Thanksgiving dinner is great. The leftovers? Maybe even better. This sophisticated but easy turkey melt recipe combines leftover turkey, a little cranberry sauce, and Brie into a next-level leftover turkey sandwich. Read on for the recipe, and melt for these easy turkey melts.
Why This is the Ultimate Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich
We all know and love the traditional Thanksgiving leftover sandwich — that glorious, mile-high pile of stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, and gravy layered between two slices of bread. But this recipe takes a different view: that less is more, and that a little bit of melted cheese can take your post-holiday meal from overwhelming to lovely.
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Here, turkey and tart cranberry sauce gets layered into an elevated, warm, open-faced turkey sandwich topped with creamy, melted Brie. The simple combination of sweet, tangy cranberry, rich Brie, and savory turkey delivers a sophisticated flavor profile and incredible texture. Read on for this incredibly simple, delicious375 degree F oven turkey melt recipe.
Leftover turkey also plays a starring role in this Leftover Turkey Pot Pie recipe. And make sure you get the full list of Thanksgiving leftovers recipes!
Safe Food Handling for Leftover Turkey
When enjoying any leftover turkey sandwich, food safety is paramount. According to the USDA, cooked turkey should be refrigerated promptly and is only safe to eat for three to four days after cooking (I usually limit myself at three). Always ensure your turkey is not left at room temperature for more than two hours. For this recipe, if your turkey is refrigerator-cold, we highly recommend microwaving the meat for about 30 seconds before assembly. This ensures that the entire sandwich is warmed through and the cheese melts perfectly at the target baking time.
You’ll also like: 3 Classic French Sandwiches and How to Make Perfect Grilled Cheese
Ingredients for the Best Turkey Melt (Cranberry Brie Edition)
These turkey melts only require a few choice ingredients, starting with roasted turkey meat of course.
- Cooked turkey meat, white or dark
- 2 slices good bread, toasted until golden brown
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce or tart jam, or to taste
- 3 ounces Brie cheese, sliced
- 1 teaspoon mayonnaise or butter (optional)
- Salt and pepper
Ingredient Substitutions and Additions
This recipe can be easily adapted to suit your taste or what you have available.
- Substitute roast chicken, sliced carved turkey, or deli meat turkey for leftover Thanksgiving turkey
- For the cranberry sauce: If you do not have cranberry sauce, any sweet-tart jam will do. Raspberry or cherry jam makes an excellent substitute.
- For the Brie: You do not have to use Brie in this recipe. Sharp cheddar cheesewill melt nicely and add a nice flavor balance to the turkey and cranberry flavors. Gruyère is another top choice.
- For the sliced bread: Instead of bread or toast, this turkey melt can also be rolled into a wrap and served plain, or grilled in a panini press.
A slice of crisp bacon or some caramelized onion would be tasty bonus add-ins. You could also do a little whole-grain mustard. Avoid tomato, however, which will clash with the other flavors here — especially the cranberry sauce. That said, you could certainly leave out the cranberry sauce and add a few tomato slices if you’re going for more of a BLT experience.
How to Make the Perfect Cranberry Brie Turkey Melt (Step-by-Step)
Two top Thanksgiving leftovers — roasted turkey and cranberry sauce — in one new dish! This leftover turkey sandwich melt is so simple, it barely needs a recipe. Here’s what you do to make this turkey, cranberry, and Brie melt.
- Take two slices of bread such as sourdough bread or whole wheat (day-old is fine) and toast it until golden brown. Butter the toast or spread with mayonnaise as desired. A crisp flatbread works well, too.
- Spread the toast slices with cranberry sauce. Add the leftover carved turkey, and top with Brie cheese. Transfer to a sheet pan.
- Bake in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 10 minutes, until warm and melty. Top with some fresh black pepper and a sprinkle of salt, and enjoy.
Oven vs. Broiler: A Note on Heating Methods
For this recipe, I recommend cooking the assembled turkey melt in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. This lets the whole sandwich warm through, and the cheese melt. Think of this temp as the equivalent of medium heat over the stove.
The broiler is hotter and quicker, but the turkey will not have time to warm through, before the cheese melts in only minute or two. If you do broil the melt, watch carefully to make sure it does not burn. Also, do not line the rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper when you use a broiler; it will burn.
What to Serve With Turkey Melts
Turkey melts pair well with a crisp, seasonal salad or other additional Thanksgiving side dish leftovers.
F.A.Q.s and Troubleshooting Tips
Absolutely. While this recipe is designed to be the ultimate use for leftover turkey, you can easily substitute sliced deli turkey meat, roast chicken, or even sliced ham. Use high-quality, thickly sliced deli turkey (like smoked turkey breast) for the best flavor and texture.
Sogginess is a common enemy of any grilled or baked sandwich. To prevent it:
1. Toast First: Always toast your bread (thick sourdough or hearty whole wheat work well) before assembling the sandwich. This creates a moisture barrier and a good, crisp starting point.
2. Use a Spread: Spreading a thin layer of butter or mayonnaise on the bread before assembling further seals the bread against the moist fillings (like the cranberry sauce).
If Brie is unavailable or not to your taste, you have several excellent melting cheese options:
Sharp Cheddar: Offers a tangy, assertive flavor that cuts through the sweetness of the cranberry.
Gruyère or Comté: Provides a complex, nutty flavor that complements the roasted turkey beautifully.
It’s best to prepare and eat the melts immediately for the best texture. However, you can prep the separate ingredients ahead of time: Slice the cheese and turkey, toast the bread, portion out the cranberry. Store all components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator, then assemble and bake when ready to serve. Do not assemble the full sandwich and then refrigerate, as the cranberry sauce will make the bread soggy, and the toast will become stale.
Did you try this Cranberry Brie Turkey Melt? Leave a rating and review below to let us know how your leftovers turned out! You’ll also like:
Ultimate Turkey Melts
Ingredients
- 6 ounces sliced, cooked turkey meat (white or dark)
- 2 slices good bread, toasted until golden brown
- 1 teaspoon mayonnaise or butter, optional
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce or tart jam, or to taste
- 3 ounces Brie cheese, sliced
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Toast the bread until golden brown. Spread with butter or mayonnaise (if using) and the cranberry sauce. Add roast turkey over the toast slices. If you have a little gravy, you can add a spoonful or two. Top with the Brie.PRO TIPS: The turkey is best if not refrigerator cold. I microwave mine for about 30 seconds first. The proper way to slice Brie is to slice longways to keep the shape of the triangle; don't cut off the pointy tip!
- Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until warmed through and the cheese has become melted and gooey.
- Top with fresh-cracked pepper, and serve warm, perhaps with a side salad, green beans, or other leftover Thanksgiving side.
Notes
- The meat. Substitute roast chicken or sliced deli carved turkey for leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
- The cranberry sauce. Raspberry jam makes the best alternative to cranberry sauce.
- The cheese. If you do not have Brie, a sharp cheddar or aged Gruyère or Comté would also be very good.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is provided for courtesy purposes only, and is an estimate not verified by medical or nutrition experts. Read the full nutrition disclaimer.
3 comments
T.Tindall
This is the best turkey melt I have had. It’s not a huge sandwich, but it has excellent combo of flavors from the brie and cranberry. I substituted raspberry jam and it tasted wonderful.
Molly Clayton
This sandwich was better than the main event which produced the leftover components. Really, really good.
F.T.
I made this for lunch yesterday with leftover roasted chicken and I loved it! (I already made my cranberry sauce for Thursday.)