Serve this turkey melt with a bowl of Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup or Creamy Italian Sausage Soup for an easy soup-and-sandwich meal.
This turkey melt recipe focuses on texture: crisp toasted bread, plenty of melted cheese, and enough turkey so each bite is extra hearty. The cheese sits under and over the meat so it melts evenly and holds the sandwich together in the pan.
You can keep it plain for picky eaters or load it up with thinly sliced onions, avocado, pickles, lettuce, or alfalfa sprouts. Swap in your favorite bread and cheese, and use leftover roasted turkey or cooked chicken if that’s what you have on hand.
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💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Comes together in about 15 minutes, start to finish.
- Uses simple deli and pantry ingredients you probably already have.
- Crispy, melty, and full of flavor — classic without any fuss.
- Easy to double for family meals or prep ahead for lunch.
- Reheats well in a skillet or toaster oven.
➡️ Ingredients you’ll need
⏲ How to make this turkey melt recipe
👉 Easy ingredient swaps
- Bread: Any sturdy bread works — sourdough, rye, whole wheat, or Texas toast.
- Condiments: Swap some or all of the mayonnaise for mustard, or use both.
- Swiss Cheese and Provolone Cheese: Use any good melting cheese, like cheddar, Havarti, or mozzarella, in place of the Swiss and/or provolone.
- Turkey: Swap in leftover roasted turkey or cooked chicken slices.
✨ Variations
- Patty Melt Style: Add caramelized onions and skip the tomato.
- Club Melt: After cooking, add a thin layer of shredded lettuce, thinly sliced tomato, and pickles.
- Breakfast Version: Add a fried egg and thin slices of avocado for a quick morning sandwich.
〰️ How to serve
- Soup — Tomato soup, pumpkin soup, Hungarian mushroom soup, or chicken noodle.
- Sides — Golden baked jicama fries, potato chips, potato wedges, carrot (or other veggie) sticks, or a green salad.
- Drinks — Iced tea, soda, lemonade, or a light beer.
💬 FAQs
How long do leftovers last?
Store leftover sandwiches in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a skillet or toaster oven to bring back the crisp texture.
Can I freeze these sandwiches?
I don’t recommend freezing the fully cooked sandwiches. The bread gets soft, and the tomato and mayo don’t hold up well after thawing.
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Turkey Melt
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough or other hearty bread
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 8 ounces deli turkey slices
- 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and cut in half
- 1 medium tomato, sliced thin
- 4 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Prep Bread: Place 4 slices sourdough or other hearty bread on a cutting board. Spread 2 Tablespoons butter on one side of each slice. Flip bread and spread 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise on the other side (the mayo sides will be the inside of the sandwiches).
- Assemble Sandwiches: Place 2 slices of bread on a cutting board, butter-side down. Divide 4 slices Swiss cheese, 8 ounces deli turkey slices, 4 slices bacon, and 1 medium tomato (sliced) evenly between the 2 slices of bread. Add 4 slices provolone cheese, dividing between the sandwiches, then close with the remaining bread slices, butter-side facing out.
- Cook Sandwiches: Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sandwiches and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted. Reduce stovetop heat if bread is browning too quickly.
- Serve: Remove sandwiches from skillet, slice each in half, and serve hot.
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