Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsDaisy Dukes French QuarterHomemade Turkey Recipe

Homemade Turkey Recipe

Time1h 30m
Serves4

Discover our delectable Homemade Turkey Sandwich featuring slow-roasted hand pulled turkey, no sliced cold cuts here, and topped with provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. A fresh and satisfying choice!

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Ingredients

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Roasted Turkey (hand-pulled)

Method

Roasted Turkey (hand-pulled)

  1. 1

    Preheat and prepare

    Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels. If skin-on, leave skin to help keep moisture; if skinless, oil the surface lightly.

  2. 2

    Season

    Rub the turkey breast all over with olive oil. Combine kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme in a small bowl and rub evenly over the turkey.

  3. 3

    Roast

    Place the turkey breast in a roasting pan or ovenproof dish. Pour 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth (or water) into the pan to keep the environment moist. Roast uncovered in the preheated oven until the internal temperature reaches 155–160°F (about 20–25 minutes per pound; for 2 lbs anticipate ~45–50 minutes).

  4. 4

    Rest

    Remove the turkey from the oven when it hits 155–160°F. Tent loosely with foil and let rest for 15–20 minutes; carryover heat will bring it to a safe 165°F and redistribute juices.

  5. 5

    Hand-pull

    Using two forks or clean hands, shred the rested turkey into pulled pieces. If desired, toss gently with 1–2 tablespoons of reserved pan juices for extra moisture. Season to taste with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Sandwich assembly

  1. 6

    Prepare produce

    Slice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Thinly slice the red onion into rings. Tear or trim lettuce leaves to fit rolls. Lightly season tomato slices with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper; set aside.

  2. 7

    Toast rolls (optional)

    If toasting, slice rolls horizontally. Brush cut sides with melted butter (about 1/2 tablespoon per roll) and toast in a skillet or under a broiler until lightly golden (1–2 minutes) — watch closely to avoid burning.

  3. 8

    Assemble sandwiches

    Spread about 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise on the bottom half of each roll (adjust to taste). Pile roughly 6–8 ounces of pulled turkey per sandwich (about 150–225 g) onto the mayo. Top the turkey with two slices of provolone per sandwich so the cheese covers the meat evenly. Add 2 leaves of lettuce, 2–3 tomato slices, and a few rings of red onion. Spread a little more mayo on the top half of the roll if desired, then close the sandwich.

  4. 9

    Finish

    If you prefer melted cheese, place assembled open sandwiches under a broiler for 1–2 minutes to melt the provolone before adding lettuce and tomato. Serve immediately while warm.

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