Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich in the Air Fryer
Don't toss all those leftovers after your Thanksgiving dinner! With this Thanksgiving leftover sandwich recipe, you can use your air fryer to make delicious toasted snacks packed with holiday flavor. Made with all the popular Thanksgiving dishes - turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce - this easy lunch idea is the perfect way to keep the holiday vibes flowing long after the meal is over.
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Reasons You'll Love This Air Fryer Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich
The Thanksgiving feast has ended, the guests have gone home, and your refrigerator is packed with containers of delicious leftovers. While enjoying another plate of the same meal is great, why not transform those extras into something new and exciting? This Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, crisped to perfection in an air fryer, is the ultimate way to enjoy the holiday's best flavors all over again.
This isn't just another sandwich; it's a way to keep the festive spirit alive. Get ready to discover why this easy, flavor-packed creation will become your new favorite post-Thanksgiving tradition.
- It's the Ultimate Way to Reduce Food Waste: Instead of letting that perfectly cooked turkey or delicious stuffing go to waste, this sandwich gives them a second life. By layering your leftovers-turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce-between two brioche buns, you create a whole new meal. It's a sustainable and delicious solution to a common holiday problem, ensuring every bit of your hard work in the kitchen is enjoyed.
- The Air Fryer Creates the Perfect Texture: The magic of this sandwich lies in the air fryer. While you could assemble a cold leftover sandwich, the air fryer takes it to another level. It toasts the brioche buns to a beautiful golden-brown, giving them a slight crunch on the outside while keeping the inside soft and fluffy.
- It's Incredibly Easy and Quick to Make: After spending hours, or even days, preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, the last thing you want is another complicated recipe. That's the beauty of this sandwich. Assembly is a breeze: simply layer your ingredients and let the air fryer do the work. In just a few minutes, you have a hot, delicious meal ready to eat. It's the perfect quick lunch or easy dinner for those lazy post-holiday days when you want maximum flavor with minimal effort.
- It Captures All the Best Holiday Flavors in One Bite: This sandwich is essentially Thanksgiving dinner packed between two buns. Each bite delivers a symphony of classic holiday flavors: savory turkey, the herby stuffing, and the sweet and tangy cranberry sauce.
Now that your mouth is watering, it's time to raid the fridge and get that air fryer humming. Gather your leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, and get ready to create a meal that might just rival the original feast.
What Do I Need to Prepare This Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich?
The great thing about making sandwiches out of Thanksgiving leftovers is that you can use what you have to make a delicious meal! While these are the ingredients I used in my air fryer sandwiches, there are a variety of ways to customize your own leftover snack.
- Brioche buns
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- Cranberry sauce
- Leftover stuffing
- Thinly sliced turkey
- Lettuce
How Do I Make This Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich?
Grab your leftovers and warm up your air fryer to make these delicious sandwiches in minutes! Follow these easy instructions to use up that extra turkey and stuffing for lunch the next day.
Step One: Prepare the Ingredients
Before you start making your sandwiches, you'll need to take a few minutes to prep the ingredients. Make sure to set out the cranberry sauce so that it's at room temperature when you start cooking. Then, warm up the leftover stuffing. After that, slice your brioche buns in half and spread mayonnaise on one side of the bun and Dijon mustard on the other side.
Step Two: Layer the Ingredients
Now that your buns are ready, divide your sliced turkey evenly between each bun and place one slice of cheese on each sandwich.
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Step Three: Air Fry the Sandwiches
Place the sandwiches open faced in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Cook the sandwiches at 320 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the buns are slightly toasted.
Step Four: Add the Toppings
Once the sandwiches are cooked, add the cranberry sauce and warmed stuffing to each bun. Top each sandwich with lettuce, then place the buns on top and enjoy!
How Do You Store Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwiches?
These delicious sandwiches taste best right after they're prepared. If you don't finish all the sandwiches, you can store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days. It's a good idea to remove the lettuce from your sandwiches as they're being stored because it will begin to wilt the longer the sandwiches are in the fridge.
To reheat the sandwiches, place them in the microwave. Or heat them in the air fryer at 320 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes.
