If you’re looking for a new quick meal idea, my Turkey Pesto Sandwich is hearty, healthy, delicious, and it takes just 15 minutes to make. Featuring buttery toasted sourdough, brightly herby pesto, juicy turkey breast, melty mozzarella cheese, and a handful of fresh spinach, this simple sandwich recipe is the best thing to happen to lunch since sliced bread!
Since my hubby is a firefighter and I work from home, we often get to eat lunch together. It’s such a treat — and a great way to have a little date night in the middle of the day! 😍 And while we’re usually eating whatever I’m photographing that day, this turkey pesto sandwich recipe is one we turn to again and again.
You can’t beat something so delicious that takes just 6 ingredients and 15 minutes to whip up! When paired with my crispy sweet potato wedges and homemade matcha boba tea, it’s a gee-dang feast. And the best part? This giant pesto turkey sandwich is built to be shared, so we can sit down to a hot sandwich at the same time without dirtying another pan.
So, next time you’re looking to breathe some new life into your meal plan, make a batch of my easy almond pesto, buy (or make!) some low-sodium turkey deli meat, and grab a few slices of bread. The whole family is sure to love these turkey pesto paninis, and you’ll love how quick and easy they are to make!
Jump to:
- What is a turkey pesto sandwich?
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This Pesto Sandwich Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make Pesto Turkey Sandwiches
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- Hot Turkey Pesto Panini Nutrition
- Pricing Info
- Other Recipes You Might Like
- Recipe
What is a turkey pesto sandwich?
Just what it sounds like: a delectable, crave-worthy combo of thinly sliced turkey breast and pesto between two slices of tangy sourdough. But because I’m an over-achiever and I love the Starbucks turkey pesto panini, I’ve also added shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh baby spinach plus a thin swipe of butter, then griddled it to golden-brown melty perfection.
What does it taste like?
It all starts with tangy, crusty sourdough bread—its exterior golden and crisp from butter on the griddle. Thinly sliced turkey is tender, offering a lean but rich meatiness. Next up is vibrant, herbaceous basil pesto. This beloved spread brings a touch of heat from the garlic, crunch of nuts, and saltiness of Parmesan cheese, plus a big rush of basil-y goodness.
Nestled within is a handful of baby spinach, their leaves slightly wilted from the warmth of the pan. And then, the mozzarella melts into a gooey, stretchy ribbon, its mild creaminess balancing out the sharpness of the pesto.
As the sandwich grills, the buttery outside crisps to perfection, creating a contrast to the tender, melty interior. Each bite provides a study in contrasts: crunchy and soft, savory and slightly sweet, earthy and bright.
TL;DR? This turkey pesto panini is the bomb.com.
Why You’ll Love This Pesto Sandwich Recipe
- Simple & Speedy – 15 minutes of prep time, 6 ingredients, and 1 pan are all it takes to whip up this stellar meal.
- Rich But Balanced – While the stretchy mozzarella and buttered bread make these turkey pesto sandwiches taste like an indulgence, the lean, protein-packed turkey and leafy green goodness of spinach help to make it pretty virtuous.
- Totally Customizable – You’re the head honcho of your own deli counter, so zhuzh this pesto turkey sandwich recipe to fit your preferences. Crave a slice of tomato? Add it! Prefer provolone to mozz? That sounds yummy! However you want to tweak it, this turkey and pesto combo is sure to please.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a handful of ingredients to make a turkey pesto sandwich Starbucks would envy. Here’s what to grab:
- Sourdough Bread – I love using crusty sourdough bread for this turkey pesto sandwich because it adds a nice tanginess, but doesn’t completely overpower the other flavors the way a multi-grain bread would. Make sure to buy high-quality sourdough bread or make your own.
- Unsalted Butter – If possible, opt for natural, organic, grass-fed, unsalted butter. It’s much healthier than overly processed butter.
- Pesto – Basil pesto adds a lot of flavor to this sandwich, but I find that store-bought pesto usually tastes really salty and is overly processed. If you feel the same way, you can make your own homemade pesto instead!
- Shredded Mozzarella – This mild, melty cheese adds so much flavor to the sandwich without overpowering the pesto flavor or making it too salty. Don’t skip the cheese!
