Transform your lunch routine with the ultimate Turkey Pesto Sandwich! This simple yet incredibly flavorful sandwich combines tender carved turkey, creamy provolone, vibrant pesto, and sweet sundried tomatoes, all grilled to golden perfection. Get ready to elevate your midday meal from mundane to magnificent. Craving a different protein? This recipe is also fantastic as a chicken pesto sandwich!
Do your daily lunches often feel a bit lackluster? For many of us, especially those working from home, the convenience of leftovers often turns into a culinary rut. While the thought of a quick meal is appealing, the reality of eating the same dish repeatedly can quickly become uninspiring. We understand the struggle to keep things fresh and exciting when the fridge is filled with last night’s dinner. It’s a common dilemma: how to create a quick, satisfying, and delicious lunch without excessive effort.
But what if lunch could be an experience to look forward to? Imagine a meal that’s warm, toasty, and bursting with flavors that awaken your taste buds. That’s precisely what this Turkey Pesto Sandwich offers. While whipping up a gourmet sandwich might seem like a grand endeavor, our secret weapon is the readily available oven-roasted carved turkey breast. This simple ingredient has revolutionized our sandwich game, making it easy to create a high-quality, deli-style sandwich right in your own kitchen. Say goodbye to boring lunches and hello to a culinary adventure!
Essential Ingredients for a Delectable Turkey Pesto Sandwich
Crafting this incredible turkey pesto sandwich requires just a handful of quality ingredients, each playing a crucial role in creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. Here’s what you’ll need to assemble your gourmet masterpiece:
- Thick-sliced bread (sourdough recommended)
- Carved turkey breast (oven-roasted or deli-style)
- Provolone cheese slices
- Crispy bacon (optional, but highly recommended for an extra layer of flavor)
- Fresh or store-bought pesto sauce
- Sundried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained and diced)
- Unsalted butter, softened
Ingredient Deep Dive: Tips for Selecting the Best
The quality of your ingredients directly impacts the final taste of your sandwich. Let’s explore each component in more detail to help you make the best choices:
Turkey Breast: This is the star of your sandwich. For convenience, store-bought oven-roasted carved turkey breast is an excellent choice, offering a tender texture and savory flavor. Look for high-quality brands that emphasize natural ingredients. Alternatively, if you have leftover holiday turkey, especially thinly sliced white meat, it works wonderfully. The key is thin slices for even heating and a balanced bite. While dark meat is flavorful, white breast meat tends to be less greasy and holds together better when grilled, preventing it from falling out of the sandwich. For those looking for an alternative, thinly sliced roasted chicken breast or good quality chicken deli meat can be used to create a fantastic chicken pesto sandwich, following the exact same steps.
Bread: A good sandwich starts with great bread. We highly recommend using thick-sliced sourdough bread for its tangy flavor and robust texture, which holds up beautifully to grilling and a generous filling. However, feel free to use your favorite bread – ciabatta, artisan white bread, or even a hearty whole wheat loaf would be delicious. The most important aspect is choosing a bread that can withstand the heat of the griddle and toast evenly, creating that perfect crispy exterior.
Bacon: Bacon adds an irresistible smoky, salty crunch that elevates this sandwich from great to extraordinary. You can use regular pork bacon or turkey bacon, depending on your dietary preferences. If you’re not a fan of bacon, or simply prefer a lighter sandwich, feel free to omit it. The sandwich will still be incredibly flavorful thanks to the other ingredients. If using, make sure it’s cooked until crispy, as this provides a delightful textural contrast.
Cheese: Provolone cheese is a classic choice for grilled sandwiches due to its mild, slightly nutty flavor and excellent melting properties. It becomes beautifully gooey and creamy when heated, binding the sandwich together. However, don’t hesitate to experiment with other cheeses. Swiss, mozzarella, cheddar, or even a smoky gouda would also be delicious options, each offering a unique flavor profile to complement the turkey and pesto.
