovers, thick slices
- 4 Slices Swiss cheese
- 1 Cup salad greens, any kind
- 4 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1½ Cups stuffing
- 1 Cup gravy, warmed up
- 1 Cup whole cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over a medium heat and swirl to coat the skillet.
- Add some of the bread slices in one layer and toast on both sides until golden brown.
- Repeat with the rest of the bread slices.
- While the bread toasts, warm up the turkey in the microwave, 30 to 60 seconds.
- Spread mustard over half the bread slices.
- Add turkey, cheese and stuffing.
- Pour over some warm gravy and top with salad leaves and cranberry sauce.
- Add another slice of bread and press down gently.
- Secure with toothpicks or bamboo skewers if liked.
- Serve with more warmed turkey gravy on the side, and perhaps some chips or potato salad.
Notes
Toasting the bread: You don’t have to toast the bread but, if you want to, you can use a toaster instead of a skillet (it’s faster if you have a 6-slice toaster!)
Warming up the sliced turkey: Don’t microwave the turkey for too long, otherwise the meat might dry out and become chewy.
Don’t forget utensils and napkins: This is the best Thanksgiving sandwich but you do need to serve it with silverware and napkins, as the gravy, cranberry sauce and stuffing can make it messy to eat.
Nutrition
A leftover turkey sandwich is one of the most popular day after Thanksgiving meals but there are different ways to make this sandwich. This recipe isn’t just plain turkey between bread, but a fantastic combination of toasted sourdough, turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, mustard, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy – in short, it’s like Thanksgiving dinner all over again, just in sandwich form!
Other Recipes to Try
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.
This sandwich is pure genius—it was like Thanksgiving in every single bite!