- Sliced Turkey – 3 ounces of turkey goes a long way in this recipe! Make sure to buy a high-quality, minimally processed sliced turkey breast (or use up your leftover turkey breast from Thanksgiving) for the tastiest, healthiest results.
- Baby Spinach – Adding a big ol’ handful of tender leafy greens means you can knock out a full serving of veggies while you’re eating this juiced-up grilled cheese sandwich.
Substitutions
As with all sandwiches, this turkey pesto number is completely customizable. Here are some ingredient subs to try:
- Sourdough Bread – Feel free to swap in the type of bread of your choice, ciabatta rolls would be really good!
- Unsalted Butter – If dairy is off the table, try swiping the outside of the bread with a thin layer of mayo. It browns the crust beautifully!
- Basil Pesto – For a fun, colorful twist, try swapping in red pesto made from sun-dried tomatoes instead.
- Shredded Mozzarella – I’ve also made this yummy turkey sandwich with a couple of slices of provolone cheese. The flavor is more pronounced and the cheese pull isn’t *quite* as Instagrammable, but it’s very good.
- Sliced Turkey – Feel free to swap in leftover roasted or rotisserie chicken instead. Although this recipe calls for deli turkey, you can also use leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
- Baby Spinach – For a pepperier take, swap in baby arugula.
How To Make Pesto Turkey Sandwiches
As with most sandwiches, this one comes together in a snap. Here’s how to make one:
Step 1: Spread Butter. Spread 1 tablespoon of butter all the way to the edges of a slice of sourdough bread. Set it face down in a medium skillet.
Step 2: Spread Pesto. Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto on the side of the bread without butter, spreading it as evenly as possible.
Step 3: Layer. Top the pesto side with half the mozzarella cheese, then sliced turkey, then chopped spinach. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese on top of the spinach.
Step 4: Complete Assembly. Spread the remaining pesto on one side of the second slice of bread and place it face down onto the sandwich in the skillet, so the mozzarella cheese and the pesto are touching.
Step 5: Griddle Sandwich. Spread the remaining tablespoon of butter on the dry side of the second slice of bread. Heat your turkey sandwich on medium-low until brown and golden, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6: Flip the sandwich, and brown the other side for about 2-3 minutes.
Step 7: Serve & Enjoy! Cut in half, and split with a friend. YUM!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Turkey Pesto Wrap – Replace the sliced sourdough with the large tortilla or wrap of your choosing. You’re welcome to melt the butter in a pan over medium heat if you’d like to griddle the wrap and melt the cheese, or you can skip that step altogether.
- Turkey Pesto Pinwheels – Take the turkey pesto wrap from above, secure it shut with 6-8 evenly spaced toothpicks, then slice into rounds on either side of the toothpicks. A near-instant appetizer!
- Turkey Pesto Sliders – You can also make mini versions of these turkey pesto paninis by swapping out the sourdough slices for small tear-n-share rolls.
- Optional Add-On – I love adding a few sweet roasted red peppers to the mix when I’m craving extra veggies.
Serving Suggestions
This Turkey Pesto Sandwich is fantastic on its own, but why not make a whole meal out of it? Here are a few fun ideas to turn your sandwich into a feast:
- Classic Lunch Combo: Nothing beats the classic combo of a half a sandwich and soup. Try it with a bowl of my rosemary vegetable soup for an added boost of fiber and nutrients.
- Light n’ Lovely Lunch: Toss up a simple mixed greens salad with my favorite basil vinaigrette and some halved cherry tomatoes. It’s light and refreshing, the perfect balance to your hearty sandwich.
- Crunch & Munch: Grab a bag of your favorite kettle chips for some crunch and a bit of saltiness.
- Pickle Party: Serve a mix of pickles—dill, bread & butter, maybe even some spicy ones. Don’t feel limited to cucumbers, either. Pickled red onions, pickled green beans, pickled okra — they all add a fun, tangy kick to each bite.
- Sweet Ending: My hubs and I like to finish our date lunches with something sweet. How about a creamy mango popsicle? It’s refreshing and light, the perfect palate cleanser after your flavorful sandwich.
