If you love Panera Sandwiches, you will LOVE this Copycat Panera Roasted Turkey, Apple, and Cheddar Sandwich! Made with slices of roasted turkey, sweet apples, and sharp cheddar cheese on homemade cranberry walnut bread, this is the best recipe for a turkey sandwich!
The Best Turkey Sandwich
I loved Panera's seasonal Turkey Apple Sandwich, made with tender turkey, sweet apples, and sharp cheddar.
While Panera no longer features this sandwich on their menu, you can easily recreate a similar masterpiece at home.
My version is made with leftover cooked turkey, sliced apples, white cheddar, and mustard piled onto homemade cranberry walnut bread.
This sandwich is filled with flavor and texture. It truly is my favorite way to enjoy a turkey sandwich.
Notes on Ingredients Needed
- Turkey: Leftover Roasted Turkey, Brined Turkey, Instant Pot Turkey Breast, or deli turkey will work in this sandwich.
- Bread: Cranberry Walnut Bread is an amazing base for this sandwich. It is chewy and the flavors of cranberry and walnut make the sandwich pop. However, whole wheat bread or store-bought grain bread is also an option.
- Sharp White Cheddar Cheese: White cheddar pairs amazingly well with sweet apples, as it is sharp and flavorful. Muenster or Sharp Cheddar work if you do not have white cheddar cheese.
- Gala Apples: Sweet, firm apples are a must for this sandwich. Gala is a great option, as is Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Golden Delicious. I do not recommend Red Delicious or Granny Smith for this turkey sandwich.
- Honey Mustard: Tangy, sharp, and a bit sweet, the honey mustard adds just the right zing to this sandwich. I make my own homemade honey mustard by mixing together 3 parts Dijon mustard to 1 part honey, but store-bought mustard is a perfectly fine option.
- Red Onions: Sliced onions were not a part of the original Panera turkey sandwich, but I love the sharpness they add to the sandwich. They are a great contrast to sweet apples.
How to make the Best Turkey Sandwich
- Spread two thick slices of bread with honey mustard.
- Layer one slice of the bread with turkey then top with apples and cheddar.
- Finish the sandwich by topping the cheese with thinly sliced onions and lettuce and the other slice of bread.
- Cut in half and serve immediately.
More Copycat Panera Recipes
If you enjoyed this Turkey Sandwich, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.
Copycat Panera Turkey Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices Cranberry Walnut bread
- 4 ounces of sharp white cheddar cheese sliced
- 1 gala apple thinly sliced (or other sweet apple)
- 8 pieces of lettuce about size of bread
- 8-10 ounces thick sliced roasted turkey breast
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
Homemade Honey Mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Make the Honey mustard by mixing together the honey and mustard. Spread on all 8 slices of bread.
- Layer 4 slices of bread with the turkey, apple, cheese, onion, and lettuce. Place remaining 4 slices of bread on top of sandwiches and slice. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Apples: Use sweet, firm apples, like Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji or Golden Delicious.
- Bread: Use whole wheat bread or a whole grain bread in place of cranberry walnut bread.
- Feel free to leave off the onion for a more authentic Panera sandwich.
Nutrition
Originally published in September 2017, updated in November 2019.
Monica
Pretty good, but panera's had cole slaw (apple slaw), so I made some to add to the sandwich. Satisfies my craving since they no longer have this.
Rebecca Larrison
Simply the best. I happened to find a recipe for cranberry-walnut bread in my bread machine book. I make it and it is like being at Panera, but at home. Thanks for the great recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed this sandwich Rebecca 🙂
Logan
Try it toasted. Your life will never be the same!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh yes, I love Toasted Bread. Thanks!
Kay
Do you know the nutritional value of this sandwich?? I'd like to make the bread and the sandwich
Kristen Chidsey
Good Morning Kay! I do not calculate my nutrional values because I strongly believe that if you are eating all real foods, you don't need to get too worked up over calories. However, I completely understand that some people have to know for various reasons. I entered all the ingredients into MyFitnessPal for a rough estimate: 450 calories and 10 grams of fat and 30 grams of protein. I can tell you that Panera's Sandwich has 750 calories, 32 grams of fat and 32 grams of protein. So you are guarenteed to save a lot making this at home (plus cut sodium down way low)