Leftover Turkey Melt: The Ultimate Day-After-Thanksgiving Sandwich

Recipes
November 2025

Thanksgiving dinner is always a showstopper — but the leftovers? That’s where the real magic happens. After the chaos of cooking, hosting and feasting, there’s nothing better than an easy, crave-worthy meal you can throw together the next day. Enter: the Leftover Turkey Melt.

This sandwich layers tender turkey, creamy brie, tart cranberry sauce and crisp Honeycrisp apples between buttery, golden sourdough. It’s a perfect blend of sweet, salty, melty and toasty — everything you want when you’re winding down from the holiday hustle and settling into a cozy long weekend. And when you prepare it on a propane range, precision heat control ensures every bite is perfectly toasted, and the brie melts just right — no guesswork, just flawless results.

Leftover Turkey Melt Recipe

Makes: 2 sandwiches
Time: ~10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 garlic clove, grated or finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (plus extra for cooking)
  • ½ tbsp honey
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups leftover turkey, shredded or chopped
  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 oz brie, sliced lengthwise
  • ¼ cup cranberry sauce, divided — plus more for serving
  • 1 Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix garlic, melted butter, honey, salt and pepper. Toss turkey in the mixture until well coated.
  2. Build each sandwich:
    • Bread → 2 slices brie → apple slices → 1 ½ tbsp cranberry sauce → turkey mixture → rosemary
    • Add another 1 ½ tbsp cranberry sauce + 2 more slices brie → top with bread
  3. Heat butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
  4. Cook sandwiches 2–4 minutes per side until golden brown and the brie is melted and gooey.
  5. Serve immediately with extra cranberry sauce for dipping.

Why You’ll Love It

  • Uses up those holiday leftovers in a craveable way
  • Sweet + savory flavor combo = irresistible
  • Ready in minutes (no more kitchen marathons!)
  • Comfort food that still feels elevated

Change up the cheese if you like — Swiss or gouda work great — and/or add a handful of arugula for a fresh peppery twist.

This year, give your Thanksgiving turkey a second chance to shine. Pour yourself a cozy beverage, curl up with a movie or a football game and enjoy the best sandwich of the season.

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