Never underestimate how delicious a simple turkey sandwich can be. Whether you’re using deli turkey from the store or leftover roast turkey from Sunday dinner or Thanksgiving, this sandwich never disappoints and comes together in just 5 minutes.
This is my go-to lunch on busy weekdays and my favorite way to use up leftover turkey without it going to waste. It packs well for picnics, lunch boxes, and road trips too — it isn’t messy and holds up well if you make it a few hours ahead.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Ready in 5 minutes. No cooking required — just layer and go.
- Budget friendly – A turkey sandwich from a deli or sandwich shop typically runs $8-12. This homemade version costs about $3.72 — you can make it fresh, exactly how your family likes it, for a fraction of the price.
- Endlessly customizable. Swap the bread, cheese, or condiments below to match what’s already in your fridge.
- Great for using up leftovers. This is our go-to way to use leftover roast turkey so nothing goes to waste.
Ingredients
- Whole Wheat Bread – Use bread of your choice
- Mayonnaise – See The Best Mayonnaise Substitutes
- Sliced Deli Turkey (Smoked Turkey is great too) – Have leftover roast turkey instead? Use about 4 oz of sliced or shredded turkey in place of the deli turkey — it works just as well.
- Provolone Cheese – Use cheese of your choice
- Green Leaf Lettuce Leaves – You can also used shredded lettuce or spinach.
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Variations Ideas
- Turkey club – Toast the bread and add bacon to make this a club sandwich.
- Grilled Cheese – Jazz up a typical grilled cheese by adding turkey. It is so hot and cheesy. I love this with honey mustard.
- Turkey Salad – If you like chicken salad, you will enjoy turkey salad. Make a batch with thanksgiving leftovers. Turkey salad is great on croissants or rolls.
- Turkey Cranberry – This is a delicious combination bursting with flavor. You can toast the bread or leave it plain. Either option is super yummy.
- Open faced Turkey Sandwich – This type of variation is served hot with the two pieces of bread separated. It is topped with turkey and gravy and served with mashed potatoes.
Make it a Sandwich Bar
Set out the bread, turkey, cheese, and toppings on the counter and let everyone build their own. It’s a fast way to make sure picky eaters get exactly what they want, and there’s no extra work for you beyond slicing.
How to Make a Turkey Sandwich
Step 1 – Add mayo to the bread. Evenly spread the mayonnaise on each slice of the bread.
Step 2 – Layer the meat and cheese. Take one piece of bread and put the sliced turkey and provolone cheese on it.
Step 3 – Add toppings to the sandwich. Now, add the tomato slices, lettuce and onion. Salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4 – Top with the other slice of bread. Cut the sandwich in half. Enjoy!
Turn Leftover Turkey Into a Week of Lunches
If you’ve got leftover turkey from a roast, rotisserie bird, or Thanksgiving, this sandwich is the easiest way to use it up before it goes to waste. Slice or shred what’s left, portion it into 4-oz servings, and store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Each night, pull one portion and build a sandwich in under 5 minutes — no extra shopping, no extra cooking, and no wasted turkey.
Make-Ahead & Lunch Box Tips
This sandwich is great for packing ahead, but a few tricks keep it from getting soggy:
- Keep the mayo and tomato separate if you’re packing it more than 2 hours ahead, and add them right before eating.
- Assembled and wrapped tightly, it keeps well in the fridge for up to 1 day.
- Packing lunches for the whole family? Assemble everything on a baking sheet assembly-line style — it takes just a few extra minutes to make 4-5 sandwiches at once.
What Bread Should I Use?
- Rye
- Wheat
- Pumpernickel bread
- Artisan – This type of bread is great for making Grilled Cheese with turkey.
- White bread
- Croissants – I like to use these if I am serving them for something special. The turkey looks pretty in croissants for a baby shower, bridal shower and more.
Any of these would make delicious options. I like to use a good and hearty thick type of bread.
What Cheese Goes on a Turkey Sandwich?
- Provolone
- Swiss cheese
- Monterey jack
- Colby Jack
- Muenster
- Cheddar
If you really like cheese, try combining several different types of cheese. It is really delicious. My favorite is provolone and Monterey Jack.
What Condiments Go Best on a Turkey Sandwich?
- Mustard – Brown, Dijon, Spicy and Honey Mustard make good options.
- Mayonnaise – Regular or Chipotle Mayonnaise is tasty.
- Guacamole – This is great alone but you might also like it with bacon too.
- Cranberry sauce. Any form of this is great with turkey. Whether you have whole berries or congealed, The combination is tasty.
- Pickles. You can use sweet or dill pickles slices based on your preference.
Serving Suggestions
These are great ideas and always tasty. We have also just cut up some fresh fruit and veggies to serve alongside it. Kettle chips are great too.
You can easily serve this with many options and it will be amazing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Assemble the sandwiches just as you normally would. I prefer to not add any condiments if I’m making ahead but if I have to I will still add it. Wrap the turkey sandwich in saran wrap and store in the refrigerator until the next day.
This is an easy classic recipe. You can easily mix it up with your favorite variations for turkey recipes. The ideas are truly endless and they are all simple to make. I think you will love this classic sandwich recipe and all of the options to make it.
The weight of a serving of turkey is 3-4 oz, but if you are going by slices I would use 3-4 slices of turkey for one sandwich.
Yes! Leftover roast turkey from Sunday dinner or Thanksgiving works perfectly here. Just slice or shred about 4 oz per sandwich.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using thin, soft bread. It gets soggy fast under mayo and tomato. Stick with a sturdy sandwich bread.
- Adding mayo to only one slice. Spreading it on both sides seals the bread and helps prevent sogginess.
- Packing tomato in ahead of time. If you’re not eating right away, pack it separately and add it just before eating.
More Sandwich Recipes
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Turkey Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Slices Whole Wheat Bread
- 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
- 4 oz Sliced Deli Turkey
- 2 Slices Provolone Cheese
- 2 Green Leaf Lettuce Leaves
- 2 Slices Tomatoes
- 3 Slices Red Onion
- Salt and Pepper to taste
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Instructions
- Lay out 2 slices whole wheat bread.
- Spread 1 Tbsp mayonnaise evenly on each slice of bread.
- Layer 4 oz sliced deli turkey onto one slice of bread.
- Top the turkey with 2 slices provolone cheese.
- Add, 2 slices tomato, 2 green leaf lettuce leaves and 3 slices red onion.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Place the remaining slice of bread on top.
- Cut the sandwich in half and serve immediately.
