Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese
Turn holiday leftovers into a Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese featuring creamy and nutty Gouda, turkey, and cranberry sauce. The combination of flavors with spicy mustard is a comforting twist on a classic. Sandwich recipes make lunches or dinners easy in my house when schedules get busy. I pair them with a salad or soup and it’s a comforting meal.
This grilled turkey and cheese takes Thanksgiving leftovers to the next level of deliciousness and comfort food. It has all the tastes of a holiday dinner with gourmet melty gouda. It’s so easy to make and you can customize it with any of your favorites from the big meal. It’s the perfect bite to enjoy after all that Black Friday shopping.
After making this Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese, I really wished I had more turkey left to make another. It’s so good and in fact, I do believe it’s tied with my Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich as being a favorite way to repurpose the remaining foods from our dinner. With its toasty bread, gooey cheese, and combination of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, it’s a sandwich that celebrates the best parts of the meal.
Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese
The Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese is a fun, twist on your leftovers that’s way more exciting than a plain turkey sandwich. Thick slices of Homemade White Bread are what I choose to use for the base of the toasty melt. Adding spicy brown mustard gives another layer of flavor. If there would have been stuffing with sausage left, I would have added a bit of that, too. I debated on adding a small amount of my yummy sweet potato casserole but in the end, I just had that separately. This recipe is quick, easy to make, and customizable based on what you have on hand.
Timesaving Tips and Variations
Use these timesaving tips to inspire you to create a unique and flavorful dish that everyone will love.
- If you’re making more than one grilled sandwich at a time, I recommend having all the bread buttered and your fillings set out, ready to go once you start assembling the sandwiches in the skillet.
- Mix some fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme into your butter before spreading it on the bread.
- For extra richness and a smoky flavor, add a couple of slices of cooked bacon alongside the turkey.
- Use mashed potatoes, roasted veggies from the meal, or whatever you have left.
- Substitute the gouda for brie, sharp cheddar, muenster, or Swiss.
- Have extra ham? Layer in a few slices for an extra layer of smoky, salty flavor.
By following these tips, you can make this delicious recipe in less time and with less stress.
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What to Serve with Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese
You can pair a turkey cranberry melt with traditional sides like slow cooker cheesy green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, or candied yams. Here are a few other sides to try:
A side of french fries or potato chips is always a great side to serve with this lunch idea.
My hubby likes to add a drizzle of gravy to the turkey before grilling. It makes for an even more tasty sandwich.
Equipment Needed to Make Grilled Cheese
You know I like simple recipes that use items I already have in my kitchen and this one is no exception. I am linking to my favorite pan to use.
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- Lodge Cast Iron skillet
- knife
- cutting board
- serving plate
Ingredients
While you are using the foods from your holiday spread, you may not have the gouda, and that’s okay – use what you have.
- thick-cut bread
- butter
- spicy brown mustard
- turkey slices
- cranberry sauce
- Gouda slices
How to Make a Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese
Have ingredients out to warm up to room temperature. Heat skillet over medium heat. Place bread slices on a cutting board and butter one side of each slice of bread. Place one slice of bread in a preheated skillet, butter side down. Spread spicy mustard on bread one slice only.
Top that slice of bread with 2 slices of turkey. Spoon a tablespoon or two of the cranberry sauce on top of the turkey. Use just enough that it won’t leak out of the sandwich.
Add 2 slices of the Gouda and top with the other slice of bread with the buttered side up. Cook each side until golden brown.
Place the sandwich on a plate and cut it in half, if desired, and serve.
Get creative in the kitchen after the holiday rush turning familiar ingredients into a whole new experience. It’s so simple to make, and you can have something delicious ready in minutes.
Printable Recipe Card
Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- knife
- serving plate
Ingredients
- 2 thick slices of bread
- 2 slices turkey
- 2 slices Gouda cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
- 1 – 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Have ingredients out to warm up to room temperature. Heat skillet over medium heat.
- Place bread slices on a cutting board and butter one side of each slice of bread.
- Place one slice of bread in a preheated skillet, butter side down. Spread spicy mustard on bread one slice only.
- Top that slice of bread with 2 slices of turkey.
- Spoon a tablespoon or two of the cranberry sauce on top of the turkey. Use just enough that it won’t leak out of the sandwich.
- Add 2 slices of the Gouda and top with the other slice of bread with the buttered side up. Cook each side until golden brown.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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