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This leftover turkey sandwich turns Thanksgiving leftovers into something you’ll actually be excited to eat. Tender turkey, creamy cheese, tangy cranberry sauce and sweet poppyseed dressing are piled onto a soft roll for an easy 5-minute lunch or dinner.
One Thanksgiving, I had one of those random Friday leftover moments and threw this sandwich together. I’ve been making it ever since! There’s something about the combination of savory turkey, tart cranberry sauce, cream cheese and sweet poppyseed dressing that is ridiculously good.
And after spending Thanksgiving cooking all day, this is exactly what I want: no oven, no stove and almost no cleanup.
Why You’ll Love This Leftover Turkey Sandwich
- Ready in 5 minutes: No cooking required—just assemble and eat!
- Uses Thanksgiving leftovers: Turkey and cranberry sauce get completely transformed into an easy lunch.
- That sweet-savory combo: Cream cheese, cranberry sauce and poppyseed dressing make this so much better than a basic turkey sandwich.
- Easy to customize: Add stuffing, greens, sliced onion or whatever else is hanging out in the fridge.
- Make one or make a bunch: The recipe is easy to scale depending on how many leftovers—and hungry people—you have.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe is completely scalable, so make one sandwich or enough for the whole family.
- Rolls: Soft potato rolls are my favorite, but ciabatta, croissants or any leftover dinner rolls work beautifully.
- Turkey: Use leftover roasted or smoked turkey, sliced or shredded.
- Cream Cheese: Let it soften first, or use whipped cream cheese for easy spreading.
- Mozzarella: Mild and melty without overpowering the turkey. Gruyère or white cheddar are delicious too.
- Cranberry Sauce: Homemade cranberry sauce gives you that sweet-tart bite that makes this sandwich. I prefer it over jellied cranberry sauce.
- Poppyseed Dressing: The sweet, tangy finishing touch that pulls everything together. Store bought or homemade both work.
How to Make a Leftover Turkey Sandwich
No oven, stove or microwave needed. This is about as easy as Thanksgiving leftovers get!
- Spread: Slice the rolls and spread cream cheese over both cut sides.
- Layer: Add turkey, mozzarella and a generous spoonful of cranberry sauce.
- Drizzle: Spoon poppyseed dressing over the top.
- Serve: Add the top of the roll and eat immediately.
Leftover Turkey Sandwich Variations
The simplicity is part of what makes this sandwich so good, but Thanksgiving leftovers give you plenty of ways to change it up. Try adding:
- Gruyère or white cheddar instead of mozzarella for a stronger cheese flavor.
- Stuffing for the ultimate Thanksgiving sandwich.
- Arugula or spinach for a fresh bite.
- Thinly sliced red onion for a little crunch.
- Pickled jalapeños for some heat.
- Mashed potatoes and gravy if you’re ready to go all-in on the leftovers.
What to Serve with Turkey Sandwiches
Keep lunch simple with a spinach salad, broccoli salad, chips or fresh fruit. And if there happens to be leftover Thanksgiving pie in the fridge, I’m certainly not going to tell you not to eat a slice of pecan or razzleberry pie with it!
How Long Do Leftover Turkey Sandwiches Keep?
These sandwiches are best eaten immediately. Once assembled, the cranberry sauce and dressing will eventually make the rolls soggy.
For leftovers, store the turkey, cranberry sauce, cheese and dressing separately in the refrigerator and assemble each sandwich just before serving.
Troubleshooting
Cranberry sauce and poppyseed dressing both add moisture, so don’t assemble the sandwiches until you’re ready to eat. Spreading cream cheese directly on the bread also creates a little barrier between the roll and wetter ingredients.
Slice the turkey thinly and be generous with the cranberry sauce and poppyseed dressing. Both add moisture and make even slightly dry leftover turkey taste great.
Start with a small spoonful. You want enough for a sweet-tart bite without completely covering the turkey.
Let it soften at room temperature or use whipped cream cheese. Cold cream cheese is much harder to spread on a soft roll.
Absolutely. Leave off the cranberry sauce and dressing, then warm the turkey-and-cheese sandwich until the cheese melts. Add the cranberry sauce and poppyseed dressing afterward.
I know Thanksgiving leftovers are supposed to be part of the fun, but by Friday I am DONE cooking. 😂 Give me a soft roll, a pile of turkey, cranberry sauce and that sweet poppyseed dressing and I am one happy girl. In fact, I might secretly love this leftover turkey sandwich almost as much as Thanksgiving dinner itself. Almost.
More Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Leftovers:
- Leftover Turkey Club Sandwich
- Turkey Sliders
- Leftover Turkey Soup
- Turkey and Stuffing Acorn Squash
- Cranberry Sauce Muffins
- Turkey Pot Pie
- Turkey Tetrazzini
Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 Rolls
- 4 Ounces Cream Cheese , spreadable
- 8 Slices Turkey
- 4 Slices Mozzarella Cheese , or similar
- 1/2 Cup Cranberry Sauce
- 1/4 Cup Poppyseed Dressing
Instructions
- Slice the rolls in half and spread the two sides with cream cheese.4 Rolls, 4 Ounces Cream Cheese
- Top with turkey, cheese, cranberry sauce and a drizzle of poppy seed dressing. Serve immediately!8 Slices Turkey, 4 Slices Mozzarella Cheese , 1/2 Cup Cranberry Sauce, 1/4 Cup Poppyseed Dressing
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
