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    Home » 30-Minute Meals

    Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwiches

    Published: May 17, 2022 · Modified: Jan 14, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwiches are super fun panini to make. They’re uber-comforting, freezer-friendly, and great for budget potluck meals. Grab this pesto sandwich recipe and get pressing these gooey, cheesy, delicious, turkey sandwiches in less than 30 minutes!

    Serve them alongside a Simple Romaine Salad or a Chopped Salad with Avocado and Radish for a complete meal. These hot turkey pesto sandwiches are the ultimate rendition of a Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

    turkey pesto sandwiches stacked on a wood cutting board. this …

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    If you’ve been looking for some easy Freezer Sandwiches to stash away for busy nights, rest easy. The search is over. This Turkey Pesto Sandwich recipe is amazing! Like a grilled cheese on steroids, it’s packed with flavor, freezer-friendly, and the ultimate crowd pleaser.

    Why Make This

    It takes just four ingredients but packs a punch! The ingredient list on this pesto sandwich recipe is short: sliced turkey breast, Havarti cheese slices, ciabatta rolls and basil pesto, all easy ingredients to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer. They are great with a bowl of Instant Pot Tomato Soup.

    It’s very make-ahead. You can assemble the turkey pesto sandwiches in the morning to grill later in the day or evening — or you can stash them already assembled in the freezer for next month!

    It’s a versatile kind of sandwich. I’ve been dreaming up all kinds of flavor combinations for swapping in and out different ingredients: roast beef and cheddar with herbed mayo, chicken and Monterey Jack with chipotle mayo, Italian sausage and mozzarella and pizza sauce.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need to make this turkey pesto sandwich recipe:

    ingredients for turkey pesto sandwiches.

    ciabatta rolls – I love these Italian rolls for their hearty texture, but you can also use thicks slices sourdough bread if you prefer.

    Havarti cheese slices – Havarti is a great cheese for melting, but you can also use mozzarella cheese or provolone if you prefer.

    deli sliced turkey breast – Use whatever type of turkey sandwich meat you like. You can even use turkey leftovers from a holiday meal.

    basil pesto – The classic Italian condiment brings a lot of punch to these turkey pesto sandwiches. If you want to cut costs a bit and have some basil growing in the backyard, you can substitute Easy 3-Ingredient Basil Sauce for the pesto. You can freeze pesto if you end up with too much after making this recipe or use it in one of these pesto recipes.

    Variations

    Spruce it up: Feel free to add other goodies to your turkey pesto sandwiches if you like, such as sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, cranberry sauce, avocado, or sliced olives.

    To make gluten-free turkey pesto sandwiches: Schar has a good gluten free ciabatta roll. Read the ingredients labels on the other ingredients to avoid cross-contamination issues.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how to make your turkey pesto sandwiches:

    ciabatta rolls open with pesto and cheese on wooden board.
    ciabatta rolls open on wood board with turkey, cheese, and pesto.
    six turkey pesto sandwiches on a wooden board.
    two turkey pesto sandwiches on a panini press.
    1. Split the rolls open and place them on a work surface. Divide the cheese among the roll halves, on tops and bottoms. Dollop the pesto among the six roll halves and spread pesto to coat.
    2. Divide the meat among the rolls. Put the roll halves together.
    3. If making ahead, place the closed rolls into the roll bag and refrigerate until ready to cook. If you’re going to freeze the rolls, double bag them for added insulation and be sure to squeeze all the air out of the bag.
    4. When you’re ready to cook the turkey pesto sandwiches, heat the panini press. Cook the sandwiches in batches until the cheese is melty and the rolls are toasty and golden brown.

    In lieu of a panini press, you can wrap the sandwiches in foil and cook them for 4 hours on low in a slow cooker or bake them at 350 for about 20 minutes.

    To freeze: store the turkey pesto sandwiches, double wrapped, in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator before heating.

    FAQs

    What goes well with pesto in a sandwich?

    Pesto is a fantastic condiment to use in sandwiches. Layer on different cheeses and meats, being sure not to choose too many rich elements as the flavors can compete with one other. Pesto is delicious in vegetable, turkey, chicken, and cheese sandwiches.

    What cheese goes with turkey pesto?

    Choose a mild cheese to complement your turkey pesto sandwich, such as mozzarella cheese, Havarti, or provolone.

    What goes well with turkey in a sandwich?

    Turkey is a great base to include in a sandwich. Complement it with a strong cheese, like cheddar or a rich spread such as pesto or horseradish. Cranberry sauce is also tasty in a turkey sandwich.

    panini sandwiches cut in half and stacked on wood cutting board.

