TikTok's 'Sandwich King' Owen Han Says You'll Want to Make Extra Turkey and Stuffing to Recreate His Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich

11/27/2024 03:01 PM

"This sandwich hits all the notes — every bite is absolutely delicious," says the TikTok food creator

When looking for Thanksgiving leftover sandwich inspiration, Owen Han is your guy.

"When people think about leftover Thanksgiving turkey, it elicits concerns about dry, under-seasoned or tasteless meat. This sandwich quells those worries," says TikTok's go-to sandwich chef. "When you try it, you'll be purposefully cooking more turkey and stuffing than you need on Thanksgiving just to have plenty of leftovers for this recipe."

In Han's sub, leftover stuffing gets baked into chip-like crisps to add extra texture (and Thanksgiving flair) to each bite.

Related: Pitmaster Erica Blaire Roby Makes Barbecue Pulled Turkey Sandwiches with Leftover Cranberry Sauce

"This sandwich hits all the notes—every bite is absolutely delicious," says the author of the new sandwich cookbook Stacked. "When you pair the basil pesto, red onion, peppers and chile mayo with leftover stuffing and roast turkey, you get a truly textured and well-balanced sandwich, every bite of which is absolutely delicious. "

Owen Han's Turkey Crunch Sandwich with Pesto & Spicy Mayo

2 medium garlic cloves, crushed and peeled

1 cup (1 oz.) packed fresh basil leaves

¼ cup pine nuts

½ cup (1¾ oz.) plus 1 tsp. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp. plus a pinch fine sea salt, divided

½ cup mayonnaise

1 Tbsp. crushed Calabrian chiles plus 1 tsp. of oil from 1 (10-oz.) jar

1 cup packed leftover stuffing

4 sourdough bread slices, lightly toasted

10 oz. leftover turkey, thinly sliced

2 (¼-in.-thick) red onion slices, separated into rings

2 Tbsp. mild or hot pickled banana pepper rings

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Process garlic in a food processor until minced, about 30 seconds. Add basil, pine nuts and ½ cup of the cheese; process until basil is minced, 15 to 30 seconds. With processor running, gradually pour oil through food chute; process until thick and smooth, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Season with pepper and ¼ teaspoon of the salt.

2. Stir together mayonnaise, Calabrian chiles and chile oil in a small bowl. Cover; chill until ready to use.

3. Break stuffing up into smaller, flat pieces, roughly the size of chips (shape by hand, or roll out between two pieces of parchment paper). Arrange pieces in a single layer on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Lightly brush with olive oil; sprinkle with a pinch of salt and remaining 1 teaspoon cheese. Bake in preheated oven until crispy and golden, 15 to 20 minutes, flipping pieces halfway through.

4. For each sandwich, spread 1 tablespoon of pesto on a slice of bread. Top with half of the turkey, crispy stuffing, onion and banana peppers. Spread a second slice of bread with 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise mixture; place on top of sandwich. Serve with extra pesto and spicy mayonnaise.

Makes: 2

Active time: 35 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes