Smoked Turkey Club Panini
These smoked turkey club paninis are a miraculous combination of spinach between bacon, bread and cheese and then grilled to perfection.
Simple as simple gets, this fabulous smoked turkey club panini has been on the dinner table in our home at least thrice in the last two weeks.
Equal parts because it is quick and easy (soccer, baseball season!) but also because the flavors of the smoked turkey, meaty bacon, sun-dried tomato mayo and heartiness of the spinach make for an absolute homerun of a panini.
If I could be in love with a sandwich, it would be this one. Plus, I love knowing my kids are gobbling down spinach like it’s nobody’s business. Miracles happen when spinach is couched between bacon, bread and cheese.
By the way, Happy Father’s Day (coming up!) to all you papas out there (um, do any males besides my loyal father-in-law read this blog??). I hope the kids in your life treat you well this weekend!
If you are cooking for a certain father in your life, here are a few Father’s Day meal ideas based solely on what my own husband (father to our four boys) loves.
Check out the Recipe Index for inspiration suited toward the tastes of your own father/husband.
Breakfast:
Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls
Baked Blueberry Pecan French Toast
Dinner:
Succulent Steak
Glazed Mini Meatloaves
Italian Meatball Subs
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Chili Verde
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Dessert:
Chocolate Chip Cake
Coconut Tres Leches Cake
Double Chocolate Mousse Torte
Heath Bar Cake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Squares
Cookie Dough Topped Brownies
What to Serve With This
- Amazing Shrapnel Dip and chips
- Apple slices and Honey-Yogurt Dip
- Tomato and avocado slices
- Hard Boiled Eggs
One Year Ago: Oatmeal Coconut Chewies
Two Years Ago: Lemon Pudding Cake
Three Years Ago: Pineapple Meatballs
Smoked Turkey Club Panini
Ingredients
- 8-12 slices bacon
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, rinsed, patted dry and minced
- ⅓ cup light mayonnaise
- 8 slices thick-cut crusty bread
- ½ pound thinly sliced deli Swiss cheese
- ½ pound thinly sliced deli smoked turkey
- 3 cups baby spinach or arugula
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crisp. You can use a skillet or use the microwave, placing the bacon in a single layer on a paper-towel lined plate, cover with paper towels and microwave for about 5 minutes (repeating the process if all the bacon doesn’t fit the first round). In a small bowl, combine the sun-dried tomatoes and mayonnaise.
- Lightly spread butter over one side of each bread. Lay the butter-sides down on a cutting board or work area. Spread each slice with the sun-dried tomato mayonnaise. Layer half of the cheese on 4 slices of bread then top with turkey, bacon, spinach (or arugula) and remaining cheese. Top with remaining bread, butter side up.
- Cook the sandwiches on a panini press, skillet or grill pan heated on medium heat for one minute prior to cooking. I use an indoor grill pan for my paninis but a skillet would work just as well. I place 2-3 sandwiches (depending on the size of the sandwich) in the grill pan and weigh the sandwiches down with a heavy pot (you can also use a foil-covered brick or similar object). Cook the sandwiches for about 4-5 minutes per side, until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Cook’s Country June/July 2010
So so so good! Thank you for the recipe!
Wow! This recipe is a home run! My family loved it. We didn’t have any leftovers, so I will be making again. GREAT flavor combo!
We eat a lot of your recipes, but I had to comment on this one! Made it on a night when we needed something quick and easy and this was perfect. Everyone loved it!!!
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Is there a way to make these without a Panini maker???
do you have the nutrional values for this Panini?
Thank you,
Kim
Kim – I do not. Sorry!
This is one awesome sandwich. Lately I love the panini. This one is awesome. I added some fresh basil to the mayo mixture and it was so yum. I used the torta sandwich rolls from Costco….oh heaven. I will be making this a lot! I made your chicken kebabs this week as well and loved those. Thanks for sharing and little camryn is so cute…hope you are enjoying her.
If you dont have a panini press, a bacon press can be used. Its flat with a handle which sits atop the bacon on the griddle as it fries to keep it flat.
So good and simple to put together on a busy night. I used roasted red peppers instead and it was a great substitute.
Thanks!
Delicious weeknight dinner that we grabbed and ate on the way to soccer practice. I used roasted red peppers in place of the sun dried tomatoes because we like peppers better but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Loved how crispy the bread was and how the warm and gooey the cheese makes the sandwich. Really good!
I thought my favorite thing about this post was the delicious panini, then I saw your father-in-law’s comment–love it!!
We are huge panini eaters in the summer. I always need new ideas and this one sounds delish.
I like the sundried tomato mayo…. but I’ve had a similar sandwich with a pesto mayo and it was ABSOLUTELY amazing. By far on of my favorites (however, when I do a three-layer club, I do put the sundried on one slice and the pesto on another. I use swiss on one and provolone on the other. Or a good harvarti. mmmmm makes me SOOOOO hungry!! Oh yeah- and I sub spinach for arugula and add red onion slices.
i like the sun-dried tomato mayo idea–you’ve actually gone and made mayo appealing to me! 🙂
Great timing! I made these today for Father’s Day lunch … my husband LOVED his panini. Great blend of flavors, so easy to make, and great with a side of fruit. YUM! Thank you for another great recipe!
Oh, Mel, I want that NOW and definitely with the bacon.
I’m thinking my next appliance purchase will be a panini maker.
I always get super excited when I have sandwiches like this…it’s funny…I forget how great a toasted sandwich is…till I see a picture like this. Gaaah, I’m starting to get hungry!
Add some sliced avocado and I’m sold!
This is the ultimate sandwich – love!
Made these tonight and let me tell ya- A HIT! I used provolone instead of swiss but my kids just loved it. They even ate the spinach which shocked me (no complaining, like usual). Thanks again for a great dinner idea!
Sundried tomato mayo!?! YUM!
Monday is panini day at our house I you can take one guess at what I will be serving. I hope I can wait that long to try these.
Mel- I came back to comment on the panini (TO DIE FOR, as all of your recipes are), and saw your father-in-law’s comment above. Seriously…how cute is he? I’ve never met him, but I love him because he is supportive of you, his DIL, and he let’s you call him Pops! 😉 Very, very sweet! 🙂
I’m famous! I’m famous! I’m faaammmooouuusss!!!
I got mentioned in Mel’s blog.
Your ever loyal father-in-law …
Pops
This looks absolutely delicious. It’s only 10:30 am and I’m ready for lunch after seeing this! I was headed off to run errands anyway, so I think a George Foreman grill is in my future too.
Love the George Foreman grill for Panini’s. This looks delish. We eat panini’s at least once a week here in warm Arizona during the summer. Yum!! I’ll be trying this soon.
Love panini…it always puts a smile on my face!
It sounds terrific! Great call with the sundried tomato mayo. 🙂
There is nothing better than a panini….Every time I see one, eat one, set beside one….I just get all warm-n-fuzzy inside. What a great sandwich.
Very nice construction. We don’t own a panini press, but have various ways to put a weight on sandwiches (foil and the teakettle for example).
How did you know that I was organizing my pantry this week and found my panini maker? It’s been MIA since I moved a year ago, and my daughter has been requesting panini’s. Perfect timing, Mel…I am going to make this for lunch today! Have a great weekend, and Happy Father’s Day to your husband and father-in-law! 🙂