Turkey Panini

This Turkey Panini is made with leftover holiday turkey, apple butter, cheddar cheese, and apple slices on deliciously hearty bread. Super easy and a perfect meal for those lazy days following the holiday.

Grilled sandwich recipes are seasonal favorites during winter/holiday time. It makes sense because you typically have a lot of leftovers from the holiday feast.

So why not pile all those ingredients into one delicious sandwich. But then take it up a couple of notches and grill that sandwich on a panini maker or in the skillet.

The buttery grilled bread with the melted cheese blends so perfectly with the warm apple butter and turkey. It’s the perfect way to enjoy those leftovers -SO GOOD!

What I love about this recipe is that you can really take any of your favorite sandwich ingredients or your favorite leftovers and stuff them all in there to make an awesome lunch.

We love to do apple butter – because we have a ton of it around here with our harvest this season. But you can add your favorite jam or leftover cranberry sauce too.

easy panini recipes

Here are some commonly asked questions

Can this recipe be doubled?

You can, and we do it often. Definitely a good idea to double the recipe if you are making leftovers as your meal the next night for the whole family.

What can I add to this sandwich?

This sandwich is so versatile – you can add all your favorites on there. Cranberry sauce, a little bit of stuffing, some sliced veggies and so much more.

You can definitely make this on any hearty bread you prefer. You can even give it a try with a hoagie style, chewy french bread. Some other options are pickle slices, Havarti cheese &/or mustard.

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Can I Make This Without a Panini Maker?

Yes – if you don’t have a panini maker – you can use a George Foreman grill (which is quite similar to a panini maker) or you can use a skillet with the help of a meat press.

If you don’t have a meat press – you can try wrapping a brick or some other non-flammable item in foil before placing it on top of your sandwich to press it down as it cooks. It isn’t the best option – but will work in a pinch.

Can these sandwiches be enjoyed cold?

Generally, yes. If you want to just assemble these & enjoy them right away without grilling them, that is fine too.

leftover turkey sandwich

Ingredients for Turkey Panini

• hearty bread
• butter – softened
• apple butter
• sharp cheddar cheese – thinly sliced
• apple – thinly sliced
• sliced deli turkey – or thin pieces of turkey leftovers
• fresh sage – opt

Is turkey bland tasting?

Turkey is a protein and proteins typically don’t have strong flavors on their own. Turkey meat has a mild savory flavor with slightly sweet poultry notes when cooked properly. It absorbs flavors from its surrounding marinade/condiments – which is why your seasonings while cooking the turkey are so important.

turkey panini recipes

How to Make a Turkey Panini

1. Pre-heat the panini maker.
2. Get all of the ingredients ready as you will need to assemble the sandwich once the first slice of bread is placed on the hot panini maker – working quickly.
3. Spread the butter evenly on one side of each slice of the bread.
4. Place one slice of the bread on the preheated panini maker, buttered side of bread down.
5. Working quickly, spread apple butter evenly on that piece of bread.
6. Add the cheese, then the apples.
7. Layer the turkey evenly, followed by the sage.
8. Top with more apples and then cheese.
9. Add apple butter to the other side of the remaining piece of buttered bread.
10. Place that piece of bread on top of the sandwich.
11. Close the panini lid and press the sandwiches together.
12. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the bread is crispy and browned. Serve warm.

Thanksgiving Sandwich

breads for panini

The key to choosing a bread is that you want it to not have an overpowering taste – so the inside flavors are the star. But you also need to consider the structure of the bread – anything too soft and light will fall apart.

It needs to be hearty and a bit dense to stand up to the structure of a panini. Here are some of our favorite options.

• mild sourdough
• flatbread
• pita
• rye
• multigrain
• baguette
• ciabatta
• focaccia

How to Make Sure the Leftover Turkey Isn’t Dry the Following Day

The key to reheating the turkey is to steam it. We like to place it in a microwave-safe container with a splash of water.

Then we lightly cover the container with either a paper towel, the lid to the container if it is also microwave-safe, or even an inverted paper plate.

Then we reheat and let the water steam the turkey. It comes out moist and delicious every single time.

Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich

What is the best way to store leftover turkey sandwiches?

Place any leftover sandwiches in an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

What to serve with a Turkey Panini

Turkey goes with so many things. You can serve it with cucumber, pickle, or fresh pickled cucumber on the side.

Also pair it with salad mix, coleslaw, potato chips, pasta salad, red cabbage that is marinated or pickled, potato salad, or onion rings. We like to add these recipes with this sandwich…

• everything bagel dip
• veggie dip
• strawberry jello salad
• crack dip
• deviled eggs
• party snack mix
• artichoke dip
• homemade potato chips

panini ideas

Products I love when making paninis…

This grilled sandwich recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made a grilled sandwich before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this delicious snack recipe.

• panini maker
• cutting board
• small silicone spatulas
• spatula
• cheese slicer
• grill weight
• skillet

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If you love this Easy Turkey Panini recipe, you’re going to love these other snacks too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

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If you love this Turkey Panini as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!

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