Copycat Panera Roasted Turkey, Apple, and Cheddar Sandwich: Slices of roasted turkey, sweet apples, and sharp cheddar cheese are piled high on homemade cranberry walnut bread with a tangy honey mustard. Perfect use for leftover turkey or rotessiere chicken even!
Have you ever had a craving for something that just had to be satisifed or a beast was liable to emerge from your being? And no, these cravings do NOT just happen to pregnant women!
After 6 hours of doctor appointments, I was facing a 3 hour drive home from my Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. I had left my house nearly 10 hours earlier, and even though it was a relatively good appointment, I was EXHAUSTED! And hungry. More like HANGRY–so hungry, I was verging on becoming an angry beast. I had planned for a long day. I packed tons of high protein snacks and water bottles..but after the appointment, no amount of trail mix or granola bars were going to satisfy me.
I wanted a sandwich. A turkey and cheese sandwich. An odd craving, but it was what I wanted and I was bound and determined to find a Panera or local grocery shop that I could get a good quality turkey and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread.
After about 2 hours of driving, and lots of passed dining options that disgusted me, I found a Panera. Oh, I was so happy! And even though I was just an hour from home and there was homemade lasagna leftover for me, I wanted a sandwich.
I got to the counter to order my turkey and cheese, and saw that Panera had a seasonal Turkey sandwich that had slices of apple, sharp cheddar cheese served on whole grain cranberry bread–Um, yes, please! I didn’t know how much THAT was the actual sandwich my tired body was yearning for until I saw it.
And when I bit into it, perfection! Sweet, tart, savory and filling–it was everything I needed. But as much as I love Panera, my bank account does not want to pay $10 per sandwich.
So I decided to recreate their masterpiece at home. And I was successful–the sandwich at home was AMAZING (maybe even better than Panera!) 
This sandwich is really quite easy when you have the right ingredients on hand. I used leftover roasted turkey (great for after Thanksgiving!), but even rotessiere chicken will work. I also used my homemade Whole Wheat Cranberry Walnut Bread, which I highly suggest, but you can use store bought bread as well.
Then it is just a matter of layering–thick slices of turkey, slices of sharp white cheddar cheese, thinly sliced Gala apples, sharp cheddar, onions, lettuce, all finished with a honey mustard. So much perfection, I can hardly contain myself!
This is a MUST–especially with leftover Turkey!
Copycat Panera Roasted Turkey, Apple, and Cheddar 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
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons dijion mustard.
Instructions
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Make the Honey mustard by mixing together the honey and mustard. Spread on all 8 slices of bread.
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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.
Check out this recipe on Meal Plan Monday.
It sounds delicious, Kristen! I love Panera sandwiches too…a good copycat sounds fabulous to me!
YOu will love it Michelle!
I used to work at Panera Bread you can buy cole slaw mix and fuji apple dressing and use fuji apples to make the apples slaw they use. You can even just eat the slaw as a side too.
Very true, my version is just a bit cheaper and cleaner 😉 And the slaw is delicious as a salad! Great suggestion!
This is my all time favorite sandwich from Panera- Making it!
YEA!!! I hope you LOVE it as much (or more than Panera!!)
Gorgeous sandwich Kristen! Love apples and cheddar with turkey, such a treat. Will have to remember this post-Thanksgiving! Glad you found what you needed after a super long day (including inspiration!) and glad things went well at your appointment. xo
Thanks Allie–it was a good appointment and a great sandwich (but homemade better!) Hope you give this a try post-T day 🙂
Thanks for posting this! My kids love to eat Panera sandwiches, and this would be a great one to make at home this weekend. Yum!
Your kids will devour this one! I hope you try it out soon!
Oh, this is my favorite sandwich from Panera! I love the idea of making it at home for a quick and easy lunch.
Thanks Ashley. It is my favorite too–I think you will LOVE it!
I love it when restaurant dishes are easy to figure out how to recreate. I did that once with a mussels and chorizo dish, and our homemade version was so delicious that we’ve made it multiple times since that first attempt.
Oh boy Kathryn–that mussel and chorizo dish sounds fabulous!
That looks better than Panera!!
Diana, I would have to agree it is better than Panera :)Hope you try!
My mouth is watering! 🙂 One of my favorite sdandwiches!! Looks great! 🙂
Cathy
Thanks Cathy!
I was just texting a girlfriend today about Panera Bread. We don’t have one here but when we visit the in-laws they have one and as a treat for us get fresh bagels to have. It’s such a treat! We’ve even gone there for lunch and the sandwiches are amazing! This sandwich makes me think of one similar that McAllisters has (we do have one of these) that I love except without apples. They would be a good addition! Thanks for this I’ll have to remember it and I’ve only got 2 more weeks before we’re near a Panera Bread!
Tricia, Panera is so good! But you can make this at home. I hope you try it!
This sounds delicious!! Can’t wait to give it a try 🙂
I hope you love it!! This is one of my most favorite sandwiches ever!
Do you know the nutritional value of this sandwich?? I’d like to make the bread and the sandwich
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)