Turkey Cranberry Brie and Bacon Panini
Is there ANYTHING better than Thanksgiving leftovers? This turkey cranberry Brie and bacon panini turns them into a golden, crispy sandwich with tender turkey, sweet cranberry sauce, melty cheese…AND BACON.
I’m hoping you got your fair share of Thanksgiving leftovers, because this is one delicious reason to tuck a little extra turkey into your container. And if you are reading this at any other time of year? Pick up some cooked turkey and join the sandwich party. I promise you will be all kinds of thankful.
Jump to:
- 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
- ⭐ Why this recipe works
- 🥕 Ingredients you need
- 📝 Ingredient notes
- 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
- 👩🍳 How to make this recipe
- 🤔 Recipe FAQs
- 🍲 Equipment you need
- 🍽️ What to serve with this recipe
- 🥪 Let’s make it!
- Turkey, Cranberry, Brie and Bacon Panini
- 💫 Variations you can try
- 🥪 More sandwich recipes to love!
- 💬 Tell us what you think!
- 💌 Let’s keep in touch!
🔎 A quick look at this recipe
🥪 What it is: A toasted turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, Brie and cooked bacon.
⏱️ Prep: 5 minutes, using cooked turkey and bacon.
🔥 Cook: 3 minutes in a preheated panini press.
🕒 Total: 8 minutes.
🍽️ Servings: 2.
🔢 Calories: 672 per serving.
🍳 Method: Panini press, with a skillet option below.
❤️ Good for: Thanksgiving leftovers, a quick lunch or an easy supper.
⭐ Why this recipe works
- 🦃 Leftovers get their moment: Cooked turkey becomes a whole new lunch with very little fuss.
- 🧀 Sweet meets savory: Cranberry sauce balances the creamy Brie and salty bacon.
- 🥖 That golden crunch: A little olive oil on the outside helps the bread toast beautifully.
- 🍳 No press? No problem: Two skillets can get you to sandwich heaven, too.
🥕 Ingredients you need
For two sandwiches, gather 4 slices country bread, 4 ounces sliced cooked turkey, ½ cup cranberry sauce, 2 ounces sliced Brie cheese, 2 slices cooked bacon cut in half, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. The turkey and bacon should already be cooked before you start your sandwich assembly line.
📝 Ingredient notes
- Country bread: Choose sturdy slices that can hold the filling when pressed. Very soft, thin bread can get squished before the cheese has its moment.
- Turkey: Leftover cooked turkey is the star here. Slice it into manageable pieces so you get turkey in every bite. Cooked deli turkey works when Thanksgiving is nowhere in sight.
- Cranberry sauce: Whole berry or jellied sauce will work. Spread it across the turkey so the sweetness is nicely distributed.
- Brie: Slice it thinly for easier melting. The rind is edible, so you can leave it on or trim it off if you prefer.
- Bacon: Cook it first and cut each slice in half so it fits inside the bread. The brief time in the press is for toasting the sandwich, not cooking raw bacon.
- Olive oil: Brush it on the outside of the bread, where it helps create that lovely golden crust.
💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
No turkey? Try sliced cooked chicken. Swap the Brie for another good melting cheese, such as Swiss or mild cheddar, or use sturdy sourdough in place of country bread. You can also leave out the bacon if you prefer. Each change will give your sammie its own personality!
Want help working with what is in your fridge? Choose an AI button below to open a recipe-specific substitution question. Double-check suggestions against your own dietary needs and the cooking instructions.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
👩🍳 How to make this recipe
Step 1: Heat your panini maker to medium high. Have your cooked turkey, cranberry sauce, sliced Brie and cooked bacon ready to go.
Step 2: Brush one side of each of the four bread slices with olive oil. These oiled sides will be the outsides of your sandwiches.
Step 3: Set two bread slices oil side down on your work surface. Divide the turkey between them, then add the cranberry sauce, Brie and bacon, in that order. Top each sandwich with a remaining bread slice, oil side up.
Step 4: Place the sandwiches in the hot panini maker, working in batches if needed, and press down. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted. Your press and the thickness of your bread may affect the timing.
