The Thanksgiving meal gets all the attention, but I’m going to make an argument for the leftovers. Specifically, when those leftovers become a warm, toasted Gluten Free Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich loaded with turkey, cranberry sauce, melted cheese, peppery arugula, and mustard.
The best part is that there really aren’t rules here. Use the turkey you have, grab whatever cranberry sauce is left in the fridge, choose your favorite cheese, and pile it all onto Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf. A few minutes in the oven or air fryer gets the bread perfectly toasted and the cheese melty, and lunch is done.
After spending Thanksgiving cooking, this is exactly the amount of effort I want to put into the next day's meal.
Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Thanksgiving Sandwich
This sandwich is incredibly simple, but you get a little bit of everything in each bite. The turkey and melted cheese are savory, the cranberry sauce adds sweetness and tang, the mustard gives it a little bite, and fresh arugula balances everything out.
But the real star here is the Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf. A good sandwich starts with good bread, especially when you're gluten-free. The Pullman Loaf gives all of those Thanksgiving leftovers a sturdy, delicious base and gets beautifully toasted in just a few minutes.
Even better, this recipe is meant to be flexible. Thanksgiving leftovers look different in every refrigerator, so think of this recipe as a starting point rather than something you need to follow exactly.
Ingredient Notes
Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf
The bread is the foundation of this gluten free turkey sandwich, so this is one ingredient we're not swapping. Bread SRSLY's Gum-Free Pullman Loaf holds all of the layers while getting wonderfully toasted around the edges.
Leftover Turkey
Use whatever you have. White meat, dark meat, sliced turkey, shredded turkey, or a combination all work.
There's no exact amount required here either. Add enough to make a hearty sandwich without piling it so high that you can't pick it up.
Cranberry Sauce
Use homemade cranberry sauce, store-bought cranberry sauce, or whatever happens to be sitting in your refrigerator after Thanksgiving.
About 2 tablespoons gives the sandwich plenty of cranberry flavor without overwhelming everything else.
Mustard
Dijon and honey mustard are both great with turkey and cranberry, but use your favorite. You'll need about 1 teaspoon for each slice of bread.
Cheese
I used light cheddar, but this is another place where you can use what you have. Cheddar, white cheddar, provolone, Swiss, or your favorite dairy-free cheese would all work.
Arugula
A small handful of fresh arugula adds a peppery bite and a little freshness to an otherwise very rich Thanksgiving sandwich.
How to Make a Gluten Free Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich
1. Prep the bread
Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F.
Place two slices of Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf on your work surface. Spread 1 teaspoon of mustard onto each slice.
2. Add the turkey and cheese
Layer your leftover turkey onto one slice of bread and top it with the cheese.
Leave the sandwich open-faced for toasting.
3. Toast
Place the bread in the oven or air fryer and toast at 400°F for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the bread is as toasted as you like and the cheese is warm and melted.
Keep an eye on it toward the end since ovens and air fryers can vary.
4. Finish the sandwich
Remove the toasted bread from the oven or air fryer.
Add about 2 tablespoons of cranberry sauce over the turkey and cheese, followed by a small handful of fresh arugula.
Close the sandwich, slice it in half, and enjoy it while it's warm.
Make It With Your Favorite Thanksgiving Leftovers
The beauty of a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is that there really isn't a wrong way to make one.
This combination of turkey, cranberry sauce, cheese, mustard, and arugula is a favorite, but your refrigerator gets the final say.
Have a cheese you love? Use it.
Only have yellow mustard? That's fine.
Want more cranberry sauce? Go for it.
Have another Thanksgiving leftover that you know would be delicious tucked inside? Add it.
The Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf gives you the base, and everything that happens between those two slices is entirely up to you.
Tips for the Best Gluten Free Turkey Sandwich
Don't go overboard with the cranberry sauce. You want enough to get cranberry in every bite without making the bread soggy.
Toast it open-faced. Toasting the bread with the turkey and cheese already on it warms the turkey and melts the cheese without heating the arugula or cranberry sauce.
Watch your bread closely. Three to four minutes is a good starting point, but ovens and air fryers vary. Pull it when the bread and cheese look good to you.
Don't worry about exact amounts. This is a leftovers sandwich. It's supposed to be easy.
Can I Make This Thanksgiving Sandwich Dairy Free?
Yes. Swap the cheddar for your favorite dairy-free cheese or leave the cheese off altogether.
The turkey, cranberry sauce, mustard, and arugula still give you plenty of flavor.
What Mustard Is Best on a Turkey Cranberry Sandwich?
Dijon and honey mustard are our top choices. Dijon gives the sandwich a sharper, savory bite, while honey mustard plays into the sweet and savory combination of turkey and cranberry sauce.
But again, this is an anything-goes sandwich. Use the mustard you already love.
Can I Use an Air Fryer?
Yes! An air fryer is actually one of the easiest ways to make this sandwich.
Toast the open-faced sandwich at 400°F for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, or until the Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf is toasted and the cheese is melted to your liking.
Gluten Free Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich Recipe
Yield: 1 sandwich
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3–4 minutes
Total Time: About 10 minutes
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories: 435
Fat: 6g
Carbohydrates: 59g
Fiber: 6g
Protein: 34g
INGREDIENTS
- 2 slices Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf
- 2 teaspoons mustard, divided
- Leftover turkey, sliced or shredded, as desired
- 1–2 slices light cheddar cheese or cheese of choice
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- Small handful fresh arugula
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven or air fryer to 400°F.
- Spread 1 teaspoon of mustard onto each slice of Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf.
- Add the desired amount of leftover turkey to one slice of bread and top with cheese.
- Leave the sandwich open-faced and toast both slices at 400°F for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted to your liking.
- Remove from the oven or air fryer.
- Add 2 tablespoons of cranberry sauce and a small handful of arugula over the turkey and melted cheese.
- Top with the second slice of toasted bread.
- Slice in half and serve immediately.
The Day-After-Thanksgiving Lunch You'll Actually Want
Thanksgiving dinner may be over, but the good part is definitely not.
This Gluten Free Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich turns whatever is hanging out in your refrigerator into an easy lunch with almost no additional cooking. Turkey, cranberry sauce, melted cheese, mustard, and fresh arugula piled onto toasted Bread SRSLY Gum-Free Pullman Loaf is simple, cozy, and exactly what leftovers should be.
Just remember: the recipe is a suggestion. The bread is the starting point. The leftovers are up to you.
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