Pesto: The vibrant, aromatic pesto sauce is what ties all the flavors together. You can use a high-quality store-bought pesto for ultimate convenience, or, for an extra burst of freshness, make your own! Homemade pesto, such as a traditional basil pesto or a unique walnut basil pesto, can truly elevate the sandwich with its bright, herbaceous notes. The garlic, pine nuts (or walnuts), basil, Parmesan, and olive oil create a rich, savory foundation that pairs perfectly with turkey and sundried tomatoes.
Sundried Tomatoes: These intensely flavorful tomatoes, typically packed in oil, add a sweet and tangy burst to each bite. Their chewy texture and concentrated umami notes complement the savory turkey and herbaceous pesto beautifully. Be sure to drain them well and dice them finely for even distribution throughout the sandwich.
Unsalted Butter: Butter is essential for achieving that perfectly golden-brown, crispy exterior on your grilled sandwich. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish. Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy spreading.
Simple Instructions for Assembling and Grilling Your Turkey Pesto Sandwich
Follow these straightforward steps to create a perfectly grilled, incredibly satisfying turkey pesto sandwich:
- Prepare the Bacon (If Using): If you’re including bacon, start by frying it in a pan over medium heat until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Once cooked, remove the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to blot off any excess grease. This ensures your sandwich isn’t overly oily and the bacon retains its crisp texture.
- Prepare the Bread: Place two thick slices of your chosen bread (sourdough works best!) side by side on a clean cutting board. Generously spread pesto sauce on the inside of both slices of bread. This ensures a rich, flavorful base for every bite.
- Assemble the Sandwich Layers: On one pesto-smeared slice of bread, layer the carved turkey breast evenly. Follow this with your crispy bacon (if using), then the slices of provolone cheese, and finally, the diced sundried tomatoes. Place the second pesto-smeared slice of bread on top to complete the sandwich.
- Butter the Exterior: Take one tablespoon of softened unsalted butter and spread it evenly over the top side of the assembled sandwich. This buttered side will be the first to hit the hot griddle.
- Grill to Perfection: Heat a large griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, carefully place the buttered side of the sandwich down onto the griddle. While the first side is cooking, spread the remaining tablespoon of butter over the top (now exposed) side of the sandwich.
- Flip and Finish: Fry the sandwich for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown and toasted, and the cheese inside is beautifully melted and gooey. For an extra melty cheese experience, especially if your cheese isn’t melting quickly, cover the skillet with a lid while cooking. This traps heat, creating a warm, steamy environment that helps the cheese achieve perfect meltiness.
Pro Tip: Covering your skillet with a lid during the grilling process is a game-changer! It traps heat and moisture, ensuring that the cheese inside gets wonderfully melty and gooey without over-toasting the bread. This technique also helps to warm the turkey thoroughly.
Serve your turkey pesto sandwich immediately! It’s truly at its best when it’s fresh off the griddle, still warm and toasty with that irresistible melty cheese. This sandwich is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a refreshing side. Consider some of the salad and soup suggestions below to complement its rich flavors.
Maximizing Flavor: Using Leftover Turkey for Your Sandwich
Absolutely! This turkey pesto sandwich is the absolute perfect way to utilize any leftover turkey breast you might have from holiday feasts or a Sunday roast. Reimagining leftovers into a completely new, exciting meal is not only resourceful but also incredibly delicious.
Tips for Using Leftover Turkey:
- Thin Slicing is Key: For the best results, ensure your leftover turkey is thinly sliced. This allows for even heating when grilling and prevents the sandwich from becoming too bulky or the meat from falling out. Thin slices also integrate better with the cheese and pesto, creating a more cohesive bite.
- White Meat Preference: While we generally love all cuts of turkey, white turkey breast meat is particularly well-suited for this sandwich. It’s leaner and has a milder flavor that allows the pesto and sundried tomatoes to shine.
- Avoid Large Chunks: Resist the temptation to use large chunks of turkey. While they might seem hearty, they can make the sandwich difficult to grill evenly and prone to falling apart when you flip it. Thin, uniform slices are always preferable for a well-constructed grilled sandwich.
If you don’t have any holiday leftovers on hand, don’t worry! We often turn to high-quality, pre-packaged deli meats, specifically oven-roasted carved turkey breast. Brands like Lilydale offer excellent options that are already thinly sliced and perfectly seasoned, saving you time and effort without compromising on taste. This makes preparing a gourmet lunch accessible any day of the week.
