Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches

You know how around Thanksgiving, you’re always searching the web for ideas on how to use up leftover turkey? Well, you can stop searching. I sure did. The gravy over these open-faced turkey sandwiches is absolutely to die for. It’s incredible. Savory rich… with a little kick to boot. Although I used turkey I had just smoked, these sandwiches are just as great with leftovers. Maybe even better.

Any kind of cooked turkey can be used for these sandwiches. White meat. Dark meat. Baked. Roasted. Deep-fried. Cooked on a grill. Cooked in a Big Easy. Air-fried. Sous vide. I don’t care. It doesn’t care. In the recipe I said ‘turkey breast’. Ignore that. Use anything you want from the turkey. Heck, grab a leg. It doesn’t matter.

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches

Perfect Turkey Deliciousness

All I could think about when eating one of these open-faced turkey sandwiches was stuffing. That happens sometimes in the summer or early fall. You start to think of the holidays and in no time you’re thinking about your favorite late fall and winter dishes. It’d be ok to put a side of stuffing on the plate, don’t you think? I mean, specially if I doubled the gravy recipe. Stuffing and gravy go together like this sandwich and gravy go together!

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

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Skip It

This is the part where I usually recommend that you peel your celery before using it in a dish. It makes such a difference whether you’re eating it raw or cooking with it. But this dish uses so little celery that I’m going to let it slide. This time.

Save a little gravy for mashed or baked potatoes. It is also absolutely fantastic heaped over mashed cauliflower.

Also try my grilled open-faced beef, cheese and gravy sandwiches.

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches
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5 from 1 vote

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches

The gravy over these open-faced turkey sandwiches is absolutely to die for. It’s incredible. Savory rich… with a little kick to boot.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword sandwich, turkey
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 526kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the gravy

For the sandwiches

  • 4 slices bread
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 10-12 ounces turkey breast roast or smoked, warmed if desired

Instructions

For the gravy

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Saute, stirring often, until the mushrooms are soft and turning golden in color, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the flour and cook until it starts to brown, 5-6 minutes.
  • Add the onion and celery and cook until they start to soften.
  • Whisk in the chicken broth and Cajun seasoning.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and let simmer until the mixture reduces by half and reaches the desired thickness.
  • Season with more salt and pepper as desired.

For the sandwiches

  • Toast bread, if desired.
  • Spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread.
  • Top bread with turkey.
  • Divide the gravy between the sandwiches and serve.
  • To assemble the sandwiches, spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mayonnaise on each slice of bread.
  • Arrange equal amounts of the turkey on top.
  • Ladle equal amounts of the mushroom gravy (almost 1/2 cup each) over each open-faced sandwich.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

The gravy is great over mashed potatoes, too.

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 1267mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1227IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Ham and Cheese Grinder

I once worked near a W.G. Grinders, my favorite place for baked sandwiches at lunchtime. Sadly, W.G. Grinders no longer has any locations open in Indiana (there are a few in Ohio). They sure made great sandwiches. Now I have to make a ham and cheese grinder at home to satisfy my cravings. Although I sure liked the ones at the order-at-the-counter restaurant, these are not anything to sneeze at! In fact, they’re fantastic!

The beauty of making a grinder at home is not that you get to make it your way. That you can use your favorite cheese. Or meat. Or that you can sing while you’re making it. Nope. it’s that you can make two of them and eat them both without telling anyone! Boom!

Ham and Cheese Grinder

Cool It

This ham and cheese grinder is a great way to make an outstanding baked sandwich at home. It’s very easy, yet very tasty. Of course, you can use any meat or cheese you like. The key ingredients are the garlic butter and the little sprinkle of paprika at the end. Mmmm… tasty!

I’ve found that it helps to let your grinder cool a bit before slicing. It’s like a pizza that way. If you cut it while the cheese is still ooey-gooey melty it’ll just ooze right on out of the sandwich. Unless you have one crazy-sharp knife. It’s hard to do. So just let it sit there for a few minutes. You don’t have to let it get cold, but sit long enough for the cheese to set just a bit!

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Aldi for the Win

For the bread, meats and cheese my go-to place has become my local Aldi store. They have great breads and their deli meats are available at a great price. And they have a great variety of them too, so I never get bored with my grinders. My favorite is their ‘Italian Trio’. It’s a package of genoa salami, sandwich pepperoni and provolone cheese. They have others, too. You can pick up several and mix-and-match to make these grinders your way!

Also try my steakhouse grinder.

Ham and Cheese Grinder
Print Pin
4 from 1 vote

Ham and Cheese Grinder

This sandwich is a great way to make an outstanding baked sandwich at home. It’s very easy, yet very tasty. Of course, you can use any meat or cheese you like. The key ingredients are the garlic butter and the little sprinkle of paprika at the end. Mmmm… tasty!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, ham, sandwich
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 799kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ stick unsalted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder more or less
  • 1 loaf French bread
  • ¾ pound deli ham sliced thin
  • ½ pound provolone cheese sliced thin
  • ½ teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Combine the butter and garlic powder. Add more garlic powder, to taste, if needed.
  • Split the French bread lengthwise and lay open.
  • Brush both open sides with butter.
  • Transfer to a baking sheet.
  • Add ham and cheese, then sprinkle with the paprika.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy.

Notes

Also great topped with thin-slices of tomato, hot or cold!

Nutrition

Calories: 799kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 2021mg | Potassium: 463mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 871IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 483mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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  • Meal Prep MVP – A practical and innovative way to…
  • 12 Diverse Blades – With nine interchangeable…
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  • Set includes: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup
  • Magnetic handles keep Cups together for storage…