I hope you enjoy my Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich recipe! Thank you Tillamook for sponsoring this post. Visit your local Target to buy Tillamook Cheeses today.
You won’t even realize you’re eating leftovers with this Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich. It has turkey, sweet apple, tart cranberry sauce, tons of Tillamook cheese, and fried sage. It takes the idea of reinventing leftovers to a whole new level!
Does anyone remember the Friends episode with the “moist maker”? (Ross’ turkey sandwich with a gravy-soaked slice of bread in the center.)
There’s just something about the phrase “moist maker” that really isn’t appetizing, lol! But if you watched Friends, we all remember that sandwich and his reaction to someone else eating it. And Thanksgiving leftovers in sandwich form – especially if we’re talking grilled cheese – is always a good idea.
A lot of Thanksgiving leftovers sandwiches literally taste like Thanksgiving dinner, which is delicious. But I wanted something completely different for this one! Let’s take a traditional Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich next-level.
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich – A Delicious Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
We’ve all thrown together a quick and easy Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, right? Bread, turkey, cranberry sauce, maybe stuffing or even mashed potatoes. And sometimes along with a side of gravy.
But there’s no reason we can’t put a fresh spin on it! This sandwich doesn’t even feel like leftovers.
Turkey and cranberry sauce are a given. I also add butter-fried sage, which sounds fancy, but actually takes about two minutes to whip up. (When you realize how easy it is, you’ll want to put it on everything!)
Pro Tip: Fried sage is so easy to make but oddly delicious, and also impressive-looking so that you might even want to entertain with leftovers, lol!
And then I add cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. Tillamook, to be exact.
And then I grill it! Because gooey, melted cheese is a total necessity for the best grilled cheese sandwich. And also because gooey, melted makes everything better.
Tillamook Cheese
For this Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, Tillamook cheese is the way to go. Tillamook cheese is made from only the highest quality ingredients, meaning milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones.
Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Sharp Cheddar Shreds have been aged over nine months to get the sharpness just right! And they’re shredded thicker (aka farmstyle), which makes them perfect for making into grilled cheese.
Pro Tip: Shredded cheese is great for making grilled cheese because it melts faster and more evenly than sliced cheese. Because no one likes when the bread is toasted but the cheese isn’t melted, right?!
And there’s no need to go to a different store to find this cheese. Tillamook cheese is now available nationally at Target, so you can pick it up on your next Target run! Find a store near you.
What Else to Make with Leftover Turkey:
- Indian Chicken Korma with Rotisserie Chicken or Leftover Turkey
- Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Soup
- Turkey Chili
- Easy Leftover Turkey, Mushroom, and Brie Puff Pastries
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith
Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
Ingredients
Fried Sage:
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 8 fresh sage leaves
Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 2 large slices bread I used country oat bread
- 2/3 cup Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Sharp Cheddar Shreds
- 2 tablespoons whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 small apple thinly sliced
- 3 ounces sliced turkey breast leftovers from Thanksgiving, or from the deli to make this year-round
Instructions
For the Fried Sage:
- Add the butter to a medium skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the sage leaves and cook until crispy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
For the Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
- Spread 1/2 tablespoon butter on 1 side of each slice of bread.
- Place 1 slice of bread (butter side down) on a cutting board. Evenly spread on 1/3 cup Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Sharp Cheddar Shreds. Dot the cranberry sauce on top. Arrange the apple on top of the cranberry sauce. Layer on the slice turkey breast. Top with 4 fried sage leaves. Evenly spread on the remaining 1/3 cup cheese. Place the other slice of bread on top (butter side up).
- Grill the sandwich in a skillet (or on a griddle) medium-low to low heat until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
- Serve with the remaining fried sage leaves on top.
Helpful Tips
- Shredded cheese is great for making grilled cheese because it melts faster and more evenly than sliced cheese.
- If you don’t have leftover turkey on hand, you can use leftover chicken or pick up sliced turkey breast from the deli counter at the grocery store.
- Yes, it takes a little bit longer to cook, but to ensure even grilling and fully melted cheese, it’s best to cook your grilled cheese low and slow!
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
Will need to give this a try! Tillamook cheese is a given in our household, as we live in Oregon (where it’s produced). It’s a big deal here. ;)