The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich {Knockoff Recipe}
This leftover turkey sandwich is amazing! A knockoff from a famous sandwich shop, it’s so easy to recreate with Thanksgiving leftovers!
This incredible sandwich is inspired by the award-winning Bobbie sandwich at Capriotti’s sandwich shop. Have you had it? Oh my goodness, it is so, so good…and this homemade version is just as yummy as the original!
Ingredients for This Leftover Turkey Sandwich
To be fair, it isn’t just leftover turkey that this sandwich relies on. In fact, it could be called “The Best Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwich” because we’re using up a lot of classic Thanksgiving leftovers for this delectable little sammy.
- Rolls: Use your favorite fluffy dinner roll. You can also use two slices of bread or a hoagie/sub sandwich bun.
- Mayonnaise: This famous sandwich relies on a healthy spread of mayo for creamy flavor. You can experiment adding other condiments, like mustard, but for a classic representation of this sandwich, it’s just mayo!
- Turkey: This sandwich works best with finely shredded turkey, so make sure the turkey isn’t in large chunks or pieces.
- Cranberry Sauce: Add cranberry sauce to taste. I like a lot of it on this sandwich, but you can add less. The tangy, sweet sauce is so, so good with the other ingredients. Homemade or jarred cranberry sauce can be used.
- Stuffing: If the stuffing (leftover or freshly made) you are using has bread in large pieces, roughly chop the stuffing so it is in small pieces.
The exact amount of ingredients used on the sandwich will largely depend on the size of roll or bread. Follow your heart. Think of this recipe as a guideline rather than a super strict way to make a sandwich.
Assembling the Sandwich
- Cut the dinner roll in half and spread both sides with mayonnaise.
- Layer the bottom half with turkey.
- Dollop cranberry sauce on top of the turkey.
- Add stuffing on top of the cranberry sauce.
- Top with the upper half of the roll.
Give the sandwich a little squeeze to press everything together and dig in! (Actually, before you do…see the notes below about serving this sandwich warm just in case you want to try that option!)
How to Serve the Sandwich Warm
This leftover turkey sandwich is super tasty served immediately after assembling.
However, I love it when it is lightly warmed. You can warm the sandwich up a few different ways:
- Microwave the assembled sandwich for 15-20 seconds.
- Place the sandwich in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and warm in a 250 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
- Pop the assembled sandwich on a panini press and cook until warmed through.
- Warm the sandwich in a toaster oven set to 350 degrees for about 3 to 4 minutes.
If you have leftover gravy, this sandwich is delicious dipped in a vat (er, a bowl) of leftover, warmed gravy. However, it is super tasty on it’s own without the gravy. The gravy is definitely optional!
My mouth is literally watering just thinking about this sandwich. I am a sandwich lover through and through (it’s probably my favorite food group outside of dark chocolate), and this leftover turkey sandwich is one of the best sandwiches in the history of ever.
Every time I go to the Capriotti’s sandwich shop in the town next to mine, I order it. I cannot wait to make this sandwich with Thanksgiving leftovers. As in, I will be hoarding the leftovers just for this sandwich! I hope you make it and love it, too!
Important Disclaimer: This sandwich will be only as delicious as the different components used. So if you want an incredible sandwich, make sure the roll is fluffy and soft, the turkey is tender and flavorful, the cranberry sauce is tangy and sweet, and the stuffing is exploding with flavor (and preferably NOT soggy!).
The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 fluffy dinner roll (or two slices bread)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ cup finely shredded turkey (see note)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- ¼ to ½ cup stuffing (see note)
- Warm gravy, for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the dinner roll in half and spread both sides with mayonnaise.
- Layer the bottom half with turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing – these ingredients can be chilled or room temperature depending on your preference. Top with the top half of the roll.
- Serve immediately or serve warm. To warm the sandwich, microwave the assembled sandwich for 15-20 seconds OR place the sandwich in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and warm in a 250 degree oven for 10-12 minutes OR pop the assembled sandwich on a panini press and cook until warmed through.
- If you have leftover gravy, this sandwich is delicious served with a side of warm gravy, for dipping.
Notes
Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (inspired by my favorite sandwich, the Bobbie, at Capriotti’s sandwich shop)
I gotta say, I really looked forward to trying this. I made it up on a medium sized dinner roll. To my disappointment everything fell out of it while I was eating it. I tried it again this morning and used regular white bread. I left room all around the outside of the bread, for expansion. Nothing fell out this time. It was perfect and very delish. Gonna have the other 1/2 of my sandwich later. Thanks for the idea.
At our house we disagree. The gravy is absolutely NOT optional! Best use ever for T’giving leftovers. Thanks!
