A sweet and savory way to use your leftover turkey! If it doesn’t happen to be anywhere near a turkey holiday, then smoked chicken is a wonderful substitute!
The final week of a year is always full of ups and downs for me.
The excitement of New Year’s Eve and a fresh start are exhilarating, and the instant reduction of stress after Christmas is over is one of the best feelings I could ask for.
However, the anticipation that builds as Christmas grows closer is gone, and after the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, announcing 365 days of a new year, the holidays are officially over. And the little girl inside of me is terribly sad.
No more jingling bells, no more festively decorated houses. The radio stations go back to playing their normal music over and over again, and the red and green of the traffic lights no longer bring a silly smile to my face.
But even though the holiday season is drawing to a close for another year, we’ll still be enjoying our leftovers for a few days, right?! Why not jazz up that 3rd day turkey by using it in this Leftover Turkey Cranberry Sandwich?
Yes, indeed. I’m one of those weirdos who get post-holiday blues instead of mid-holiday blues.
One things that can always put a smile on my face is leftover turkey, regardless of season. And I suppose, in a pinch, cousin chicken does the trick, also.
This sandwich, combining slow cooked poultry, toasted almonds, sweet Honeycrisp apples, tart cranberries, and a bit of crushed red pepper heat cooled by some Greek yogurt, is so refreshing and makes a great light meal all year round. I have made this multiple times, using both chicken and turkey, and it has been delightful every time.
But it’s still the best after Christmas, in my opinion. It makes the transition from Holly Jolly to Auld Lang Syne that much more bearable!
Ingredients
- 6-8 ounces leftover turkey or smoked chicken, shredded
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, diced
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 sliced almonds, toasted
- 1 scallion, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- Spinach leaves
- Ciabatta rolls or your favorite bread
Instructions
- Combine turkey, apple, dried cranberries, almonds, and scallion in a medium bowl.
- Add mayonnaise/Greek yogurt, mustard, garlic powder, salt and peppers and toss until well combined.
- Layer spinach leaves on the bottom half of your roll or bread, then scoop a hearty helping of turkey mixture on top. Add top half of bun and serve! (I recommend a warm glass of cider with this sandwich!)
What’s your favorite way to use your holiday leftovers?
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