    More Great Ways to Use Pesto

    • slices of french bread pizza on a wooden board.
      Pesto French Bread Pizza Recipe
    • slices of pesto pizza on a white plate.
      Easy Pesto Pizza Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes & Feta
    • overhead shot of frozen pesto in souper cubes as well as in small plastic box.
      Can You Freeze Pesto?
    • pesto pasta salad in large white bowl on blue striped cloth.
      Pesto Pasta Salad with Cranberries & Feta (60 cents/serving)
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    stack of three turkey pesto sandwiches on wood cutting board.

    Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwiches

    Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwiches are super fun sandwiches to make. These Turkey Pesto Panini are uber-comforting, freezer-friendly, and great for potlucks! Grab the recipe and get pressing these gooey, cheesy, delicious, pesto-infused sandwiches.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 395kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher

    Equipment

    • panini press
    • cutting board
    • bread knife

    Ingredients

    • 6 ciabatta rolls , sliced in half lengthwise
    • 7-8 oz havarti cheese slices
    • ½ cup pesto
    • 8 oz deli sliced turkey breast get herbed if you can

    Instructions

    • Split the rolls open and place them on a work surface. Divide the cheese among the roll halves, on tops and bottoms. I had to tear a few slices in half to make it even.
      6 ciabatta rolls, 7-8 oz havarti cheese slices
    • Dollop the pesto among the six roll halves and spread to coat. We’re spreading this on the cheese slices so as not to make the bread soggy since we’re cooking them later. If you’re cooking the sandwiches right away, you could spread the pesto directly on the surface of the roll.
      ½ cup pesto
    • Divide the meat among the rolls. Put the roll halves together. Place the closed rolls into the roll bag and refrigerate until ready to cook. If you’re going to freeze the rolls, double bag them for added insulation and be sure to squeeze all the air out of the bag.
      8 oz deli sliced turkey breast
    • When you’re ready to cook the sandwiches, heat the panini press. Cook the sandwiches in batches until the cheese is melty and the rolls are toasty.

    Notes

    In lieu of a panini press, you can wrap the sandwiches in foil and cook them for 4 hours on low in a slow cooker or bake them at 350 for about 2o minutes.
    Slow cooker instructions: You can reheat these sandwiches in the slow cooker, for about four hours on LOW, turning once if possible.
    Serving Suggestions: Serve these panini with a side salad, soup, chips, or veggie dippers.
    Shop Your Kitchen:
    • You can use large French bread loaves instead of individual rolls. Wrap each individually in foil.
    • You can swap out the havarti for swiss cheese, pepper jack, mozzarella, or cheddar.
    • Got a different type of cooked meat on hand? Use that instead.
    • Use a different spread besides pesto, like jam, chutney, or salsa.
    • Other great combinations includes chicken and cheddar, roast beef and provolone, salami and mozzarella.
    • For a more affordable pesto-like sauce, make this Easy 3-Ingredient Basil Sauce.
    To Make a Meal Prep: I don’t recommend making these as a meal prep as it just won’t have the same texture reheated, however freezing the sandwiches prior to cooking is awesome!
    Freeze Extra for Later: I love freezing sandwiches to make into panini or grilled cheese.
    To make sandwiches to freeze: Assemble as directed. Wrap in foil and slip into a ziptop freezer bag.
    Make a Plan for Leftovers: Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or for best texture, the air fryer. If you store your leftovers in clear containers, they’re more likely to get eaten.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.5g | Protein: 25.7g | Fat: 24.5g | Saturated Fat: 10.4g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 2.7g | Calcium: 3380mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published March 17, 2018. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kallie

      September 22, 2024 at 9:45 pm

      5 stars
      These were easy and delicious! Perfect for a busy night as they can be made ahead and warmed in the crockpot. Especially great for nights with sports games and practices or any night!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        September 24, 2024 at 4:25 am

        So glad you enjoyed them, Kallie. Thanks for taking the time to review the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Megan

      August 12, 2018 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! Have made these a couple times and love the combination for paninis. Appreciate the tip to layer cheese first and spread pesto on top of the cheese – worked well to keep the bread from getting soggy.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        August 21, 2018 at 4:42 pm

        Yay! Glad to hear you’re enjoying them. I’m making a ton of them this week to freeze. So yummy!

        Reply
    3. Kristen

      April 09, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      If you bake them in the oven, do you wrap them in foil first? Thx!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 09, 2018 at 2:44 pm

        You can and then unwrap them in the last few minutes if you want crisper crust.

        Reply
        • Kristen

          April 09, 2018 at 4:33 pm

          Great, thx!

    4. Amber S -Bend Oregon

      March 21, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent! Was easy and economical to pick up all ingredients at Costco. Next weekend, will make again in oven for a crowd. These had Spring written all over them!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        March 21, 2018 at 3:55 pm

        Yay! So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    5. 2pots2cook

      March 20, 2018 at 4:21 am

      5 stars
      Very generous of you ! Great idea !

      Reply

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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