Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey and Cranberry Sauce

A delicious, 300-calorie Thanksgiving leftover sandwich made with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and cream cheese!

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This post is sponsored by Arla.

Once we hit November, I can practically taste Thanksgiving. I look forward to that feast all year long—the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce…all the piiiies! But the very best part about Thanksgiving is that it keeps on giving, in the form of leftovers. Beyond the meal itself, there are so many sandwiches to be made, my friends.

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce Recipe

A proper Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is hard to beat. Everyone might have their own, but the essentials are usually the same: turkey + stuffing + cranberry sauce. In the past, I’ve spread mayonnaise on my bread to add creaminess, but at 90 calories per tablespoon, mayo isn’t exactly doing me any favors when the rest of the sandwich ingredients are already pretty calorie-dense (looking at you, stuffing).

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This year, I’m going to switch it up and use my other favorite spread—Arla Original cream cheese. You know I can’t get enough of stuff, and it just so happens to be naturally lighter than mayo. The idea came to me after a party I attended not too long ago, where one of the appetizers served was a savory-sweet spread for crackers that combined cream cheese and cranberry sauce. It was rich, creamy, and tart—and yup, absolutely addictive. I had to recreate the flavor combo again, starting with my Thanksgiving leftover sandwich.

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I’m so glad I did. Even though I love mayo, using cream cheese here proves to be a richer and creamier choice. The sweetness of the cranberry sauce balances the natural tang of the cream cheese so that all you notice is a smooth, velvety texture. Tablespoon for tablespoon, Arla Original cream cheese is the lighter, better-for-me choice, too. A tablespoon of Arla cream cheese has 40 calories and 3.5 grams of fat, while one tablespoon of regular mayonnaise has 90 calories and 10 grams of fat. And, I know I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating, Arla is made from only four simple and natural ingredients: cream, milk, cheese culture and salt.

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Now, for the rest of the sandwich: I chose to use an english muffin as my base to help keep the portions in check (hey, there’s only so much you can stuff into a muffin!). And at ~130 calories, one english muffin is certainly lower in calories than 2 slices of bread. Once toasted, I topped it with cream cheese, cranberry sauce (a tablespoon is all you need), a few slices of white meat roasted turkey, a small mound of stuffing, and some alfalfa sprouts for healthy greens. Voila—all of most delicious parts of the feast for only 297 calories!

This is exactly what I’ll be making with my Thanksgiving leftovers and I hope you will, too!

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey and Cranberry Sauce

A delicious, 300-calorie Thanksgiving leftover sandwich made with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and cream cheese!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: sandwich
Cuisine: American
Keyword: low calorie thanksgiving leftover sandwich, thanksgiving leftover sandwich, turkey sandwich recipe
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 297kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 english muffins
  • 2 tablespoons Arla Original Cream Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
  • 4 ounces roasted turkey breast white meat only
  • cup prepared stuffing warmed

Instructions

  • Split and toast the english muffins.
  • On a clean work surface, lay the muffins cut side-up and divide the cream cheese on 2 of the muffin halves. Divide the cranberry sauce on the other 2 (dry) muffin halves.
  • Divide the stuffing, turkey breast, and alfalfa sprouts evenly among the muffin halves that have been topped with cranberry sauce (the sandwich will be less messy to eat if the cranberry sauce is on the bottom). Top with the halves covered with cream cheese. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.6g | Protein: 19.6g | Fat: 6.3g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 7.7g
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10 thoughts on “Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey and Cranberry Sauce

  1. Hillary

    Hi Andie,
    I don’t mean this is an attack, at all. I know that bloggers need to have a balanced of sponsored/unsponsored content to earn a living. However, it seems like the vast majority of your posts are now sponsored. I know your coffee date ones aren’t technically sponsored, but a lot of the type they’re just a round up of links and some affiliate links :(
    Has something changed in your business model? I guess I just don’t feel like this blog is the genuine YOU it used to be.
    Faithful reader,
    Hillary

    Reply
    1. Andie Mitchell Post author

      Hi Hillary,

      Thank you for reading and for your comment. Generally, I find that readers come to my blog for one of three reasons: healthy recipes, weight loss advice/inspiration, or they like reading about my life. I feel like I have a pretty extensive range of weight loss posts for interested readers already, and I’m currently working on a new book about that subject, so that’s why there are much fewer of those posts. I use the coffee date posts to connect more with readers on the lifestyle front, and if I share smaller personal things going on in my life now, I sometimes use Instagram since it seems like a better place for little things like that. As for the healthy recipes, I think sponsored posts are kind of a win-win. I can work with brands I like, earn more from from those posts, and get some direction on a new recipe while creating good content for the people who come here for that. I know the blog has evolved over time and I think over the next couple years as my life changes (moving back to Massachusetts, buying a house, getting married, hopefully having children) and I have more things to share and talk about I think the blog will naturally become more personal again.

      I thank you so much for reading, and hopefully I will have more of the content you like in the future!
      -Andie

      Reply
      1. Hillary

        Thanks for the response Andie. I appreciate you explaining your rationale with sponsored posts. I would love to see more personal in the future and look forward to hearing all about the exciting life changes ahead!! I will keep reading.

        Could you do something with the winter squashes that are popping up all over? I have a butternut, kabocha (seriously no idea what to do here) and handful of acorns at home without direction. Pinterest is just too overwhelming haha!

        Thanks
        Hillary

        Reply
  2. Pingback: Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich with Turkey and Cranberry Sauce

  3. Judy

    HI Andie,

    I use English muffins for tuna but had not thought of using them with turkey and I have never put stuffing on a sandwich. It all look wonderful though. Guess it is time to get some muffins in the freezer.

    You are a blessing to me. Happy Thanksgiving. Your first married Thanksgiving. Lots of firsts in the year ahead. So happy for the two of you.
    Judy

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers | Natalie in the Northwest

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