Turkey Melt with Cheddar, Spinach, and Bacon
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The perfect sandwich for cooler weather, this incredible turkey melt is toasty, melty, and mouth-wateringly delicious. With juicy fresh tomatoes, leafy green spinach, crisp bacon, and rich cheddar cheese, these buttery sourdough sandwiches are amazing all on their own or paired with a cup of hot, creamy soup.
What We Love About This Recipe
- If you like a good grilled cheese then you will LOVE a turkey melt! It’s sort of a gourmet grilled cheese, stuffed full of tasty ingredients, then grilled until hot and toasty.
- Not only is this sandwich super quick and easy to make, it’s also fully customizable. Use any crusty bread you like; try smoked or sweet turkey; throw on your favorite cheese (or cheeses!); work in a little onion or arugula or alfalfa sprouts; add mayo or pesto along with or instead of honey mustard… anything goes!
- I use deli turkey in my turkey melt more often than not, BUT! If you have leftover holiday turkey, this is a great way to use it up! You may just need to toast the sandwiches a little longer on a slightly lower heat to warm them all the way through, depending on how thick the turkey is.
Chef’s Tips
- Your mouth will water the whole time you’re prepping your turkey melt, so I know you’ll be tempted to rush the actual toasting process. Don’t! If the skillet and butter are too hot, the bread will toast (and potentially burn) before the cheese melts and the turkey warms. If it’s not hot enough, though, the bread will soak up all the butter and end up more soggy than toasted.
- Avoid prepackaged, processed cheese! Seriously, do yourself a favor and pick up a block of fresh cheese that you can slice yourself, or stop by the deli counter and have them slice some fresh cheese for you. The flavors will be so much better, but so will the texture. Fresh cheese just melts so well. Your turkey melt will be good with prepackaged cheese, but it’ll be incredible with fresh cheese.
More Delicious Sandwiches You’ll Enjoy
- Chicken Parm Sandwich
- Keto Grilled Cheese
- Caprese Sandwich
- Chickpea Salad Sandwich
- Whole30 Breakfast Sandwiches (Whole30 McGriddles)
- Chicken Pesto Sandwich
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Turkey Melt with Cheddar, Spinach, and Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough or thick, crusty bread of choice
- 2 tablespoons honey mustard
- 2 slices white cheddar cheese
- 4 slices deli turkey
- thin tomato slices from 1 medium red tomato
- ½ cup fresh baby spinach
- 4 strips cooked bacon
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
Equipment
- Plate or cutting board
- butter knife
- Large skillet
- Spatula
Instructions
To Assemble the Sandwiches
- Place 4 slices sourdough on cutting board, plate, or other flat surface.
- Divide 2 tablespoons honey mustard into four ½-tablespoon portions. Spread ½ tablespoon honey mustard evenly across top side of each slice of sourdough.
- Divide 2 slices white cheddar cheese in half, creating 4 slices of cheese total. Place one "slice" of cheese on each piece of bread, covering honey mustard.
- Divide 4 slices deli turkey into 2 slices of turkey per sandwich. Place turkey slices on top of 2 slices of cheese-topped bread.
- Divide ½ cup fresh baby spinach into ¼ cup spinach per sandwich. Layer preferred number of thin tomato slices and ¼ cup baby spinach on top of each layer of turkey.
- Divide 4 strips cooked bacon into 2 slices bacon per sandwich and place each portion of bacon on remaining slices of cheese-topped bread.
- Close sandwiches, placing sandwich halves with bacon face-down on top of sandwich halves with turkey. Each sandwich should consist of the following layers: 1 slice sourdough, ¼ tablespoon honey mustard, 1 half-slice cheese, 2 slices deli turkey, thin tomato slices, ¼ cup baby spinach, 2 strips bacon, 1 half-slice cheese, ½ tablespoon honey mustard, and 1 slice sourdough.
To Warm Sandwich
- Divide 2 tablespoons butter into four ½-tablespoon portions. Spread ½ tablespoon butter on outside of each slice of bread (4 sides total).
- Place large skillet on stovetop over medium heat. When pan is warm, carefully place assembled sandwiches flat in skillet.
- Toast bottom slice of bread 3 to 4 minutes, then carefully flip sandwich over. Toast now-bottom slice of bread 3 to 4 minutes, or until cheese has melted and sandwich is warmed through.
- Transfer sandwiches to serving plates. Serve warm with desired sides.
Notes
- I highly recommend buying a block of cheddar cheese and slicing it yourself, or purchasing freshly sliced cheese from the deli counter of your grocery store, as opposed to prepackaged cheese slices. There’s a huge difference in taste and texture!
- Make it Dairy Free: Use a dairy-free cheese and dairy-free butter.
Nutrition Information
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Samantha Hutchinson says
This was really good. My husband and I enjoyed it. Will for sure make again.
Jessica | Easy Healthy Recipes Team says
We’re so glad both of you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Samantha!
Krista says
My husband said this was the best sandwich he’d ever had. And if that’s not enough, my 8 year old son (whose taste change by the minute) said he loved it and ate every bite. It really was THAT good.
Jessica | Easy Healthy Recipes Team says
Wow, what a big win! We’re so glad everyone loved it!!
Stephanie says
These weren’t a 5/5, they were a 500/5. Absolutely delicious!
Jessica | Easy Healthy Recipes Team says
Thank you so much, Stephanie! So glad you loved it!
Stephanie says
Really, really delicious sandwich! Easy to make and everyone loved it!
Megan | Easy Healthy Recipes Team says
Love to hear that! Thank you so much, Stephanie!
April S says
ABSOLUTELY the most delicious sandwich ever. I’m glad I read the comments first lol because the way I read it, it says put the mustard on both sides (and butter on one side)… so clearly that was wrong and I would have messed it up haha!! Thank you!!!!!
Jessica | Easy Healthy Recipes Team says
So glad you loved it, April! Thanks for sharing!
Ruth says
One of the tastiest sandwiches I’ve ever eaten. We used a homemade honey mustard which made it amazing!
Jessica Jarratt says
Homemade honey mustard sounds like a perfect addition to it! Thanks for sharing, Ruth!
LisaB says
I’m leaving this rating and comment to balance out the lady that left a low rating because she put the mustard on the outside of the bread. Her error should not be reflected in the recipe review. It’s a delicious sandwich that we will definitely make again and again (provided you put your condiments on the inside of the bread) ♀️
Carrie R. says
I’ve made this a couple times for my family now and everyone loves it. My teen boys get excited when it’s on the menu and devour it.
Jessica Jarratt says
So glad the whole family loves the melt! Thanks for sharing, Carrie!
Amy says
Unfortunately by adding mustard to the outside of the bread before you butter it, the bread burns. Both sides of my bread were black. It was quite a disappointment.
Tracy says
Amy, the mustard should have been on the inside of the sandwich. After assembling the sandwich the buttered side (outside) would then be grilled. Hope this helps