Ingredients
Scale
- 2 slices bread (white, wheat, sourdough, or your choice)
- 3-4 ounces sliced deli turkey (about 4-6 slices)
- 1-2 slices cheese (Swiss, Cheddar, Provolone, or your favorite)
- 2-3 leaves lettuce (romaine, iceberg, or butter lettuce)
- 2-3 slices ripe tomato
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (or your preferred spread)
- 1 tablespoon mustard (yellow, Dijon, or honey mustard)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 2-3 slices bacon, cooked crispy
- Optional: 2-3 slices red onion
- Optional: 2-3 pickle slices or pickle chips
- Optional: ½ avocado, sliced
- Optional: 1 teaspoon butter (if toasting bread)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Bread: If you prefer toasted bread, lightly toast your bread slices until golden brown. This adds texture and helps prevent sogginess, especially if using juicy tomatoes. For a panini-style sandwich, skip this step and toast the assembled sandwich in a panini press later. If using bread as-is, simply place both slices on your work surface.
- Apply Your Spreads: Spread mayonnaise generously on one slice of bread, covering the entire surface from edge to edge. This creates a moisture barrier that protects against soggy bread. Spread mustard on the other slice of bread—you can adjust the amount based on how much mustard flavor you enjoy. The mayo-mustard combo provides that classic deli sandwich flavor profile.
- Layer the Cheese: Place your cheese slice(s) directly on top of the mayonnaise-covered bread. If you’re making a cold sandwich, this is fine as-is. If you want melted cheese, place this slice (with cheese) under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or in a toaster oven until the cheese just begins to melt. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Add the Turkey: Layer the deli turkey slices on top of the cheese. Don’t just stack them flat—instead, fold or ruffle the turkey slightly to create dimension and ensure every bite has plenty of turkey. This technique also makes the sandwich look more appealing and professional. Aim for 3-4 ounces (4-6 slices) of turkey for a satisfying sandwich.
- Build Your Vegetable Layers: Pat the tomato slices gently with a paper towel to remove excess moisture—this prevents a soggy sandwich. Season the tomato slices with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance their flavor. Place the seasoned tomato slices on top of the turkey. Add your lettuce leaves next—they provide a protective barrier between juicy vegetables and the top bread slice.
- Add Optional Ingredients: If using bacon, layer it on top of the turkey before adding tomatoes. If adding avocado, place the slices on top of the lettuce. Red onion and pickles can go anywhere in your layering—some people prefer them next to the condiments, others place them near the vegetables. Arrange ingredients thoughtfully so the sandwich isn’t too tall to bite comfortably.
- Complete and Serve: Place the mustard-spread bread slice on top, spread-side down. Press down very gently to help everything stick together without squashing the fillings. Using a sharp knife, cut the sandwich diagonally (this makes it easier to handle and looks more appealing) or straight down the middle. For extra-tall sandwiches, secure each half with a toothpick or sandwich pick to keep everything together.
- Optional – Make It a Hot Sandwich: For a hot pressed sandwich, butter the outside of both bread slices lightly and grill in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and the cheese melts. Alternatively, use a panini press for 3-4 minutes until grill marks appear and cheese is melted.
Notes
- For the juiciest flavor, let cold deli turkey come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes before assembling—room temperature meat tastes much better than cold.
- If packing for lunch, pack wet ingredients (tomatoes, pickles) separately and add them just before eating to prevent sogginess.
- The salt-and-pepper on tomatoes trick makes a huge difference in flavor—don’t skip this step!
- For meal prep, prepare all components separately in containers and assemble fresh each day.
- If making multiple sandwiches for a party, set up an assembly line for efficiency.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: British-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1,285mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 65mg