Air Fryer

Spicy Turkey Panini

Name: Spicy Turkey Panini with Pear and Cheddar Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 2 ciabatta bread rolls (sliced in half OR 4 slices sourdough bread); Olive oil; ¼ cup chipotle mayo; 6 ounces sliced roast turkey; 1 pear (sliced); 1 Jalapeño pepper; Handful of arugula; 4 ounces sliced sharp Cheddar cheese (about 4 to 6 slices)

This might be my favorite turkey sandwich ever. It's a great way to use up leftover turkey breast, but it makes roasting a small turkey breast worthwhile all on its own.

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One spicy turkey panini cut open with a whole one in the background.

The Sandwich That Has It All

This Spicy Turkey Panini really does have it all. It has luscious, moist turkey breast. It has sharp Cheddar cheese. It has bright and peppery arugula. It has sweet pear slices, creamy, spicy chipotle mayo and… wait for it… raw, crunchy and spicy Jalapeño pepper slices. Wait! Stop! Don’t let the Jalapeño scare you off! Jalapeños are not too hot, especially when thinly sliced and then sandwiched with Cheddar, sweet pear, creamy mayo and turkey to shoulder the spice. It won’t be too much for you, but the crunch and the gentle spice they deliver makes this sandwich something special.

A cutting board with the ingredients for a spicy turkey panini on it.

Leftover Turkey (if you have it)

This sandwich is a perfect way to use up leftover turkey breast if it happens to be just after Thanksgiving or Christmas. However, it’s worth cooking a small turkey breast just for this sandwich. You can find small turkey breasts year round in the supermarket and I don’t know why we would reserve a delicious roast turkey breast for just one or two times a year. I cook my turkey breast seasoned with salt, pepper and thyme in the air fryer oven – a 3 pound turkey breast will take about 45 minutes at 350˚F – and then slice.

Four images showing how to assemble a spicy turkey panini.

Build Your Sandwich

You can really build the sandwich any way you like, but I tend to think things through when I make a sandwich. I put any ingredient that is wet (in this case, the pears) in the center, away from the bread. I also try to think of cheese as glue, keeping the sandwich together. In this sandwich, I want to keep those slices of Jalapeño from falling out, so I put the cheese on top to glue them into place.

Two images of sandwiches in an air fryer basket - one showing two sandwiches with cheese on top and one with the cheese melted.

Press or Toast your Panini

If you have a panini press, you could build the sandwich all the way and then press it to toast it and warm it up. Alternatively, you could pop the almost-fully-assembled sandwiches into the air fryer before you add the arugula and just melt the cheese properly over everything. This will also warm the turkey if it has come out of your fridge and the heat also enhances the sweet notes in the pear.

Looking down on one turkey panini made and one ready to be topped with a second slice of bread.

Arugula or Other Greens

Arugula might be my favorite leafy green. I love it’s peppery flavor and that seemed to fit perfectly with this Spicy Turkey Panini recipe. If you don’t like or don’t have arugula, however, you can use any green you have. Butter lettuce, green or red leaf lettuce, Bibb…whatever you have.

Two spicy turkey paninis on plates with a glass of beer.

Need Anything Else?

Does this Spicy Turkey Panini need an accompaniment? I don’t really think so. A sweet pickle is nice. If you’re sharing, perhaps a cup of carrot orange soup would be nice alongside. Me? I’m just going for the whole sandwich myself!

Spicy Turkey Panini with Pear and Cheddar Cheese

Nutrition Info Print Recipe

Prep Time: 10 m
Cook Time: 7 m
Total Time: 17 m
Servings:
2

Ingredients

2 ciabatta bread rolls sliced in half OR 4 slices sourdough bread
Olive oil
¼ cup chipotle mayo
6 ounces sliced roast turkey
1 pear sliced
1 Jalapeño pepper
Handful of arugula
4 ounces sliced sharp Cheddar cheese about 4 to 6 slices

Instructions

Brush the cut sides of the ciabatta rolls with a little olive oil and toast in your air fryer or in a skillet on the stovetop until browned. Alternately, brush one side of your sourdough slices with oil and toast in the air fryer or on the stovetop in a skillet.
Spread the chipotle mayo on both halves of the bread rolls or on all the slices of bread. Layer the thinly sliced roast turkey, pear, sliced Jalapeño and Cheddar cheese on two of the bread slices or on the bottom of the ciabatta rolls. Transfer the stacks into the air fryer and air-fry at 400˚F for 2 minutes to melt the cheese (or pop them under the broiler to the same effect). Then top with the arugula and the other half of the bread roll and press firmly down. Slice in half and serve.

Enjoy,

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