Haha, that’s completely fair, Sharon! This sandwich is very fabulous dipped in delicious gravy.
I LOVE this type of sandwich for Thanksgiving Day leftovers. You should try putting in on a heartier roll, like a kaiser roll, that you butter and toast under the broiler. Then, in a frying pan or griddle, with a little cooking spray or butter, lightly brown slices of turkey and make stuffing “patties” and brown those as well. Add cranberry sauce to the toasted rolls with the warmed turkey and stuffing patty and it is delicious!
Great ideas, Becky – yum!
Oooooh, I can’t wait to make this, Mel! I was planning to make your pickled red onions this week, and I feel like they would be a great addition to this sandwich… and maybe some brie. I love a good sandwich, too. It’s the little things… ☺️
Oh Wow, my Dad used to make these for 4 hungry kids Thanksgiving Night (we ate early). To this day, I can still taste that sandwich and of course I make it every year also. My Mom made the best bread stuffing – and always cranberry sauce on it. We never added gravy – but why not? We just called them Daddy specials. My kids still refer to them that way. They are 50 and 49.
Thank you so much for sharing that, so many people don’t know what to do with turkey, I love the stuff. Have a great Thanksgiving and thank you for all your recipes.
I’m chuckling because this is just how I ate Thanksgiving dinner as a child / teen, and honestly sometimes as an adult still. This was how me and all my siblings and cousins did Thanksgiving dinner! Add corn and sweet potatoes and literally everything else on your plate too! And butter that roll for an even better flavor! 😂😋
Made this today for lunch (we had an early Thanksgiving yesterday) and it was so yummy! Definitely have it with gravy! I spooned a little on before each bite.
Glad you loved this, Kiersten (kind of jealous of your early Thanksgiving!!)
I live for two leftovers sandwiches. The day after Thanksgiving is strictly for my absolute favorite: a hot turkey sandwich; day after that is this same yummy sandwich (with a swipe of gravy). Better than Thanksgiving dinner to me!
I live for two leftovers sandwiches. The day after Thanksgiving is strictly for my absolute favorite: a hot turkey sandwich; day after that is this same yummy sandwich (with a swipe of gravy). Better than Thanksgiving dinner to me!
I make a similar sandwich every year. I add a slice of Hvarti cheese and a tablespoon of gravy. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday but I look forward to the sandwich the next day more than the actual Turkey Day meal.
That sounds delicious, Lynda!
I just had a similar sandwich on vacation in Massachusetts –it was at a local pub and called The Plymouth Plantation. It was probably my favorite meal on my trip. I’m not a cold sandwich person but I like a warm sandwich. I will be making these for sure this year!
Also, if anyone knows Friends–you could spread the joy of this sandwich with a Ross GIF of his Thanksgiving sandwich getting stolen at work. 🤣🤣
This sandwich is why we make Thanksgiving dinner! I absolutely agree, the little squeeze at the end is crucial. I am also a sandwich lover, 2nd to this is the roast beef, lettuce and mustard sandwiches we make after Christmas.
Glad you are sharing this bit of deliciousness with the world!
That after-Christmas sandwich sounds delightful, too, Lauren. I feel like the simplest sandwiches (like these post-holiday ones with leftovers) are the absolute best.
Never heard of that restaurant, but that’s exactly how I’ve been making my leftover sandwiches since I was a kid. I’d rather have the sandwich than the meal, I sometimes think! Have a lovely week.
I completely agree, Betsy!
I’ve never heard of Capriotti‘s. I just googled it and there is one 40 minutes from my house here in CT. I may need to take a road trip there to try one of the Bobbie sandwiches! My family eats these sandwiches every Thanksgiving and we have for many decades. It’s my favorite part of Thanksgiving because I get to eat these sandwiches as leftovers. We call them gobblers. My sister-in-law also makes them and she calls hers pilgrim sandwiches. Absolutely delicious. She makes the best Thanksgiving stuffing so that’s truly what makes our sandwiches taste so good. We don’t shred the turkey though – we all just put slices of leftover Thanksgiving turkey on the sandwiches. And I agree you need a good amount of mayonnaise on both sides. I hope all of your readers try this sandwich this Thanksgiving season because it’s truly the best sandwich on the planet. Wishing you and your readers a very happy Thanksgiving.
Oh, you’ll have to let me know if you end up trying the sandwich shop, Teresa! Also, I hereby petition to rename this sandwich to “The Gobbler” – I LOVE THAT! Thanks for adding your notes…I agree that the quality of the stuffing makes the sandwich. Happy Thanksgiving!