This Pilgrim Sandwich is one of the best things about Thanksgiving! Sometimes, I look forward to the leftovers more than to the actual meal. Usually, we eat leftovers for a couple of days, but I like to switch it up so we don’t get tired of eating the same things. This delicious combination of sweet cranberry sauce, savory stuffing, and all the other fixings are what makes this sandwich so irresistible. It’s the perfect lunch to serve the next day when you still have lots of families over and you need a way to use up all that leftover turkey. Add an apple with some chips and you have a complete meal!
Thanksgiving Recipes
If you need to start back with the Thanksgiving menu plan, you are in luck! We have some amazing Thanksgiving recipes all compiled into one post. This post has everything you need from appetizers, to the main course, to pies! It’s our best of the best for the big day! If you are wanting or needing to plan a lower-calorie Thanksgiving dinner, we have some delicious recipes for that as well. You can find them all in our Low-Calorie Thanksgiving Dinner post.
Ingredients Needed for the Perfect Pilgrim Sandwich
Thanksgiving dinner is one of the best meals all year long. We love to create these hearty pilgrim sandwiches to help use up all the delicious leftover ingredients. And, it is so simple to make and the flavor combination is amazing!
Cranberry Pistachio Hearth Bread – We found this bread from Kneaders Bakery and Cafe. It is the best bread for this sandwich! It is not only a delicious bread with chewy cranberries and crunchy pistachios, but it is also colorful and hearty. Cream cheese – Soften the cream cheese before spreading on the bottom slice of the bread. I like to spread a thick layer of cream cheese on the roll. It makes the sandwich nice and moist, and the flavor combined with the cranberry sauce gives it a sweet, creamy flavor. So yum!Cranberry sauce – We have a few options that we love for cranberry sauce to try like these orange, raspberry cranberry sauces, or a low sugar cranberry sauce. Turkey – This is the main ingredient in the sandwich! Now, making a turkey is easy with step-by-step instructions. Stuffing – Homemade stuffing is best! Try this cranberry sausage stuffing, a classic stuffing, or even gluten- free! Cheese – Provolone blends well with these flavors, but use what is your favorite sandwich cheese. For example, I like white cheddar cheese best! Lettuce – Romaine lettuce pulled apart and washed before adding to the turkey sandwich. Mayonnaise – We are regular mayo lovers through and through! But, if you prefer miracle whip, that will work too! Salt and pepper – Just enough to season the sandwich ingredients.
Tips and Variations
Bread – If you don’t have a Kneaders Bakery close by, you can also use Kaiser rolls because they’re big and soft, yet sturdy enough to pile ingredients high. Although, a crusty hoagie, ciabatta rolls, or whole wheat bread will work great for this pilgrim sandwich recipe as well. Cream cheese – Butter is a great substitute for cream cheese if you are not a fan. Turkey – Add in fresh, thick, deli-sliced, roast turkey breast slices, hand-sliced rotisserie turkey breast, or leftover sliced turkey meat. Any fresh turkey will taste delicious! Cheese – Switch out the cheese or add more! I like to put two slices of cheese on my pilgrim sandwich. One slice of cheese on each side of the bread. This locks in the sandwich and holds it from falling apart. Hot or cold – Make your sandwich either a hot sandwich or a cold one! Grill it on a griddle or large skillet on medium-high heat until the cheese melts. Cook it on a baking sheet in the middle of the oven rack, or just warm up the turkey in the microwave for a warmer temperature sandwich. More toppings – Add your favorite sandwich toppings to make this pilgrim sandwich more complete. Slice up a tomato, pickle, and a small onion or red onion for extra flavor! Extra Thanksgiving – You can even add a layer of mashed potatoes and some gravy to this sandwich.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas
If you are looking for some other ideas to use up those leftovers, another one of our favorites is our Thanksgiving Casserole. Turkey, cornbread stuffing, and a cup whole-berry cranberry sauce are just the sides you need to help make this pilgrim sandwich even better!
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sausage Stuffing
Turkey Gravy
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