Smoked Turkey Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Savory smoked turkey and cheddar sandwich with cranberry spread, melted together on golden toasted bread.

# What You Need:

→ Sandwich

01 - 4 slices hearty sandwich bread, sourdough or whole wheat
02 - 4 oz smoked turkey breast, thinly sliced
03 - 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced or shredded

→ Cranberry Spread

04 - 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce, whole berry or jellied
05 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

→ For Grilling

06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# How-To:

01 - In a small bowl, combine cranberry sauce and Dijon mustard, mixing until well incorporated.
02 - Lay out all bread slices and spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each slice. Place buttered sides down on your work surface.
03 - Spread cranberry mixture evenly on the unbuttered side of two bread slices.
04 - Top the cranberry spread with smoked turkey slices and sharp cheddar cheese on each prepared bread slice.
05 - Place remaining bread slices on top of each sandwich with buttered side facing outward.
06 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat until evenly warmed.
07 - Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread achieves golden brown color and cheese melts completely.
08 - Remove sandwiches from pan and let rest for 1 minute. Slice diagonally and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns Thanksgiving leftovers into something you actually crave instead of tolerate.
  • The sweet-tart cranberry spread balances the smoky turkey and sharp cheese in a way that feels both comforting and exciting.
  • You can make it any time of year with deli turkey and store-bought cranberry sauce.
  • It cooks in under 10 minutes and only dirties one pan.
02 -
  • If your heat is too high, the bread will burn before the cheese melts, so keep it at medium and be patient.
  • Softened butter spreads without tearing the bread, cold butter rips holes and creates uneven browning.
  • Pressing gently with the spatula helps the sandwich hold together and encourages even contact with the pan.
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat evenly and gives you the best golden crust.
  • If you're making more than two sandwiches, keep the finished ones warm in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest.
  • Don't skip the resting step, cutting too soon means all your melted cheese runs out onto the plate instead of staying in the sandwich.
Go back