Turkey & Apple Panini

Craving a bistro-quality sandwich that you can make in your own kitchen? This Turkey & Apple Panini is about as good as good gets! With well-balanced flavors, it’s a hearty sandwich that’s tasty, moist, and filled with textures, colors, and flavors! Hungry? Read on and I, Chef Jenn, will show you how to make amazing panini recipes at home!

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Turkey, sage, and apple go sooo well together, and this amazing Turkey & Apple Panini is hot, hearty, and the perfect turkey sandwich recipe to enjoy along with a brimming bowlful of soup. It’s not hard to make, and you can scale this recipe to make as many as you need.

What You Need To Make Turkey & Apple Panini

• Panini press – see the notes below
• Sliced bread – Any bread will work; I recommend good-quality bakery bread, cut slightly thicker than normal slices (see my notes below).
• Sharp cheddar cheese – I prefer sharp cheddar for the flavor punch, but mild works if you want it gentler.
• Sliced deli turkey or leftover turkey breast – Leftover roasted turkey works well; deli turkey is convenient.
• Apple – I like a green apple for tartness; Fuji or Honeycrisp are safe substitutes if you prefer sweeter.
• Apple butter – Adds sweetness and moisture; you can swap with pear butter if needed.
• Fresh sage – Adds aromatic flavor; dried sage works, but use about half the amount.
• Butter – I use salted butter, but unsalted works if you adjust the seasoning.

What’s a Panini Press?

Panini sandwiches are grilled sandwiches, but unlike regular grilled sammiches, panini are pressed to compact all the flavors in them. And, with signature griddle grooves, panini sandwiches offer buttery and toasty flavor through and through.

You could just griddle this sandwich in a skillet or on a Blackstone Griddle, but to make it a toasty panini, you need a special panini press.

I love this Cuisinart model – it folds wide open to act as a griddle, or it closes up like a clamshell to press the panini sandwiches making them hot and fabulous through and through. I won’t ever buy a device that only does one thing – and the Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler is used sooo often in my house!

What Kind of Bread Do you Use to Make Panini Sandwiches?

The short answer is that any bread will work. However, to get the full panini sandwich experience and to put this Turkey & Apple Panini over the top, use a good-quality bakery bread and cut it a little thicker than normal sandwich slices. You’ll need a total of 4 slices of bread. My favorites include:

• Sourdough
• Rustic French bread
• Ciabatta
• Multigrain
• Whole-grain bread

How to Make Turkey & Apple Panini

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Start by preheating your panini press according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I like using a press with a ridged grill plate because it gives the bread perfect crispy lines.

Butter one side of each slice of bread. I like using a small silicone spatula to spread an even layer from edge to edge. Use enough to get a golden crisp without making the sandwich greasy.

Place the bread butter side down on a cutting board or plate. Spread a layer of apple butter on the unbuttered side. This adds a subtle sweetness that pairs beautifully with the turkey.

Layer the cheese, thinly sliced apple, turkey, and fresh sage on the bread.

Top with a slice of buttered bread, buttered side facing out.

Place the sandwich on the panini press and close the lid firmly but not so hard that the filling squishes out. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.

Slice and dig in. Enjoy every warm, melty bite with the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• This is a hearty sandwich so make sure you use hearty bread to hold up to all the fillings!
• Sage can have a strong flavor. If you don’t like the fresh leaves, just sprinkle on a wee bit of dried sage. A little goes a long way, but the flavor combination really is terrific so don’t skip the sage unless you must.
• You can leave the apple peel on, but thinly slice the cored apple. Thick slices will take too long to heat through. They should be about 1/8-inch thick or so.
• Make your own apple butter or use your favorite store brand. No apple butter? Try maple mayonnaise for a touch of sweetness that’ll pair nicely if you use roasted turkey.
• I love this sandwich with leftover roasted turkey making this an amazing leftover turkey sandwich. Deli-sliced turkey will work, too.
• No turkey? Try this amazing apple sandwich with chicken!

What To Serve With Turkey & Apple Panini

Soup and sandwich are a perfect combination, and boy have I got some tasty soup recipe for you! This Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup is creamy and the flavors will really complement the turkey sandwich, or try a brothy soup like this Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken or stovetop chicken noodle soup. If you’re making these paninis around the holidays, finish your meal with a bite of Christmas Fudge!

Frequently Asked Questions