5 Ideas for Souping Up Your Leftover Turkey Sandwiches

We’re teaming up with Primal Kitchen® to bring cozy-fresh flavor to your fall cooking routine. It all starts with their lineup of delicious sauces, dressings, condiments, and more (including dairy-free options), all made using purposeful, high-quality ingredients.

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I’ve always been a way bigger fan of Thanksgiving leftovers than the actual holiday meal (raise your hand if you’re with me). There’s some magical melding of flavors that happens overnight in the fridge that makes my next-day plate loaded with mashed potatoes, turkey, green beans, cranberry sauce, and the like so much tastier than the night before.

This concept also applies to turkey sandwiches. Normally a regular turkey sandwich isn’t something I’d get too excited about, but a leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich is something special. We all know and love the classic combo: leftover turkey and a few sides, plus a gravy or cranberry sauce spread, smushed between bread slices. But there are sooo many other sandwich possibilities, especially when you’ve got an assortment of flavor-packed condiments, sauces, and dressings—like the ones from Primal Kitchen—in your pantry arsenal. Here are a few ideas for giving your leftover turkey sandwich a bit of an overhaul this year…

1. Bring on the Barbecue Sauce

Add a hit of big, bold flavor to your Thanksgiving sando by shredding the leftover turkey then heating it in a saucepan with the Primal Kitchen organic Classic BBQ Sauce, which strikes the perfect balance of smoky and tangy. Layer onto a toasted brioche hamburger bun and pile high with roasted sweet potatoes, corn (both perhaps also leftover from dinner), and thin slices of crisp red onion.

2. Take a Cue From Buffalo Sandwiches

Buffalo sauce fans, this one’s for you: Crisp up thick slices of leftover turkey in a lightly oiled sauté pan (you could even deep-fry them, if you’re feeling fancy) before drizzling in the No-Dairy Buffalo Sauce from Primal Kitchen. Made from delicious premium ingredients, this creamy sauce gets its signature heat from cayenne, plus plenty of zing from distilled vinegar. Dress up your sandwich with Buffalo sauce’s favorite plus-ones, like blue cheese, roasted cauliflower, and pickles.

3. Use a Specialty Mayo Spread

You can never go wrong with regular mayo, but there are tons of zesty flavored options—like Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo with Avocado Oil and Pesto Mayo with Avocado Oil—to bring new levels of deliciousness to your leftover turkey sandwiches. Try pairing the spicy zip of the Chipotle Lime Mayo with thinly sliced leftover turkey, fresh avocado, shredded lettuce, and pepperjack cheese. For the Pesto Mayo, consider a caprese-inspired treatment with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction (bonus points for popping it on the panini press).

4. Go the Grilled Cheese Route

The secret to the crispiest, best-tasting grilled cheese is a simple one, and you might already know it: mayonnaise. Spread the outer sides of your bread slices with a great-quality mayo, like Primal Kitchen Mayo with Avocado Oil, before they hit the pan for golden-brown grilled cheeses. For a Thanksgiving twist, layer on sliced or shredded leftover turkey, nutty-rich Gruyere, and a dollop of cranberry sauce for a sweet-tart kick.

5. Give it the Breakfast Wrap Treatment

A wrap may not technically be a sandwich (or is it?), but it’s a very tasty vehicle for using up turkey leftovers, particularly for breakfast. Pick your favorite spread—something zippy like Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo or Vegan Jalapéno Lime Mayo would both work great—then add the turkey, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, roast potatoes or hash browns, and fresh avocado. Wrap it all up and give the whole thing a quick sear on the stovetop for extra crispy goodness.

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What’s your favorite leftover turkey sandwich combo? Tell us in the comments below!

The Primal Kitchen lineup of condiments and sauces are kitchen staples for bringing bright, fresh flavor to any recipe you’re cooking—from chicken wings and roasted veggies to all sorts of sandwiches. Keep your pantry stocked for speedy meals that don’t skimp on taste, along with other cooking must-haves from Primal Kitchen (we’re talking pasta and pizza sauces, dips, salad dressings, and more).