Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
Leftovers from a holiday meal? Transform them into a unique Turkey Cranberry Sandwich, featuring leftover rolls, turkey, cranberry sauce and even some stuffing and gravy. Makes 1 sandwich, but can easily be doubled or tripled with enough leftovers.
Love Thanksgiving and Christmas leftovers? Check out Cranberry Turkey Puff Pastry Tartlets, Turkey Biscuits and Gravy and Individual Turkey Pot Pies (Turkey Breast Leftover Recipe)!
2024 Update: This recipe was originally shared in December 2012. The recipe and post have been updated in November 2024 to include a more details, tips and tricks, as well as new photos. I hope you love this sandwich like I do!
Before we had children, we traveled from my family to my husband’s family pretty frequently during the holiday months to ensure we saw both of our families.
The holiday season has always made me incredibly happy, and this holiday leftover recipe was developed in December 2012 after we had some leftovers that I wanted to reinvigorate.
If you’re like me (and I sincerely hope you are in this case), you’re excited about them… because you can turn them into so many different things.
This leftover Thanksgiving sandwich is one of my favorite sandwiches that I look forward to every year.
Why I love this recipe:
There’s something incredibly satisfying about this simple leftovers sandwich.
Turkey acts as the star, but it’s paired with the flavors I love best from our holiday table, which include stuffing, cranberry sauce and a drizzle of gravy.
This leftover turkey sandwich is one of my favorite ways to enjoy holiday leftovers because it’s easy and doesn’t require me spending a ton of time cooking.
And yes, while I know it looks a little different than just reheating the leftovers and calling it a day, I can assure you that it’s delicious!
This is a pretty straightforward, simple recipe to utilize your leftovers.
Other ways to use holiday leftovers: Turkey Tortilla Soup | Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry | Orange Cranberry Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies | Thanksgiving Tacos
Just need a good meal (that doesn’t necessarily involve leftovers)? Head on over to my Dinner Recipe Index for some inspiration!
What you need to make this recipe:
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- A toaster or toaster oven
- A sharp knife and cutting board
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here is what you need to make this sandwich in your own kitchen:
- Holiday leftovers, like leftover turkey breast, cranberry sauce and stuffing
- Your favorite rolls — or slices of bread
- A drizzle of gravy, if you’re into that.
- Anything else you’d like to add to the sandwich
Variations on this recipe:
This recipe is more of a suggestion than something set in stone, so here are a few ideas of how you can change it up:
- Use sliced deli turkey breast instead of leftover Thanksgiving turkey breast! You could even replace it with sliced chicken breast.
- Skip the fresh cranberry sauce if you don’t have it and use the canned kind for instead.
- Use homemade rolls, like these incredibly fluffy Texas Roadhouse Rolls.
- Leave off the stuffing and gravy if those aren’t your jam.
- Add some extra veggies, like pickled red onions, lettuce or baby spinach, tomato slices, cucumber slices, etc. The world is your oyster here!
- Toast up whatever kind of roll/bun/bread you’ve got to give this sandwich some crunch.
- Slather on some condiments, like mayo, dijon mustard or softened butter. You could use these in place of the gravy on our holiday sandwich.
How to make a Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
A NOTE BEFORE WE GET STARTED:
We’re using Thanksgiving or holiday leftovers, but you can easily use turkey slices from the deli counter and canned cranberry sauce if you don’t have the fresh made kind at home.
To start, toast a roll in a toaster, toaster oven or oven. Slice it in half.
While the roll/bun toasts, reheat the turkey, stuffing and gravy in the microwave. In my opinion, this recipe is best when the other ingredients are warm.
On the bottom half of the sandwich roll, spread the cranberry sauce, then add warmed stuffing on top if it.
On top of the stuffing, add the turkey breast leftovers.
Pour turkey gravy on top, and close the sandwich. Feel free to push it down to consolidate the ingredients so they don’t fall out, then enjoy!
How to store:
Store leftover sandwiches in the refrigerator for a day. Reheat in the toaster oven or oven to crisp up the bread.
These leftovers typically are better if you keep the sandwich fillings separate from the bread so that it does not become soggy.
Quick tips and tricks to the best holiday leftovers sandwich:
- Use your favorite items. I love the combination of leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy on a sandwich. If you’d prefer to skip the stuffing and add mashed potatoes, DO IT.
- Make a batch. Use a package of Hawaiian rolls. Slice those in half, and layer on the turkey, cranberry, stuffing and gravy. Cover with the top rolls, and bake for 15-20 minutes until warmed through and toasty.
Here’s how you make one of these sandwiches…
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 roll or bun
- ½ cup leftover turkey
- ¼ cup cranberry sauce
- ¼ cup stuffing
- 1 tablespoon turkey gravy
Equipment
- Serrated knife
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Instructions
- Toast a leftover roll or bun, and slice it in half.
- While the roll or bun toasts, reheat the turkey, stuffing and gravy in the microwave. (I find this recipe is best when they're warm, as opposed to straight out of the fridge cold.)
- Spread the cranberry sauce on the bottom half of the sandwich roll with a knife.
- Add the reheated stuffing on top of the cranberry sauce.
- Place the turkey slices on top of the stuffing.
- Pour the gravy on top of the turkey, and close the sandwich, pushing down to consolidate all ingredients so they don’t fall out of the sandwich when you pick it up.
- Enjoy warm!
Video
Notes
A note on substitutions in this recipe:
This recipe is more of a suggestion than something set in stone, so here are a few ideas of how you can change it up:- Use sliced deli turkey breast instead of leftover Thanksgiving turkey breast!
- Skip the fresh cranberry stuff (if you don’t have it.) Use the canned kind for a little sweetness to this sandwich instead.
- Leave off the stuffing and gravy if those aren’t your jam.
- Toast up whatever kind of roll/bun/bread you’ve got to give this sandwich some crunch.
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
I love left over sandwiches!! I just love sandwiches but I like using whatever you have on hand. This looks delicious!
Thanks so much, Susan! I appreciate it. This is definitely one of my favorite leftover sandwiches! And I’d be interested in seeing the kinds you’ve made at your home, too!
Leftover sandwiches and meals are my favourite. We’re having leftover turkey with some simple cherry tomato and olive pasta for lunch today. A little taste of festivities with some comforting carbs. haha… Happy New Year, Erin!