Top to Bottom Turkey and Cheese Bread
This Top to Bottom Turkey and Cheese Bread is what simple comfort food is all about! Crusty French bread is loaded with smoky turkey, sharp cheddar, and a creamy mayo spread, then baked until gooey and golden. Dunk it in a bowl of potato soup, and you’ve got a meal that feels like a warm hug from someone’s mama.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Top to Bottom Ham and Cheese Bread
- Ready In: 25 minutes
- Serves: 4
- Main Ingredients: Loaves crusty French bread, sharp cheddar cheese, mayo, smoked turkey, onion
- Why You'll Love It: Top to Bottom Ham and Cheese Bread is a quick and hearty baked sandwich made with crusty French bread, sharp cheddar, mayo, smoked turkey, and onions. Wrapped in foil and baked until gooey, it’s an easy family-friendly meal or appetizer ready in just 25 minutes.
A Bread Recipe Worth Sharing
My friend Stacey from Southern Bite is the guy I’m pretty sure is my long-lost twin… except that we look nothing alike, have never lived in the same town, and have about 10 years between us. But we do think the same thoughts!
One time, we were at a fancy dinner, and the chef was describing the polenta. I was thinking, “Okay, got it, fancy grits,” when Stacey leaned in and whispered, “Okay, now that would be grits…” I just about shot ice water out my nose.
When I saw this recipe on his food blog, I knew I had to bring it to you, and what makes it even better is that it’s his Mama’s! For years, she always served this gooey deliciousness whenever she made potato soup, and it never really had a name, until his wife dreamt about it one night, calling it “Top to Bottom Ham and Cheese Bread.”
And honestly, that name says it all. From top to bottom, it’s layer after layer of deliciousness. The kind of thing you’ll want to dunk straight into a bowl of soup and never stop eating.
Ingredients
- Crusty French bread
- Sharp cheddar cheese (finely shredded)
- Mayonnaise
- Smoked turkey (thinly sliced)
- Onion (medium-sized is good!)
Tasty Variations to Try
- Instead of smoked turkey, why not try some thinly sliced deli ham or even roast beef? Heck, you could get real wild and mix ’em all together!
- Swap out that sharp cheddar for some pepper jack if you’re feeling a little feisty, or go with provolone for a milder, gooey bite.
- If you like a bit of heat, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce or some sliced jalapeños. Sriracha or chili paste would be mighty fine in there too.
How to Make Top to Bottom Turkey and Cheese Bread
- Start by slicing those loaves of bread in half lengthwise, just like you’re making a giant sandwich.
2. In a bowl, mix together the mayo and shredded cheddar cheese. Go ahead and spread this cheesy mixture on both sides of each loaf.
3. Now, layer on the thinly sliced onion and turkey to your heart’s content. Not everyone in my family is a big fan of onions, so you can leave them off if you want.
4. Wrap your sandwiches up nice and tight in aluminum foil. Bake them in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is perfectly melted and everything is heated through. Enjoy!
My Favorite Soups to Pair with Top to Bottom Turkey and Cheese Bread
This cheesy turkey bread is practically begging to be dipped into a warm bowl of soup. A few of my personal favorite recipes to serve alongside it are my classic French Onion Soup, a hearty Low Carb Vegetable Soup, or my rich Broccoli Beer Cheese Soup. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the traditional pairing my friend Stacey’s mom used to make: a comforting Loaded Potato Soup!
How to Store
You can store any leftover sandwiches in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, wrap them back up in foil and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until they’re nice and warm again.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You bet! Assemble the sandwiches, wrap them in foil, and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. Just add a few extra minutes to the bake time since they’ll be going in cold.
Ingredients
- 2 Loaves crusty French bread
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded
- 1 cup mayo
- 9 oz smoked turkey thinly sliced
- 1/2 medium onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cut the loaves of bread in half lengthwise as if you’re going to make a sandwich.
- Combine the 1 cup mayo and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese in a bowl and spread on both sides of both loaves of bread.
- Place thinly sliced onion and turkey in each sandwich to your liking.
- Wrap sandwiches in aluminum foil and and bake in 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until until cheese is melted and the sandwiches are heated through.
Any suggestions on what to use instead of mayo?? I don’t care for it at all (as in if mayo has even touched my food I refuse to eat it – I’m weird like that)!
Thanks!
Guess what’s for dinner tonight lol….yes, this sandwich!! And to spice it up a bit I will add some Boar’s Head Savory Remoulade Cajun Style Mayonnaise. Yummy!! Thanks so much for this recipe and hope to see more from you Stacey.
Sounds great, Laurie! Great idea. I hope you will see more from me! -hint, hint, Christy! 🙂
Yum! I love ooey gooey hot sandwiches like this! I might be a rebel and change up the kind of cheese and use turkey.
Absolutely! It’s incredibly versatile. Smoked turkey and gouda, ham and provolone, you can even add a few tablespoons of mustard to the mayo/cheese mix to spice it up.
Question for you!! Can you substitute the mayo with something else? I really want to try this, but the mayo is tripping me up. Sour cream? Miracle Whip? Ummm, ranch dressing?
Thanks!
I think you could probably substitute any of those, but I think the ranch would work best. Depending on the thickness of the ranch, you may want to use a little less. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
This looks wonderful – I’m going to try it soon!
Thanks so much Stacey, can’t wait to try it the next time I make potato soup!
OMG! I think I’m willing to ignore the calories & fat grams for this one! Looks divine! Hmmmmm . . . . may have to make a couple up and slice up into small “slider” type sandwiches for the Super Bowl this Sunday!