Step 5: Carefully remove the sandwiches and let them rest for a minute. Cut each into quarters and serve hot. Welcome to turkey panini heaven!
Kate’s tip: No panini maker? You are still getting this sandwich! Put it in a skillet over medium heat and set a second, heavy skillet on top to press it down. After about 2 minutes, remove the top skillet, flip the sandwich and replace the weight. Cook until both sides are golden and the cheese is melted. Keep the top skillet steady and use oven mitts when handling hot pans.
🤔 Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Use a skillet for cooking and a second heavy skillet to gently press the sandwich. Flip after about 2 minutes and continue cooking until both sides are golden and the Brie is melted. See Kate’s tip above for the details.
Yes! Sliced cooked deli turkey works well, so you can make this sandwich even when you do not have holiday leftovers.
Nope! Brie rind is edible. Leave it on for easy assembly, or trim it off if you prefer the cheese without it.
Either works. Spread whole berry sauce evenly, or spread or thinly slice jellied sauce so each bite gets a little cranberry goodness.
For the best crunch, assemble and toast them just before serving. You can slice the turkey and Brie and cook the bacon ahead, then refrigerate them separately until you are ready to build your sandwiches.
Pop your question in the Comments section below and I will answer pronto!
🍲 Equipment you need
A panini maker does the pressing and toasting for you. You will also need a cutting board, a knife and a pastry brush for the olive oil. If you are going the skillet route, have two sturdy skillets, a spatula and oven mitts handy.
🍽️ What to serve with this recipe
This sandwich can absolutely handle lunch on its own, but a little something alongside makes it extra cozy. Keep the holiday goodness going with Thanksgiving leftovers soup, or pour a mug of butternut squash cheddar soup. For something fresh, try green bean tomato salad or a scoop of mimosa fruit salad.
🥪 Let’s make it!
Gather your leftovers, get that panini maker good and hot, and let’s turn yesterday’s turkey into today’s very happy lunch. The recipe below makes two sandwiches, which means you can share the crispy, cheesy goodness with someone you love. Just make sure you claim your half before the bacon lovers arrive!
Turkey, Cranberry, Brie and Bacon Panini
Is there ANYTHING better than Thanksgiving leftovers? Especially when they are turned into this delectable turkey, cranberry, Brie and bacon panini.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Panini Press
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 slices country bread
- 4 ounces sliced turkey
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
- 2 ounces sliced Brie cheese
- 2 slices bacon, cooked and cut in half
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat panini maker to medium high (see note if you don’t have a panini maker)
- Brush one side of bread slices with olive oil (this will be the outside)
- Lay bread slice oil side down on work surface. Layer with turkey, then cranberry sauce, then cheese, then bacon. Top with second slice of bread, oiled side on the outside
- Place in panini maker and press down. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Remove, let cool for a minute, slice in quarters and serve hot.
Notes
If you don’t have a panini-maker (and here is a link to the one I have), you can still make this! Put the sandwich into a skillet, and then find another skillet – the heaviest one you have – and press it on top of the sandwich. Flip it after 2 minutes or so, put the skillet back on top, and cook until both sides are golden. Yum!
💫 Variations you can try
- Chicken panini: Use sliced cooked chicken instead of turkey for a sandwich that works any time of year.
- Cheddar version: Swap in thin slices of mild cheddar for a different cheesy finish.
- A little green: Tuck in a few baby spinach leaves when you layer the filling.
- Skip the bacon: Leave it out and let the turkey, cranberry sauce and Brie have the spotlight.
🥪 More sandwich recipes to love!
If a warm sandwich is your idea of happiness, there is plenty more where this came from. Try roast beef and Brie sandwiches for another melty Brie moment, or give my Brie Monte Cristo sandwich a turn. For breakfast-for-supper fun, there is the best breakfast sandwich and these pancake breakfast sandwiches. Sandwich night is looking pretty wonderful!
💬 Tell us what you think!
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! Leave a star rating and tell us all about it in the comments section below.
💌 Let’s keep in touch!
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Anytime of the year this would be great :)
That bread is so crisp….I can feel the crunch! Great photo!