Follow for more delicious recipes!
Follow on Instagram
Serving Suggestions and Exciting Variations
While this turkey pesto sandwich is robust enough to be a standalone meal, pairing it with a fresh side can create a truly balanced and delightful culinary experience. Its rich flavors complement light and refreshing dishes beautifully.
Perfect Pairings:
For a refreshing accompaniment, we highly suggest pairing this sandwich with a vibrant salad. Our roasted corn and chickpea kale salad is an excellent choice, offering a burst of freshness and a contrasting texture. Other fantastic options include:
- A light and simple kale salad with a lemon vinaigrette.
- A hearty yet comforting Instant Pot loaded cauliflower soup for a cozy meal.
- A zesty Mexican street corn pasta salad for a touch of summer flair.
Additionally, a crisp green salad, a simple bowl of tomato soup, or even a side of sweet potato fries would make wonderful partners to this flavorful sandwich.
Creative Variations:
This recipe is incredibly versatile! You can easily adapt it to suit your preferences or what you have on hand:
- Chicken Pesto Sandwich: As mentioned, substituting the turkey with thinly sliced roasted chicken breast or high-quality chicken deli meat creates an equally delicious chicken pesto sandwich. The preparation steps remain identical.
- Vegetarian Pesto Sandwich: For a meatless option, omit the turkey and bacon. Load up on fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, or grilled vegetables alongside the pesto and sundried tomatoes for a vibrant vegetarian delight.
- Different Cheeses & Spreads: Experiment with different cheeses like mozzarella, Swiss, or even a goat cheese for a tangier note. Instead of provolone, a white cheddar would add a sharp contrast. You could also try a sundried tomato pesto for an even deeper tomato flavor.
More Sandwich Inspiration:
If you’re a fan of gourmet sandwiches, explore other turkey sandwich recipes that offer unique flavor combinations on the blog:
- A crisp and sweet apple turkey sandwich.
- A festive and flavorful cranberry turkey sandwich.
- A zesty and spicy grilled buffalo turkey sandwich.
And for pesto lovers, don’t miss out on our easy pesto chicken recipe, which is another quick and delightful meal option!
Recipe: Turkey Pesto Sandwich
This recipe makes one delicious sandwich. You can easily scale the ingredients to make multiple sandwiches.
Description
Make life delicious with this turkey pesto sandwich! It’s a simple carved turkey sandwich with provolone, pesto, and sundried tomatoes. Lunch just got a whole lot better.
Ingredients
- 2 thick slices sourdough bread
- 3–4 tbsp pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade walnut basil pesto)
- 100g oven-roasted turkey breast, sliced thinly*
- 2–4 slices of bacon, cooked according to package directions (optional)
- 2 slices provolone cheese
- 4 large sundried tomatoes, diced
- 2 tbsp (60 mL) unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
Instructions
- Heat a large griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. Place two slices of sourdough side by side on a cutting board. On both slices of sourdough, spread the pesto evenly.
- On one slice, top with the cooked turkey breast, followed by the bacon (if using), provolone cheese, and sundried tomatoes. Place the second slice of sourdough on top.
- Smear the top of the sandwich with 1 tablespoon of butter, and then place that side of the sandwich down on the large griddle or skillet. Smear the remaining tablespoon of butter over the top of the sandwich. Toast the sandwich in the pan until golden brown and the cheese begins to melt, about 4-5 minutes per side. For extra melty cheese, place a lid on top of the pan while cooking to speed up the melting process. Enjoy immediately!
Leftover sandwiches can be kept for 1-2 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. For best results, store ingredients separately and assemble fresh, or reheat grilled sandwiches gently in a pan or toaster oven to retain crispness.
Notes
*Swap the turkey breast for chicken breast and make a delicious chicken pesto sandwich instead!
Recipe Details
- Author: Katherine | Love In My Oven
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 sandwich
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Pan Fried, Grilled
- Cuisine: American
*Note* This post was originally published in 2019. The text has been refreshed and expanded for SEO and readability, but the core delicious recipe remains generally the same.