This warm, crispy turkey melt sandwich features smoky bacon, gooey melted cheese, and savory deli turkey layered with fresh spinach and juicy tomatoes.
Its delightful balance of flavors and textures makes every bite a comforting experience. It’s also perfect for holiday leftovers.
But it’s so good, I think you’ll find yourself at the deli counter all year round.
If you’re craving something warm and satisfying, try one for yourself.
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Melt Sandwich
Quick Assembly: From start to finish, this sandwich comes together in under 20 minutes. So it’s an excellent last-minute or lazy-day sandwich.
Cozy Comfort: The combo of melted cheese, warm turkey, and crisp bacon on chewy sourdough is a belly-warming and satisfying treat.
Fresh & Flavorful: Juicy tomatoes and crisp spinach add a refreshing touch to balance the richness.
Customizable: Swap the turkey for ham, use different cheese, or add other veggies to suit your tastes.
Ingredients
- Bread: The gatekeeper of all the goodness within. Use thick-sliced sourdough or rye for the heartiest and most flavorful sandwich.
- Deli Smoked Turkey: Using leftover Thanksgiving turkey is a terrific seasonal option. But deli turkey is available year-round! Get it thinly sliced and smoked for the best taste and texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: Creates a gooey, melted layer that binds the sandwich together. Slice or shred it yourself, and feel free to swap in pepper jack, Swiss, Provolone, or Monterey Jack.
- Bacon: Crispy, salty, savory, and satisfying. A few strips will totally transform your sandwich.
- Tomato Slices: They’re best when fresh and in season, but any firm, ripe tomatoes will add juicy brightness and a subtle acidity.
- Fresh Baby Spinach: These tender green leaves offer a mild, fresh flavor and a crisp texture when just wilted. Plus, spinach is SO GOOD for you. Just ask Popeye.
- Butter: To spread on the bread for a golden-brown crust when toasted.
- Honey Mustard Mayo: For a pop of richness and extra flavor.
How to Make Turkey Melt Sandwich
The following may seem like a lot of steps. But remember: the sandwich comes together in 20 minutes or less, so that should tell you how easy it is to make!
1. WHISK the mayo, Dijon mustard, and honey until smooth. Adjust the seasoning to taste and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. COOK the bacon crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe the skillet clean and reduce the heat to medium-low.
3. WARM the turkey by microwaving for 20-30 seconds, just until heated through.
4. ASSEMBLE the sandwiches by layering 2 slices of cheese on each slice of bread. Top 2 slices with bacon, turkey, tomatoes, and spinach. Place the remaining bread on top, cheese side down.
5. BUTTER the top side of each sandwich and transfer to the warm skillet, buttered side down. Cook for 3-4 minutes, pressing lightly with a spatula. Repeat.
6. REST the sandwiches for 1-2 minutes before slicing in half. Serve hot with your favorite sides, and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Turkey Melt Sandwich
Like most sandwich recipes, this one is highly customizable.
So, use or ignore these tips as you desire. I’ve included a few of my favorite variations, too.
- Use thick bread & melty cheese. I like sourdough, but any thick-cut, sturdy bread should hold up well to heavy fillings. Just don’t use pre-sliced! As for cheese, look for those that melt well and slice it yourself.
- Select the freshest ingredients. Deli-sliced turkey will give you the best texture. Fresh tomatoes and spinach (from a garden stand or farmer’s market, if possible) are also a must!
- Don’t overheat the turkey. It’ll dry out if you nuke it in the microwave too long. You shouldn’t even need a whole minute. You just don’t want it cold from the fridge.
- Oven-bake the bacon. The recipe calls for frying it, but I like to oven-bake my bacon to make it extra crispy. It takes longer, of course, but it really dials the texture up to 11!
- Keep the temperature low. Hot sandwich recipes are delicious, but you’ll burn the bread if you aren’t careful. Keep the heat at medium-low to toast the bread while giving the cheese time to melt.
- Consider different spreads. Mayonnaise and Dijon are great. But why not try spicy mayo, ranch dressing, or garlic aioli?
- Add extras. Red onions add a nice crunch, as do fresh cucumber slices. You can also add some kale, other greens, or thinly sliced radishes.
How to Store
Let’s check out some make-ahead and storage options:
To Make Ahead: Assemble the sandwich, but DO NOT butter the bread or add the mayo. Instead, wrap it in plastic and foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Before grilling, add the condiments and butter the outsides of the bread slices.
To Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 1-2 days.
To Reheat: Bake the unwrapped sandwich at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
Alternatively, wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to warm the filling. Remove the paper towel and reheat in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.
What to Serve with a Turkey Melt Sandwich
Sides for a turkey melt sandwich can be whatever you want them to be.
Here are some of my favorite options:
- Pickle spears
- Side salad
- Air-fryer kale chips
- Potato chips
- Raw baby carrots
- Tomato soup
- Broccoli cheddar soup
- Sweet potato fries
Turkey Melt Sandwich
2
servings10
minutes8
minutes920
kcalThis warm, crispy turkey melt sandwich features smoky bacon, gooey melted cheese, and savory deli turkey layered with fresh spinach and juicy tomatoes.
Ingredients
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
6 strips bacon
1/2 pound deli smoked turkey, thinly sliced
8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
4 thick slices bread (such as sourdough)
1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh spinach leaves, packed
4 tablespoons butter, softened
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, mustard, and honey until smooth. Adjust to taste and chill until ready to use.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and reduce the heat to medium-low. Wipe the pan clean (remove the skillet from the heat if more time is needed).
- While the bacon cooks, place the sliced turkey in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and microwave on medium heat for about 20-30 seconds (until just warm).
- Lay 2 slices of cheese on each slice of bread. Top 2 slices with the bacon, turkey, tomatoes, and spinach. Add the remaining bread slices on top, cheese side down.
- Butter the top of each sandwich and place in the warm skillet, butter side down. Press gently with a spatula and cook for 3-4 minutes. Butter the top of each sandwich, flip, and cook again for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove the turkey melts to a chopping board and rest for 1-2 minutes before cutting in half. Serve immediately with salty chips, a light salad, or a pickle spear. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients, thick bread, and a good melting cheese for the best results.
- Don’t overheat the turkey in the microwave, and don’t go higher than medium-low heat when grilling the sandwich.
2 Responses
so is the yummy sauce just used for dipping.??
instructions say “…chill until ready to use”. when do I use it??
Hi Karen!
Thanks for catching that 🙂
You’ll want to spread some of the mayo in the sandwich and then use whatever is left for dipping.
I’ve amended the recipe, so thanks for asking!