If you want a quick meal idea, try my Turkey Pesto Sandwich. It’s filling, healthy, and tasty, and it only takes 15 minutes to make. This easy sandwich recipe is the best thing for lunch since sliced bread. It has toasted sourdough with butter, brightly herbaceous pesto, juicy turkey breast, melty mozzarella cheese, and a handful of fresh spinach.
Since my hubby is a firefighter and I work from home, we often get to eat lunch together. What a treat! And what a great way to have a date night in the middle of the day! We eat whatever I’m photographing that day, but this turkey pesto sandwich recipe is one we always go back to.
You really can’t beat something that tastes so good and only takes 15 minutes to make! It goes great with my crispy sweet potato wedges and homemade matcha boba tea. The best part is that this huge pesto turkey sandwich is meant to be shared, so we can all enjoy a hot meal at the same time without having to clean up another pan.
If you want to change up your meal plan, make some of my easy almond pesto, get some low-sodium turkey deli meat (or make it yourself!), and grab some bread. Feel free to share these turkey pesto paninis with your family and friends. They are also very quick and easy to make.
The Ultimate Turkey Pesto Sandwich You’ll Crave All Week Long
Do you ever find yourself in a lunch rut. packing the same boring sandwiches every day? Well get ready to fall in love with sandwiches again with this crave-worthy turkey pesto sandwich recipe!
With just a few simple ingredients like sliced turkey, melty cheese, homemade pesto and crispy bacon, this is about to become your new favorite lunch Keep reading for the step-by-step method to create these flavor-packed turkey pesto sandwiches at home
Ingredients You’ll Need For This Turkey Pesto Sandwich
Here’s what you’ll need to make one of these sandwiches:
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Bread – We love to use sourdough, but any bread works. Ciabatta and focaccia are other great options.
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Turkey – Use thinly sliced leftovers or deli turkey. We like a high-quality roasted turkey breast sliced fresh.
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Bacon – 2-4 strips of cooked bacon add crunch. Turkey bacon works too.
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Cheese – Provolone melts beautifully, but swiss or cheddar work as well.
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Pesto – Make your own or use store-bought. Homemade is so fresh and delicious though!
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Sundried Tomatoes – Chopped for bursts of flavor.
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Butter – For pan-frying the assembled sandwich until perfectly golden brown.
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Optional Extras – Lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles all make tasty additions.
How to Make a Turkey Pesto Sandwich:
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Cook the bacon until crispy and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
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Spread pesto generously on both slices of bread.
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Layer one slice with turkey, bacon, cheese and sundried tomatoes.
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Top with the second bread slice and spread the outsides with butter.
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Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Place the sandwich buttered-side down and top with a lid to melt the cheese.
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Cook 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
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Slice in half and enjoy this turkey pesto masterpiece!
Tips for Making The Best Turkey Pesto Sandwich:
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Use high quality ingredients, especially the turkey and pesto, for maximum flavor.
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Slice the turkey thinly so it’s easy to bite through all the layers.
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Spoon pesto onto both slices of bread so every bite is packed with herby flavor.
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Cook over medium-high heat to get a crispy crust without burning the bread.
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Weigh down the sandwich with a grill press or another heavy pan to get it extra flat and crispy.
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Add lettuce, tomato, onion or pickles for some crunch and moisture.
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Use fresh, bakery-style bread. The sturdier the better to hold all the fillings.
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Switch out the turkey for chicken to make an equally delicious chicken pesto sandwich.
Homemade Pesto Options for These Sandwiches:
While you can always use store-bought pesto for convenience, I highly recommend making it yourself. Homemade pesto is so fresh, vibrant and flavorful.
Here are some of my favorite easy homemade pesto recipes to use in this sandwich:
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Classic Basil Pesto – My go-to pesto with basil, pine nuts, parmesan and olive oil.
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Kale Pesto – For a healthier twist, pesto made with kale instead of basil.
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Sun-dried Tomato Pesto – Blends sun-dried tomatoes with the classic pesto ingredients.
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Walnut Pesto – Swap pine nuts for walnuts to cut costs.
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Cilantro-Jalapeno Pesto – For a pesto with a kick of spice!
Serve with Soups, Salads or Sides:
While this turkey pesto sandwich is satisfying on its own, it tastes even better paired with a soup, salad or side. Some delicious options include:
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Minestrone Soup – The classic Italian vegetable soup.
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Baked Potato Soup – Creamy potato soup with bacon and cheddar.
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Greek Salad – Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, olives, feta and vinaigrette.
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Pasta Salad – Rotini pasta with pesto, mozzarella and tomatoes.
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Veggie Chips – For a pop of salty crunch alongside.
Store Leftovers Safely:
Leftover sandwiches can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave until warmed through before serving.
The turkey pesto combo keeps well, so make a double batch on sandwich day. Having a ready-to-grab sandwich in the fridge is a real lunch game-changer!
More Delicious Turkey Sandwiches to Try:
If you love turkey sandwiches, give some of these other flavor-packed recipes a try:
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Cranberry Turkey Ciabatta
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Turkey Apple Brie Sandwich
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Harvest Turkey Panini
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Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Take Your Sandwiches to the Next Level
Packing lunch for the week is about to get a whole lot tastier with this craveable turkey pesto sandwich recipe. With so many flavors in each bite, this is sure to become a lunch staple.
Whip up a batch on Sunday to have sandwich perfection ready-to-grab all week long. Your co-workers will be drooling over your meal, while you get to finally enjoy an amazing midday break.
How To Make Pesto Turkey Sandwiches
As with most sandwiches, this one comes together in a snap. Here’s how to make one:
Step 1: Spread Butter. Spread 1 tablespoon of butter all the way to the edges of a slice of sourdough bread. Set it face down in a medium skillet.
Step 2: Spread Pesto. Put one tablespoon of pesto on the side of the bread that doesn’t have butter. Try to spread it out as evenly as you can.
Step 3: Layer. Top the pesto side with half the mozzarella cheese, then sliced turkey, then chopped spinach. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese on top of the spinach.
Step 4: Complete Assembly. Spread the last of the pesto on one side of the second slice of bread, then place it face down on top of the sandwich in the pan so that the pesto and mozzarella cheese touch.
Step 5: Griddle Sandwich. Spread the remaining tablespoon of butter on the dry side of the second slice of bread. Heat your turkey sandwich on medium-low until brown and golden, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6: Flip the sandwich, and brown the other side for about 2-3 minutes.
Step 7: Serve & Enjoy! Cut in half, and split with a friend. YUM!
What does it taste like?
It all starts with tangy, crusty sourdough bread—its exterior golden and crisp from butter on the griddle. Thinly sliced turkey is tender, offering a lean but rich meatiness. Next up is vibrant, herbaceous basil pesto. Loved this spread. It has a little heat from the garlic, crunch from the nuts, saltiness from the Parmesan cheese, and a lot of basil-y goodness.
Nestled within is a handful of baby spinach, their leaves slightly wilted from the warmth of the pan. After that, the mozzarella melts into a stretchy, gooey ribbon. The mild creaminess of the mozzarella balances out the sourness of the pesto.
As the sandwich grills, the buttery outside crisps to perfection, creating a contrast to the tender, melty interior. Each bite provides a study in contrasts: crunchy and soft, savory and slightly sweet, earthy and bright.
TL;DR? This turkey pesto panini is the bomb.com.
Pesto Turkey Sandwich Recipe
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