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Cheddar and Bacon Turkey Melt on Sourdough

Cheddar and bacon turkey melt on sourdough with a crisp, golden toast and cheddar that melts and cascades over the edges. Layered turkey and crispy bacon create a hot, savory sandwich with fresh arugula and tomato at the end.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 860
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sourdough
  • 8 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
Melt filling
  • 12 oz sliced deli turkey breast
  • 8 strips thick-cut bacon cooked and crispy
  • 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Fresh toppings
  • 1 cup arugula or mixed greens
  • 8 slices ripe tomato
Seasoning
  • 0.25 Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the bacon
  1. Cook the thick-cut bacon until crispy, then drain and set aside.
Build the sandwiches
  1. Spread softened unsalted butter on one side of each sourdough bread slice.
  2. Flip the bread over and spread Dijon mustard on half the slices and mayonnaise on the other half.
  3. Layer sliced deli turkey breast, crispy thick-cut bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese on the Dijon mustard side.
Grill and melt
  1. Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat, then place sandwiches butter-side down.
  2. Top with the mayonnaise-spread slices butter-side up.
  3. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until the bread turns golden and the cheddar is fully melted.
Finish and serve
  1. Open each sandwich and add arugula or mixed greens and ripe tomato slices.
  2. Press the sandwiches closed and serve hot.

Notes

For the crispiest melt, keep the heat at medium so the bread browns while the cheddar has time to fully melt. Store assembled sandwiches in the fridge up to 2 days, then reheat in a skillet until hot and melty; freezing isn’t recommended because the greens and bread texture change. For a lighter option, swap thick-cut bacon with turkey bacon and use reduced-fat cheddar.