Leftover turkey gets an upgrade with these leftover turkey-cranberry Monte Cristo sandwiches. They’re so good, you might find yourself looking forward to leftovers! And here’s a tip: swap in rotisserie chicken to enjoy these sandwiches any time of year.
Sweet and Savory Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry
I love turning Thanksgiving leftovers into something special, and these leftover turkey-cranberry Monte Cristo sandwiches are a perfect example. They combine tender turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and melted cheese between slices of French toast-style bread. The result is a sweet and savory sandwich that’s hard to resist.
This recipe isn’t just for post-holiday meals; it’s versatile enough for any time of year. By swapping in rotisserie chicken and your favorite jam, you can enjoy this delightful sandwich whenever the craving strikes. Whether you’re looking for creative ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers or simply want a unique sandwich experience, this recipe has you covered.
Why I Love This Recipe
- I get to use up my leftover turkey and cranberry sauce in a fun, flavorful way.
- The sweet and savory combo of turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce is always a winner for me.
- It’s easy to make and works just as well with rotisserie chicken when I’m craving it year-round.
Ingredients and Possible Substitutions
Here’s a quick rundown of why each Monte Cristo sandwich ingredient shines in this recipe and what you can use as a swap if needed:
- Cranberry Sauce: Adds the tangy sweetness you want! Swap with raspberry or apricot preserves.
- Leftover Turkey: Rotisserie chicken or ham works too.
- Muenster Cheese: Melts beautifully. Try Swiss or provolone instead.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: A sweet finishing touch. Skip if you prefer savory.
- French Bread: Sturdy for soaking. Use brioche, sourdough, or Texas toast.
- Whole Milk: Creamy base for the egg mixture. Sub with cream or non-dairy milk.
- Eggs: Essential for coating. No real substitute here.
- Butter: Gives a golden, crispy finish.
How to Make a Monte Cristo with Leftover Turkey
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Step One: Prepare the Egg Mixture
In a shallow pie plate, whisk together the eggs and milk with a fork until well combined. - Step Two: Soak the Sandwiches
Dip each sandwich into the egg mixture, letting it soak for about 30 seconds per side. (The bread should be saturated but not overly soggy.) - Step Three: Cook the Sandwiches
In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt a couple of tablespoons of butter.
Place a few sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown.
Flip the sandwiches and cook the other side until golden. Add more butter as needed for the remaining sandwiches. - Step Four: Serve the Sandwiches
Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
Here are a few quick tips to help you nail this recipe every time:
- Go for fresh French bread: Soft, fluffy bakery loaves work best to hold up to the egg mixture.
- Cranberry sauce is flexible: Use homemade or store-bought—whatever you’ve got on hand.
- Muenster cheese for the win: This creamy, mild cheese (the American kind) melts perfectly for this sandwich.
- Don’t overdo the soaking: Let the bread absorb the egg mixture, but keep it firm enough to hold together.
Storing Any Leftovers
If you’ve got leftovers (lucky you!), here’s how to store them properly:
- Refrigerate: Wrap sandwiches tightly in foil or plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Warm them in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
- Freeze: Wrap each sandwich in foil and place in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make these sandwiches ahead of time? It’s best to make and eat them fresh for the best texture, but you can prep the ingredients in advance to save time.
- How do I keep the bread from getting too soggy? Dip each side of the bread in the egg mixture briefly—just enough to coat it without oversaturating.
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Leftover Turkey-Cranberry Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 20 thin slices of very soft French Bread
- 1-1/2 cups cranberry sauce
- 10 thin slices (12 oz.) Muenster Cheese (have the deli slice it)
- 20 oz thinly sliced leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4-6 tbsps butter
- confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Spread cranberry sauce on each slice of bread, using as much or as little as you like. To assemble each sandwich, tear a slice of cheese in half. Place half a cheese slice on the bread, followed by the turkey, then the other half of the cheese slice. Finish by topping with another slice of bread, cranberry sauce side facing down.20 thin slices of very soft French Bread, 1-1/2 cups cranberry sauce, 10 thin slices (12 oz.) Muenster Cheese , 20 oz thinly sliced leftover turkey
- In a shallow pie plate, whisk together the eggs and milk with a fork until well combined. Dip each sandwich into the mixture, letting it soak for about 30 seconds per side. (The bread should be saturated but not overly soggy.)3 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk
- In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt a couple of tablespoons of butter. Place a few sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown. Flip the sandwiches and cook the other side until golden. Add more butter as needed for the remaining sandwiches.4-6 tbsps butter
- Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving. Serve warm.confectioners' sugar
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Leftover Turkey Recipes
Curried Turkey Salad Sandwiches – Curried turkey salad sandwiches are a delicious way to breathe new life into leftover turkey. With a mix of sweet, savory, and warm spices, they’re a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Leftover Turkey and Black Bean Tacos – These tacos are a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.
