Leftover Turkey Panini was compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. I’m including tips on how to roast a turkey.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving! The entire family will gather for Thanksgiving dinner at my house and we’ll be celebrating family traditions that have been passed down from one generation to the next.
I always hope for leftover turkey so I can make a Turkey Panini the day after Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving morning will begin with a late breakfast – mocha punch and cinnamon rolls – and watching the parade on TV. It’s a family tradition.
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, I’ll head to the kitchen to begin preparing the Thanksgiving feast.
At some point during the day, a touch football game will be happening in the backyard. Watching football on Thanksgiving Day is not enough for our family. We have to join in the fun!
I remember playing a game or two of touch football when I was a kid and my mom was preparing the feast.
I have the perfect game plan for Thanksgiving Day. Any food items that can be made ahead is prepared the day before (casseroles, pies, etc.). On the day of, I concentrate on the main event – turkey and cornbread dressing.
Tips On Thawing and Roasting A Turkey
Head to Kroger (or your favorite grocery store) to purchase a Honeysuckle White Fresh Whole Turkey.
For my Thanksgiving Day feast, only the best will do. Honeysuckle White Fresh Turkey has no growth-promoting hormones, no added steroids or hormones.
Plus, it is USDA processed certified and is raised by independent family farmers. Their high standards are one of the reasons I keep going back for more. It’s just honest, simple turkey and that’s what I’m looking for.
How To Thaw A Turkey In The Refrigerator
Don’t forget to thaw the turkey. It takes several days!
I always set a reminder on my phone so I won’t forget when to transfer the turkey from the freezer to the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature.
This method takes some time, so allow one day for each 4 – 5 pounds of weight. If your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw.
Don’t Forget To Remove The Giblet Packet!
Before roasting a turkey, remove the neck and giblet packet. The first time I hosted Thanksgiving dinner, I accidentally left the neck and giblet packet inside. Oops. I was so embarrassed.
So, don’t forget to remove those giblets. I always use the giblets to make giblet gravy.
Preheat the oven to 325º F. Pat the turkey dry (inside and out) and season inside with salt and pepper. I quarter a lemon, and onion and add a few rosemary sprigs to the cavity to add extra flavor. Be sure and discard before serving.
Brush the outside of the turkey with melted butter (or spray lightly with cooking spray) and season with salt and pepper.
Place turkey breast-side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan and place in a preheated oven.
Helpful Hint: If the turkey gets too brown before it’s done, cover it loosely with foil.
I always use an instant-read thermometer to make sure my turkey is roasted to perfection. The turkey is done when breast meat is 165º F and dark meat is 175º F.
Let rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
Turkey Panini with Cranberry Mayo
For our Thanksgiving meal, I always make sure I buy a turkey large enough to have leftovers.
I admit that sometimes I have to hide the leftovers in the back of the fridge so I can make turkey paninis with cranberry mayo. This mayo is addictive!
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Turkey Panini
- Turkey
- Sliced bread
- Arugula
- Colby-Jack Cheese
- Cranberry mayo (recipe included down below in the recipe card!)
Cranberry Mayo (makes enough for several sandwiches)
- Your Favorite Mayo (I always use Dukes)
- Cranberry Sauce (make sure you save that leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving Dinner)
- Fresh lemon juice
Turkey Panini with Cranberry Mayo
Turkey Panini is the perfect sandwich for leftover turkey. The cranberry mao adds so much flavor to this turkey sandwich.
Ingredients
For One Sandwich
- 3 oz. turkey
- 2 slices bread
- Arugula
- 1 slice Colby-Jack Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon cranberry mayo
Cranberry Mayo (makes enough for several sandwiches)
- 4 Tablespoons Mayo
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons Cranberry Sauce
- 1/4 tsp. lemon juice
Instructions
- Spread bread with cranberry mayo. Layer turkey, arugula and Colby-jack cheese.
- Butter the outside of the bread slices and toast until golden brown.
Nutrition Information
Yield
1Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 473Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 116mgSodium 666mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 2gSugar 5gProtein 35g
Roasting a turkey is simple. Just be sure to use a thermometer and don’t overcook (or undercook) that bird.
What are some of your Thanksgiving Day traditions?
You May Also Like
How To Set A Formal Dinner Table
Adorable Thanksgiving Kids’ Tablescape
Cozy Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescape
20 comments
Oh yum now this sounds like the perfectly roasted turkey and that left over sandwich sounds delicious!
I’ve never cooked a turkey, but I know I will have to at one point! I like to see how people cook them differently. And I love a good panini. I always get one when I go to a local shop around my old hometown.
I love finding creative ways to use the turkey meat after Thanksgiving! This panini sounds absolutely incredible! Thanks for the tips on properly roasting a turkey, too!
I always hate finding ways to use up leftovers because I am not super creative. This panini with cranberry mayo is perfect for leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Yum. The leftovers are better than the main event. Regrettably, my husband’s family is so big we rarely have them.
I love how you create the Turkey when it is left over. It looks fantastic.
I am extremely excited for Thanksgiving – and the left overs! This sandwich sounds amazing, I will definitely be trying it.
Woah, that Turkey Panini with Cranberry Mayo looks super yummy! One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is all the yummy things I get to make with all the leftovers (I usually live off Thanksgiving leftovers for two or three days!).
The turkey looks like I want to eat this right now! I love the idea of adding the rosemary sprigs and lemon on the inside. Your Thanksgiving family day sounds like so much fun. Pinned the recipe!
I like your guide! We’ll be roasting a large turkey this year. I think that panini would go over very well with my family.
The worst thing about having a turkey at Thanksgiving is figuring out what to do with the leftovers. I guess you just solved that problem for me!
It is that time of year, we just purchased a turkey here but we won’t have kids this year for Thanksgiving (they go with their co-parents every other year for this holiday) I think we will use your idea to roast a turkey if we do cook up ours we purchased!
The game looks like so much fun. I love your dog. The panini looks great. Thanks
Your Turkey Panini sounds absolutely scrumptious. The first turkey I ever made had the neck and giblets still inside when I served it, lol. I’ve learned a little since then but not how to make my turkey juicy. Maybe I just need one of these this year.
My sister will be taking over the turkey chores this year so I will be passing this over. The sandwich looks divine. I have to make sure there will be left over turkey so I can make paninis too.
These are great tips for roasting a turkey and great ideas for Thanksgiving day activities with the football games. It is nice to have traditions like playing football while the food is cooking on Thanksgiving day. The recipe for the turkey panini’s with cranberry mayo made with leftovers is something I will have to make for the family. Thanks for sharing the tips and the recipe.
Making the turkey is such a responsibility. Thank goodness my husband is willing to take care of that
The panni looks great. My mouth is watering already !
You had me at Turkey panini! I can’t wait until Thanksgiving week!!!
Such great tips! I love your idea for a leftover turkey panini – genius! I need to try it!
The Roasted Turkey sounds delicious! I love the idea of a leftover turkey sandwich too!