Thanksgiving Turkey Patty Melt with Cranberry Onion Jam

Turkey Melt with Cranberry Onion Jam on plate.

Thanksgiving Turkey Patty Melt with Cranberry Onion Jam

Juicy turkey patties layered with gooey melted cheese and tucked between crispy toasted sourdough bread, then topped with a cranberry–caramelized onion jam that hits all the right notes: tangy, sweet, and deeply savory.

Course Sandwich

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1

Servings

Calories 1169kcal

Author Kylie Mazon-Chambers

Ingredients

For the cranberry onion jam:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
Kosher salt, as needed

For the patty melt:

1½ pounds ground turkey
Kosher salt, as needed
Freshly ground black pepper, as needed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 slices sourdough bread
10 ounces fontina cheese
2 cups wild arugula

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the cranberry onion jam:

Add the olive oil to the pan and heat through. Add the onions and toss quickly to remove the moisture from the onions. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and start to brown.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are light brown and begin to caramelize, about 20 minutes.
Add the vinegar, sugar and cranberries and continue to cook until the cranberries have burst, about an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Let cool before serving.

For the patty melt:

Form the meat into 4 equal oval, bread-shaped patties and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and heat through. Working 2 patties at a time, add to the pan and cook until a browned crust forms, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue to sear until cooked through, about an additional 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside, covered on a plate. Repeat with the remaining patties.
Wipe out the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add 1 tablespoon (14g) of butter and allow to melt. Working in batches, add 2 slices of bread to the pan, top each with about 1 ounce of the cheese (30g). Cook until the cheese melts, about 3 minutes, then add a turkey patty on one half, topped with a spoonful of caramelized onions.
Add the other slice of bread with melted cheese over the top to close the sandwich, pressing with the back of the spatula to help everything stick. Remove from the pan.
Repeat with the remaining sandwiches and toppings. Open the sandwich and add a handful of arugula, then close and slice in half and serve.

Notes

While I love using ground turkey patties you can always swap for slices of leftover roasted turkey for a flavorful way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.

Nutrition