The Ultimate Leftover Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese (Easy Recipe!)

It’s day six after Thanksgiving, and I’m sure many of you are in the same boat: wondering what to do with all that leftover turkey. I’m at that point where I’m thinking, “I need a creative way to use these leftovers,” and “Are these leftovers still good?” Luckily, we planned our Thanksgiving menu perfectly and didn’t have mountains of leftovers. But what we did have, I’ve been transforming into the most delicious Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese sandwiches!

A Thanksgiving Leftover Tradition: Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese

My favorite part of Thanksgiving is that iconic canned cranberry sauce. If your cranberry sauce isn’t a jiggly, can-shaped marvel, it’s just not the same! (Homemade is great, but I’m a canned cranberry sauce enthusiast.) Since it’s mostly just my mother-in-law and me who enjoy it, we happily devour it on Thanksgiving and in the days that follow. This grilled cheese recipe combines two of my absolute favorite Thanksgiving flavors: turkey and cranberry sauce. It’s the perfect way to use up those holiday leftovers.

Making the Best Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese

For this Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese recipe, I used a combination of Swiss, cheddar, and mozzarella cheese. Full disclosure: I used a plant-based Swiss that doesn’t melt particularly well, so I used the dairy cheeses as a melting “glue.” In hindsight, that kind of defeats the purpose of the plant-based cheese, but hey, it’s a leftover creation!

Pro Tip: Gravy-Soaked Turkey for Extra Flavor!

Before assembling the sandwich, I highly recommend dunking your leftover turkey in leftover gravy. It adds so much moisture and flavor! Just heat the turkey and gravy, shred the turkey, and toss it in the warm gravy.

Assembling Your Leftover Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

1. Spread mayo on the outside of two slices of bread (I prefer oatnut bread).
2. On one slice of bread, layer a slice of cheese, then the gravy-soaked turkey, then a generous spoonful of cranberry sauce, and finally, another slice of cheese.
3. Top with the other slice of bread (mayo-side up).
4. Grill the sandwich in a pan over medium heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.

Print Recipe

Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese

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Lunch – American

By Lilies and Loafers – Serves: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Cooking Time: 5 minutes – Total Time: 15 minutes

Use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make the ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients

• Left over turkey
• Gravy
• Cranberry sauce (can or homemade)
• 2 slices swiss cheese
• 2 slices of bread (your favorite)

Instructions

1

Warm a skillet over medium heat.

2

Heat up turkey and gravy.

3

Shred or cut turkey into smaller pieces and drop into the gravy.

4

On one slice of bread, lay down swiss cheese.

5

Then layer turkey-soaked in gravy.

6

Top turkey with cranberry sauce. If using one from a can, mash it up a little.

7

Last layer is another slice of swiss before topping it off with a slice of bread.

8

On the top of the bread, spread mayonnaise (or butter if you prefer).

9

Flip the sandwich over onto skillet so the mayo side is cooking first.

10

While cooking, spread more mayo over the other slice of bread.

11

Once the cooked side looks like a nice golden color, flip.

12

Cook for a few minutes until desired golden color and remove from heat.

13

Let sit a moment before cutting in half.

14

Serve warm! I was dunking this sandwich into gravy as well, so know that is also a delicious choice!

Why This Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese is a Must-Try

This isn’t just any grilled cheese. It’s a Thanksgiving leftover masterpiece! The savory turkey, the tangy cranberry sauce, and the melted cheese create a flavor explosion that’s both comforting and satisfying. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the flavors of Thanksgiving in a whole new way.

Variations on the Turkey Cranberry Grilled Cheese

Want to mix things up? Here are a few variations:

• Different Cheeses: Try brie, provolone, or gouda.
• Add Greens: Arugula or spinach adds a peppery bite.
• Use Different Bread: Sourdough or rye bread would be delicious.
• Add Stuffing: Crumble some leftover stuffing into the sandwich for even more Thanksgiving flavor.

What are your favorite ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers? Have you ever tried a Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments below!