Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry and Cheese

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This Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry is so delicious and super easy to throw together. Plus, it's a great way to use up those next day Thanksgiving leftovers!

turkey cranberry sandwich on a plate with a side of pasta salad and strawberries

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⏲ About this recipe
🥘 Ingredients
🍽 Equipment
🔪 How do I make this Hot Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry?
📋 Substitutions or Variations
❓Frequently asked questions
🥗 Check out these recipes that will go great with this Hot Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry
📋 Recipe
💬 Comments

⏲ About this recipe

This recipe is yet another copycat from an old lunch restaurant in my old hometown, and this was one of my favorite sandwiches on their menu. Who doesn't love turkey sandwiches?!

Warm slices of turkey meat, melted Swiss cheese, mayo, cranberry sauce and topped with fresh baby spinach and a tomato slice. They actually used lettuce, but I always had them switch it out for spinach for me. It's also the perfect way to make yourself a thanksgiving sandwich and use up that leftover turkey and cranberry sauce!

🥘 Ingredients

pita bread - white pita bread is always what they used. It makes the perfect pocket to stuff all the ingredients into. If you're not able to find pita bread, you can use regular slices of bread. Make sure to warm the bread, but not toast it. The sandwich is best with warm, soft bread.
cranberry sauce - I prefer the canned, jellied cranberry sauce, but if you have leftover homemade cranberry sauce, that will work just fine.
Swiss cheese - this is the best cheese for this delicious sandwich, as it has a milder flavor and goes so well with the tart cranberry sauce.
deli turkey meat - when I don't have turkey leftovers, I just use regular deli turkey breast sandwich meat.
mayo - my favorite is Duke's, but use what you love. The mayo keeps the sandwich from being dry and adds a bit of creaminess to the sandwich.
tomato - add a couple thin slices from a fresh, ripe red tomato.
baby spinach - not much is needed, but it adds a nice crunch and everyone needs veggies!

🍽 Equipment

Not much is required to make this sandwich.

cutting board - I prefer bamboo boards for fruits and veggies. I use plastic boards for meats and cheeses, to prevent cross contamination, and I don't want any possible bacteria getting into my wood boards.
knife - this is my favorite knife to use. It may be a little pricey, but I've had it for over 10 years, and it's works great to this day, and I don't see it going anywhere soon. You must take good care of it though with proper sharpening and storage.

🔪 How do I make this Hot Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry?

First, warm up the pita bread. How to heat up pita bread? I go the super simple route. Place the pita bread on a plate, and warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Easy peasy! I prefer this way since the bread gets warm, and will stay soft. If you heat it in the oven or air fryer, it will toast more and get crispy, which is not good for this sandwich.

Slice off the top ⅛th (or less) of the pita bread. You should be able to open up the pita and create a pocket.

cutting top of pita bread on a cutting board

creating a pocket in the pita bread after slicing off a small part of the top

Next, place the turkey slices on a plate and top with the Swiss cheese. Heat the turkey and cheese in the microwave for about 45 seconds, or until the cheese melts.

Spread the mayo inside of the pita bread.

warm turkey and Swiss cheese on a plate in the microwave

spreading mayo on the inside of the pita bread pocket

After the turkey and cheese is warmed, fold in half and stuff inside of the warmed pita pocket.

adding warm turkey and cheese into the pita bread pocket

turkey and Swiss cheese are now nicely tucked into the pita pocket

Spread cranberry sauce on top of the warm turkey. Stuff some tomato slices and baby spinach in the pita, and then you have one of the best turkey cranberry sandwiches ever! Serve with extra cranberry sauce on the side. It's the best part!

spread cranberry sauce inside pita on top of turkey

stuff in spinach and tomato to finish the sandwich

Leftover turkey sandwiches can be so simple, but are one of my absolute favorite things about Thanksgiving!

📋 Substitutions or Variations

Instead of turkey, you can use deli chicken breast or even rotisserie chicken.
Instead of Swiss cheese, I would go for another mild cheese like monterey jack or a creamy havarti cheese.
If you want to swap out the pita bread, you can try a soft multi grain bread, artisan white bread or even an onion roll.
If you don't like mayo, try cream cheese or even dijon mustard. Dijon mustard goes great with tart cranberries.
If you're feeling extra creative, throw some leftover stuffing in! That is sure to be one tasty sandwich!

❓Frequently asked questions

What type of cranberry sauce is best for this sandwich?

Honestly, whatever is best is what tastes best to you. I prefer the jellied, canned cranberry sauce, but I know a lot of people prefer homemade cranberry sauce. Just use what you have leftover from turkey day!

What condiments go best on a turkey sandwich?

My favorites are simple just like this sandwich - mayo and cranberry sauce. You could even try a cranberry mayo recipe if you want to take it up a notch. Other ideas that would work well are dijon mustard, honey mustard, cream cheese, or a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Can I make these turkey sandwiches ahead of time?

I would say no. These are meant to have warm turkey, melted cheese and warm pita bread. The sauces and veggies are cold, so making them ahead would most likely leave the bread soggy and meat and cheeses cold.

🥗 Check out these recipes that will go great with this Hot Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry

📋 Recipe