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This deli-style turkey sandwich is quick, easy, and packed with flavor. It honestly tastes like something you’d grab from a deli, but you can make it at home in minutes. It’s perfect for lunchboxes, road trips, or a simple meal at home and ready to go in just 5-minutes. Try it classic or try it with one of our five delicious variations.
Easy, Customizable, and Perfect for Lunch
I find myself making this turkey sandwich all the time because it takes almost no time and everybody actually eats it. It’s my go-to for school lunches, road trips, and easy picnics. It’s just a simple, deli-style sandwich that never lets me down. The key word here is “simple”. I’ll show you my go-to base, then you can build it however you like to create your own masterpiece.
When I’m making it at home, I dress it up with whatever extras I have in the fridge – crispy bacon, avocado slices, a spoonful of cranberry sauce, or a some homemade pesto. Whether you keep it basic, or load it up, it’s always a hit!
❤️ Erica
Table of Contents
- Easy, Customizable, and Perfect for Lunch
- Best Ingredients for a Turkey Sandwich
- How to Build the Best Turkey Sandwich
- Turkey Sandwich Variations
- How to Keep Your Sandwich From Getting Soggy
- What to Serve with Turkey Sandwiches
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Deli-Style Sandwiches
- Deli Style Turkey Sandwich Recipe
- More Popular Sandwich Recipes
Best Ingredients for a Turkey Sandwich
- Bread: First start with the bread. I like to use a nice, soft, sliced, whole wheat variety. I also like using white bread (my kids’ favorite), ciabatta, flatbread, hoagie rolls, bagels, or large croissant rolls.
- Condiments: Personally, I like to keep it simple with a thin layer or mayonnaise. You can also add deli mustard, yellow mustard, pesto, oil & red wine vinegar, or even a little ranch dressing.
- Cheese: Next is the cheese. Provolone, Swiss, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Havarti are all great cheese choices.
- Turkey: I like to use a simple oven roasted deli turkey for my sandwiches. I always get my turkey from the deli and get it sliced super thin, just one notch above shredded. I love having lots of layers of thin-sliced meat. It just tastes better than one or two thicker slices laying flat on the bread. Try it with honey, cajun style, maple, or peppered turkey.
- Vegetables: Finally, layer on your favorite veggies! Crisp lettuce and fresh tomatoes are always a popular choice.
- Additional Topping Ideas: red onion, pickles, banana peppers, avocado slices, cucumber slices.
How to Build the Best Turkey Sandwich
- Spread mayonnaise on two slices of whole wheat bread. Layer cheese, turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, and another cheese slice. Top with the other slice of bread.
- Cut the sandwich in half for easy eating or sharing.
Turkey Sandwich Variations
- Turkey Club: Toast your bread and add some bacon. Cut your sandwich into fourths like a club sandwich and stack each section. Secure with toothpicks.
- Turkey Avocado: Add some sliced avocado or spread mashed avocado onto your bread slices. Add some bacon to make it a turkey bacon avocado sandwich.
- Turkey Pesto Sandwich: Combine 2 tablespoons of fresh pesto with the mayonnaise before spreading on the bread. Add some sun-dried tomatoes for an extra flavor boost!
- Turkey-Cranberry: Swap out the mayo for some softened cream cheese and spread on a generous layer of cranberry sauce. If you have leftover stuffing after Thanksgiving, make it a Thanksgiving Leftover Pilgrim Sandwich.
- Turkey Breakfast Sandwich: Heat up the turkey slices on a griddle and melt the cheese over the top. Toast the bread and place the turkey and cheese over the top. Cook or scramble an egg on the griddle and add it to your sandwich. Add the tomato (and maybe some avocado) but leave out the lettuce.
How to Keep Your Sandwich From Getting Soggy
When building a turkey sandwich, the key to avoiding sogginess is keeping wet ingredients away from the bread. Start with a thin layer of mayo, then add cheese directly on the bread to act as a barrier. Layer on the turkey (folded for the best texture), followed by dry toppings like lettuce. Place wet ingredients like tomatoes, pickles, or cucumbers in the center so they don’t touch the bread, and if you want extra protection, add another slice of cheese on top before the second piece of bread. If you’re making it ahead, pat tomatoes dry or leave them off until serving. I have found that tomatoes are always the biggest offenders when it comes to sogginess!
What to Serve with Turkey Sandwiches
If I’m packing these up to-go, I usually just throw in some chips and pickles or some veggies and dip and call it lunch. However if I’m actually wanting to serve a side dish, I will usually go for my mom’s famous homemade potato salad, some fresh and easy marinated cucumbers, or our popular Hawaiian macaroni salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deli-sliced turkey works great for this sandwich. You can use oven-roasted, smoked, Cajun seasoned, mesquite, or peppered turkey depending on your preference. If you are looking specifically for a good brand, I like using Boar’s Head. Leftover Thanksgiving turkey also makes an excellent sandwich!
Whole wheat bread, hoagie rolls, ciabatta, sourdough, or classic white sandwich bread all work well.
Yes! To prevent sogginess, layer the cheese or turkey between the bread and the wet ingredients like mayonnaise, tomato slices, or pickles. Wrap tightly and refrigerate. It’s great for school lunches or picnics.
To make a grilled turkey sandwich, butter the outside of the bread and grill it in a skillet until the cheese melts and the bread is golden brown. Add the tomato and lettuce (optional) after the sandwich is grilled.
Popular add-ons include bacon, avocado, tomato, lettuce, pickles, cheese, pesto, cranberry sauce, and honey mustard.
More Deli-Style Sandwiches
🥪 Did you try this sandwich? Let us know how you made it your own. Leave a comment and rating below – we’d love to hear your favorite turkey sandwich toppings.
Deli Style Turkey Sandwich
Video
Ingredients
- 2 slices whole wheat bread
- 2-4 slices Provolone cheese, (or your favorite sliced cheese)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 ounces sliced or shaved deli turkey
- Green leaf lettuce
- 2 slices fresh tomatoes
- salt and pepper
- additional toppings, (see options above)
Instructions
- Lay out all ingredients. Spread mayonnaise on bread slices and layer 1-2 slices of cheese over the mayo (you want to cover the whole slice of bread with cheese so you may need to do 2 slices and overlap). Add sliced turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, salt and pepper, and any other additional toppings.
- Top sandwich with remaining cheese and bread slice, cut into halves, and serve. See above for more variation ideas.
Notes
- For a better texture and a bulkier sandwich, fold the turkey slices and layer.
- If your tomatoes are extra juicy, pat them dry before adding to the sandwich. Tomatoes are one of the biggest culprits for soggy sandwiches!
- For best results, place cheese directly against the bread to create a barrier and help prevent sogginess.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Pretty hot chic sandwich is better.
i LOVE this, my kids LOVE it, my ex-wife LOVES it.
That is the best compliment! Thanks!
Nice that your ex still lets you know how she feels about the turkey sandwich. But what does your current partner think of it.
Having for dinner tonight!
Great simple recipe! What is your favorite turkey to use when you make this sandwich? I learned the tutorial on Kaya Street Kitchen to use leftover turkey that I cooked for dinner to make sandwiches for lunch throughout the week.
yummuyyy
It was yummy for my tummy
I looooove this sandwich! I have had it for lunch now several days in a row because I just can’t get enough!
Simple, delicious and so satisfying. Why pay $12 for a deli sandwich when I can make it just as yummy at home for even less $! Thanks for this recipe. Next I’m trying the teriyaki chicken variation!