Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Turkey Recipe
Ham is the most popular meat to add to a grilled cheese sandwich, but why not try something different? I had some turkey in my fridge one day and decided to try that instead of ham, and it turns out it’s quite tasty. Turkey tends to have a milder flavor than ham, and usually it’s a little healthier, so give it a try. Here’s our recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich with turkey.
What kind of turkey and cheese should you use for your sandwich?
You can be pretty flexible here. The best turkey for your grilled cheese sandwich is often the one that’s in your fridge. I often buy a basic thinly sliced deli turkey that I can use on sandwiches or in salads. Sometimes simple is best.
But if you prefer something with a little more flavor to it, try a smoked turkey or one with spices like pepper or cajun seasonings. This is your grilled cheese with turkey sandwich, and you can play around with different types of turkey to see what kind you like the best.
I definitely recommend getting thinly sliced turkey. For me, thin slices work better than thick ones because they don’t overpower the cheese, and they meld with the cheese easier than a thick slice would.
You can’t go wrong with the classic cheddar cheese for this sandwich. It’s tasty, it melts easily, and it pairs well with turkey.
Gouda is another great choice. It’s actually one of my favorites for a grilled cheese and turkey. Or pick something with a little zing like pepperjack cheese.
But you probably want a mild cheese with a more flavorful turkey, or vice versa. A spicy cheese with a spicy turkey might be a bit overwhelming.
I’ll be using sliced gouda for this grilled cheese and turkey sandwich recipe, but feel free to use cheddar or whatever your favorite cheese is.
>>Check out the kimchi grilled cheese sandwich recipe.
How to make a grilled turkey and cheese sandwich
Put a slice of butter in a pan and heat on medium. Don’t put your sandwich in the pan too early though. Wait until the butter starts to bubble after it’s completely melted and coats the pan.
While you’re waiting for the butter to melt, assemble your cheese and turkey between two slices of bread. Andy uses normal sliced white bread, while I use gluten free bread from our local bakery. It’s best to put the turkey in between two slices of cheese, that way as the cheese melts, it holds your turkey in place.
When you see those bubbles in the butter, you know it’s hot. Put your sandwich in the pan and let it cook for 3 or 4 minutes on one side.
At this point, flip your grilled cheese and turkey sandwich so the other side can cook. If the first side isn’t quite golden brown enough yet, flip it again after 3 or 4 minutes.
Cook each side of the sandwich for 4-5 minutes. You may want to flip it multiple times to make sure it doesn’t burn. I find it’s better to cook it slowly to give the bread time to get buttery and crispy and wonderfully golden brown. If you cook it too quickly, you’re likely to burn your sandwich.
For an extra kick
Since turkey can be such a mild flavor, sometimes it’s nice to kick it up a notch. When assembling your sandwich, try putting just a little bit of horseradish in between the turkey and cheese slices. I think this is especially tasty with gouda since it has a milder flavor than cheddar.
A little goes a long way, and it gives your grilled turkey and cheese sandwich some extra flavor!
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Turkey

The Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Turkey combines your favorite classic grilled cheese sandwich with a couple slices of turkey for a little extra protein. You'll love the tasty melted cheese and thinly sliced turkey.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of white bread
- 2 slices of gouda cheese
- 2 slices of thinly sliced turkey
- butter (about a teaspoon)
Instructions
- Heat the pan on medium.
- Add a slab of butter to the pan and let it melt completely.
- Assemble the two slices of turkey between the two slices of cheese, and put it all between the two slices of bread.
- Once the butter is completely melted, coats the whole pan, and starts bubbling a little, put the sandwich into the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side, checking to make sure it isn't burning.
- Once the first side is golden brown, flip and cook the other side. Add a sliver of butter to the pan if needed.
- When both sides are a crispy golden brown and the cheese is melty and holds the turkey in place, your grilled turkey and cheese sandwich is done and ready to eat.
Notes
Make this gluten free with your favorite gluten free bread.
For an extra kick, try adding a little bit of horseradish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 564Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1517mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 27g
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by a third party app and should not be used in place of the advice of a professional nutritionist.