Recipe Success Tips
- Scale Up. Got a crowd to feed and no time to do it? You can make a family-sized batch of these pesto turkey sandwiches using the sheet pan grilled cheese method.
- Keep it Fresh. Start with high-quality, minimally processed ingredients to keep this turkey and pesto sandwich as healthy as possible.
- No Oven? No problem! You can use your toaster or the microwave to make this grilled pesto turkey panini. All you need is either a handy-dandy microwave panini press for the microwave or a toaster grilled cheese pan or toaster sleeves for your upright toaster.
FAQs
My basil almond pesto is super delicious and is a great alternative to mayo.
I think the best cheese for turkey sandwiches with pesto is mozzarella, though provolone is also a great pick. If you prefer it a bit tangier, try fresh goat cheese instead.
Follow along with my recipe below and you’ll have what I consider to be the crème de la crème of turkey sandwiches!
That’s entirely up to you! If you do want to add tomatoes, make sure they’re good, fresh, in-season tomatoes, not the sad, watery excuses you get in the depths of winter.
Absolutely it does! Pesto actually contains parmesan cheese, so pairing it with other cheeses such as mozzarella is delicious!
Pesto can be added to pasta, salads, sandwiches, chicken, fish, rice, mashed potatoes, and beef, too!
No, you don’t need to heat pesto up to eat it. It can be eaten on cold sandwiches as well, or even straight from the jar!
Yes! To make this into a cold sandwich, skip the butter altogether, don’t toast it, and use sliced cheese instead of shredded so it doesn’t all fall out when you take a bite!
Hot Turkey Pesto Panini Nutrition
This hot turkey and basil pesto sandwich packs a nutritious punch you can feel good about. It is high in protein with 25 grams per sandwich. Plus, with only 164 mg of sodium, it’s a heart-healthy choice that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
The carbs are also pretty reasonable at 40 grams, with 4 grams of fiber to help keep things moving along smoothly in your digestive system. Finally, while it’s a bit higher in calories at 599 per sandwich, it’s incredibly filling—so much so that I usually split it with Tommy!
Total nutritional content per sandwich is:
- Calories: 599 calories
- Protein: 25 grams
- Sodium: 164 mg
- Carbohydrates: 40 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Pricing Info
This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- 2 slices sourdough bread: $0.87
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter: $0.27
- 2 tbsp pesto (homemade): $0.83
- ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella: $0.45
- 3 oz sliced turkey: $1.52
- ⅓ cup baby spinach: $0.36
The total for one sandwich comes out to be around $4.30 or roughly $2.15 per serving!
Other Recipes You Might Like
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
Turkey Pesto Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp pesto
- ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella (divided)
- 3 oz sliced turkey
- ⅓ cup chopped baby spinach
Instructions
- Spread 1 tbsp of butter to the edges of a slice of sourdough bread. Set it face down in a medium skillet.
- Spread 1 tbsp of pesto on the side of the bread without butter, spreading it as evenly as possible.
- Top the pesto side with half the mozzarella cheese, then sliced turkey, then chopped spinach. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese on top of the spinach.
- Spread the remaining pesto on one side of the second slice of bread and place it face down onto the sandwich in the skillet, so the mozzarella cheese and the pesto are touching.
- Spread the remaining tbsp of butter on the dry side of the second slice of bread. Heat your turkey sandwich on medium-low until brown and golden, about 2-3 minutes.
- Flip the sandwich, and brown the other side for about 2-3 minutes. Cut in half, and split with a friend!
Video
Nutrition
If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
This easy turkey pesto sandwich is what lunch dreams are made of! You’re definitely going to love upping your grilled cheese game and making this turkey pesto sandwich soon!
xoxo Megan
Joe says
The line about usually eating whatever you’re photographing that day made me smile—it’s such a honest, relatable peek behind the recipe.
Spillt User says
Okay I love arugula, it’s one of my very favorite ingredients so I was drawn to this recipe for that reason. I can’t quite piece together why, but it comes across very bitter instead of peppery/zesty in this flavor profile. It could be that it should be added in after the sandwich is hot-pressed? I did find that by adding some acid (squeeze of lemon, lemon hummus, mayo, etc) it was more balanced, and I’ll be doing that if I make this again!