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Cheddar and Bacon Turkey Melt on Sourdough

Cheddar and bacon turkey melt on sourdough with a crispy bacon crunch and gooey melted sharp cheddar. Pan-griddled until the sourdough is golden, then finished with fresh arugula and ripe tomato inside the hot melt.
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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: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Bread and toppings
  • 8 sourdough bread
  • 1 cup arugula or mixed greens
  • 8 slices ripe tomato
  • 0.5 Salt and pepper to taste
Meat and cheese
  • 12 oz sliced deli turkey breast
  • 8 strips thick-cut bacon, cooked and crispy
  • 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Spreads and sauce
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 4 tbsp mayonnaise

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Crisp the bacon
  1. Cook the thick-cut bacon until crispy, then drain and set aside.
  2. Keep the bacon warm so it stays crisp while you assemble the sandwiches.
Build the melts
  1. Spread softened 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 bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese on the Dijon 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 sourdough is 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 immediately, with the greens lightly wilted by the heat.

Notes

Pro tip: drain bacon well and cook sandwiches on medium heat so the cheddar melts before the sourdough over-browns. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet to re-crisp. Freezing isn’t recommended because bread texture and greens will soften. Dietary swap: use turkey deli slices lower in sodium and sub part-skim cheddar for a lighter version.