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.
Easypeasylifematters
This sounds delicious!! Can't wait to give it a try 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you love it!! This is one of my most favorite sandwiches ever!
Tricia@MissSippipiddlin
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!
Kristen Chidsey
Tricia, Panera is so good! But you can make this at home. I hope you try it!
Cathy
My mouth is watering! 🙂 One of my favorite sdandwiches!! Looks great! 🙂
Cathy
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Cathy!
Diana Rambles
That looks better than Panera!!
Kristen Chidsey
Diana, I would have to agree it is better than Panera :)Hope you try!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running
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.
Kristen Chidsey
Oh boy Kathryn--that mussel and chorizo dish sounds fabulous!
Aspen
I toasted the bread, added garlic sandwich sauce, and warmed up the Turkey for 35 seconds with thin layer of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top 🙂 delicious!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
Oh, this is my favorite sandwich from Panera! I love the idea of making it at home for a quick and easy lunch.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Ashley. It is my favorite too--I think you will LOVE it!
Amanda @bephoenixfit
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!
Kristen Chidsey
Your kids will devour this one! I hope you try it out soon!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
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
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Allie--it was a good appointment and a great sandwich (but homemade better!) Hope you give this a try post-T day 🙂
Arman @ thebigmansworld
This is my all time favorite sandwich from Panera- Making it!
Kristen Chidsey
YEA!!! I hope you LOVE it as much (or more than Panera!!)
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
It sounds delicious, Kristen! I love Panera sandwiches too...a good copycat sounds fabulous to me!
Kristen Chidsey
YOu will love it Michelle!
Fallecia
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.
Kristen Chidsey
Very true, my version is just a bit cheaper and cleaner 😉 And the slaw is delicious as a salad! Great suggestion!
Monica
I knew it had coleslaw, but didn't know about the fuji apple dressing. Please elaborate. Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Monica! This recipe does not have the coleslaw, but instead replicates the flavor by using sliced apples and a honey mustard dressing. Feel free to mix some shredded cabbage with the honey mustard and add diced apples and use that for this sandwich. Enjoy!