Ultimate Turkey Melts

Ultimate Leftover Turkey Melt sandwich with oozing melted Brie cheese, a thick layer of cranberry sauce, and toasted bread.

A warm, melty, open-faced sandwich that hits all the right flavor notes of tart, sweet, and savory, this turkey melt recipe combines carved turkey meat with cranberry sauce and Brie for a simple but sophisticated lunch. It's the perfect thing to make with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, or year 'round.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Servings: 2 turkey melts

Calories: 356kcal

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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

Recipe substitutions:

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.

Warming the Turkey (Pro Tip):For a better result, slightly warm the turkey meat (e.g., 30 seconds in the microwave) before assembling the melt. Starting with cold meat can prevent the cheese from achieving a perfect gooey melt.

If you do not mind cold turkey and want to speed things up, you can place the assembled melt directly under the broiler. The turkey will not have time to warm through, but the cheese will melt in under a minute or two. Watch carefully to make sure it does not burn. Also, do not line the baking sheet with parchment paper when you use a broiler; it will burn.

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.