Have you tried this recipe? Share your experience in the comments below and let me know how it turned out.
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Ashley says
I’ve already been thinking about different ways to use leftovers too! These sound fantastic!
Teresa says
I do this with cream cheese and call them cranky turkey sandwiches. I will try it with muenster, yum!
Stephanie @ PlainChicken says
this is my kind of leftovers! Looks delicious.
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says
What a great idea! I love repurposing leftovers. I’ll eat leftovers all week, but the hubs needs it to be switched up to keep his interest. I’ll be keeping this in mind – pinned!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
Girl you read my mine. I was going to make a monte cristo turkey sandwich this weekend. This looks delicious and even confirms why I needed to make it in the first place.
Virginia Kahler-Anderson, aka HomeRearedChef says
This recipe will be PERFECT to do on the morning following Thanksgiving. Thank you!!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Girl, we do something similar every year after Thanksgiving…grilled cheese or panini pressed. Provolone is my favorite cheese to add. Just scrumptious with turkey and cranberry sauce or relish. We do this with ham after Christmas as well. Don’t forget the mustard! 😉
Kristina says
my Grandpa Z used to make this exact thing on ‘Black Friday’ – then we’d go to the mall with Grandma and Mom, they’d go shopping and Grandpa and I would sit and ‘People Watch’ all day! such good memories, and delicious breakfast memories as well!
can I come to YOUR house after Thanksgiving? 😉
jean | Lemons & Anchovies says
This kind of leftover Thanksgiving meal is a winner with me. Love the savory-sweet combo.
natalie@thesweetslife says
I’ve never had a monte cristo and I need to change that because they have my name written all over them!
Anjanette @MommaYoung says
OMGosh! These look amazing and I cant wait to try them. Thank you for a great post.
Jessica Barnes says
I just made these and they were amazing! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shelly says
OMG we loved these! Reminded us of a savary French Toast! Love those T-day flavors in there!!
Edith M in TN says
Heck yeah these were delicious! Reminded me of something my Grandma used to make….a lovely, mild dinner my whole family loved!
Rita Forrester says
We absolutely loved this dinner. Everyone gobbled it down like it was dessert!
Sarah says
Awesome recipe! One thing though:
1. I ended up using regular sandwich bread. In this case, I recommend not using the bread/eggs mixture, just making it like you would a traditional grilled cheese. It was a little too soggy for me.
Great combo though!!!
Cathy says
You have to be mindful not to leave it in the egg mixture too long, that will make it soggy.
Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky says
Gorgeous pictures. I made these leftover turkey cranberry monte cristo sandwiches for the super bowl party and it was a crowd favorite. I’m also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing, Cathy!
Bill D says
Made with Brie instead of Muenster cause that’s what we had leftover. Fabulous, family asked for seconds!
Lauren Kelly says
Absolutely brilliant! My family devoured these!
Cathy says
Yay!
Laura says
These are so good! Perfect for all the leftover turkey!
Cathy says
Yes!
Toni says
This is such a great recipe for leftovers! So good!
Cathy says
Glad you enjoyed it.
Sam says
Such an incredible sandwich recipe!! That melted cheese photo took my breath away.
Cathy says
Glad to hear it.
Suzy says
We definitely try to repurpose all of our leftovers! Great idea and love that it can be made with chicken too!
Cathy says
Yes!
wilhelmina says
This was so yummy! I will be making this every time we have turkey!
Cathy says
Enjoy, it’s the best!
Lindsay Cotter says
Such an easy and delicious way to use turkey leftovers! Will use this recipe every year!
Cathy says
Glad to hear it!!