Air Fryer Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich Ideas
Now that you see how simple it is to turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious sandwiches, the sky is the limit! Try these recipe ideas as you're using up your own leftovers to create a delicious meal the day after Thanksgiving.
- Add more leftovers. This delicious recipe is a great way to use up leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce! But those aren't the only leftovers you can use on your sandwiches. Try adding some gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or other leftover vegetables.
- Use deli turkey. Making this recipe after Thanksgiving is the perfect way to use up leftovers! But you can still enjoy it any time of year. Just use some thinly sliced deli turkey instead of leftover turkey to put your sandwiches together.
- Bake them in the oven. Don't have an air fryer? You can also prepare these sandwiches in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the sandwiches on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the buns are toasted.
- Make them with different bread. In addition to brioche buns, there are a variety of different types of bread you can use. Try making your sandwiches with plain white bread, sourdough bread, hamburger buns, or even leftover rolls!
- Spread on some butter. Help your buns get nice and toasty in the air fryer with the help of butter! Spread some melted butter over the top of each bun before placing them in the air fryer to give each bun a crispy, toasty coating on top.
- Add some bacon. Turkey and bacon pair perfectly together, so this simple ingredient can really take your sandwich to the next level. Cook some bacon before prepping your other ingredients to add a slice to each sandwich.
How Long Do Thanksgiving Leftovers Stay Good?
Since turkey goes bad the fastest, you'll need to prepare your Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches within 4 days of Thanksgiving to ensure your turkey is still good. To make it easier to enjoy your leftovers, carve the remaining meat off the turkey and store it in an airtight container.
It's also a good idea to transfer your sides to airtight containers or tightly wrap the serving dishes with plastic wrap before placing them in the fridge. Make sure all your dishes are cooled completely.
Best Sides for a Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich
Here are some perfect side dishes that complement the rich flavors of a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. From crispy vegetables to creamy casseroles, these ideas will help you create a memorable post-holiday meal with minimal effort.
- Air Fryer Honey-Glazed Carrots:Honey-glazed carrots made in the air fryer are a quick, easy, and delicious side that perfectly balances the savory notes of your sandwich.
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes: It's hard to imagine Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes, and they make an equally essential side for your leftover sandwich. Whether you have some left from the big feast or you're whipping up a fresh batch, their creamy, fluffy texture is the ultimate comfort food pairing.
- A Side of Rich Gravy: It's perfect for dipping the crusts of your toasted sandwich, transforming it into something akin to a French dip. Using leftover gravy is the obvious choice, but a quick packet mix will also do the trick if you've run out. There's no such thing as too much gravy.
- Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts: For a green vegetable that can stand up to the heartiness of a Thanksgiving sandwich, look no further than Brussels sprouts. When roasted, they develop a deliciously crispy exterior and a tender, nutty interior. You can easily reheat leftover sprouts in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring back their crunch.
- Fresh Fall Salad: After a day of heavy eating, sometimes you crave something light and fresh. A simple fall-themed salad is the perfect antidote.
- Cheesy Corn Casserole: If you're in the mood for pure comfort, a scoop of warm corn casserole is the way to go. This creamy, savory-sweet dish is a Thanksgiving staple for a reason.. It's a side that feels both indulgent and nostalgic, making your leftover meal feel just as special as the main event. A small portion is all you need to complete this satisfying post-holiday feast.
By pairing your air-fried Thanksgiving leftover sandwich with one of these simple and delicious sides, you can turn a simple meal into a memorable feast. Explore these options and continue the holiday celebration with another round of incredible food.
Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 brioche buns
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup cranberry sauce room temperature
- 1 cup leftover stuffing warmed
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 lb cooked turkey I used thin sliced deli turkey, but you can also use sliced leftover thanksgiving turkey.
- Lettuce
Instructions
- Spread mayo on one side of each bun and Dijon mustard on the other.
- Place a slice of cheese onto each bun.
- Divide turkey between each bun.
- Add your sandwiches open faced to the air fryer basket. You may need to work in batches depending on your air fryer size.
- Cook the sandwiches on the air fry setting at 320F for 3-5 minutes, until warmed through and buns are slightly toasted.
- Divide the cranberry sauce and stuffing between each sandwich and top with lettuce.
- Serve immediately, enjoy!
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