Thanksgiving Cuban Sandwich

By
MacKenzie Smith
MacKenzie Smith
Recipe developer, food stylist, author, and teacher with a passion for sandwiches. She's behind the popular blog Grilled Cheese Social.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/20/22
Thanksgiving cuban sandwich recipe

The Spruce Eats / Nita West

Prep: 7 mins
Cook: 14 mins
Total: 21 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
855 Calories
22g Fat
108g Carbs
55g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 855
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 29%
Saturated Fat 11g 54%
Cholesterol 103mg 34%
Sodium 1938mg 84%
Total Carbohydrate 108g 39%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 387mg 30%
Iron 8mg 44%
Potassium 511mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The recipe for this Cuban sandwich (aka Cubano) uses Thanksgiving leftovers for a clever way to use up all that turkey that you're bound to have. Turkey takes the place of the customary pork (ham remains) to make an insanely delicious version of the beloved indulgence.

Unlike the traditional crisp and thin version made on a griddle, this hearty holiday rendition is stacked high with thick slices of freshly-roasted turkey breast and sweet honey-baked ham, tart cranberry sauce, dill pickles, yellow mustard, and creamy melted Swiss cheese. No leftover turkey and ham? You can also use your favorite combination of sliced deli meat to the same effect.

This recipe makes one large sandwich, so feel free to share it, or save some for later if you just can't finish it. Wrap any leftovers and keep them in the fridge for a day or so, reheating in the oven to re-crisp it as needed.

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf Cuban bread

  • 3 tablespoons yellow mustard

  • 1/2 cup pickles, chopped

  • 1/4 pound Swiss cheese, sliced

  • 1/2 pound leftover roasted turkey breast, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 pound leftover honey baked ham, thinly sliced

  • 4 tablespoons cranberry jam, or chutney

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

    Ingredients for Thanksgiving cuban sandwich
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  2. Slice the loaf of Cuban bread in half and smother one side with yellow mustard.

    Slice bread
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  3. Add chopped pickles and cover with the slices of Swiss cheese spaced equally apart.

    Add chopped pickles
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  4. Top with the roasted turkey breast, then the honey baked ham.

    Top with turkey
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  5. On the other half of the loaf, smear the cranberry jam and close the sandwich.

    Smear cranberry sauce
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  6. Coat the outside with butter.

    Coat outside with butter
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West 

  7. Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet.

    Wrap sandwich in foil
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  8. Take something heavy like a cast iron skillet or an aluminum-wrapped brick and press the sandwich down.

    Cast iron pan on top of bread
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  9. Put the baking sheet with the wrapped sandwich and heavy item in the oven and cook for about 12 to 16 minutes or until the bread is crisped up and the cheese has melted.

    Cuban sandwich
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

  10. Serve and enjoy!

    Serve and enjoy
    The Spruce Eats / Nita West

Variations

  • If you don't have any Cuban bread on hand, which is typically a little bit sweet, you could use an Italian loaf; a softer French baguette would also be a good substitute. Barring that, you could take it in a different direction altogether and use yeast rolls or muffins.

Tip

  • Cuban sandwiches are typically served with pickles and chips, but for this version, you could serve it with some leftover cranberry sauce.


Do Cuban sandwiches have mayo?

A true Cubano will not have mayonnaise but instead mustard, and usually the bright yellow kind you'd typically put on a hot dog.