Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Whip up a hearty and indulgent meal with this easy Turkey Devonshire Sandwich recipe! It’s an incredible combination of tender turkey slices, crispy bacon, juicy tomato, and creamy cheese sauce, on perfectly toasted bread. This Pittsburgh classic is more than just an open-faced sandwich – it’s a comforting and satisfying meal that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a decadent weekend brunch.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
What is Turkey Devonshire?
The Devonshire sandwich is a hot open-faced sandwich made of slices of turkey, crisp bacon, and slices of tomato, all covered in a tasty cheese sauce before being popped into the oven to become bubbly and toasty.
This is the perfect hot turkey sandwich to make for brunch the day after Thanksgiving when you have leftover turkey.
History of the Turkey Devonshire Sandwich
The Devonshire sandwich originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1930s. This delicious sandwich was created by Frank Blandi, who first served it at The Stratford Club in the Shadyside neighborhood.
The name for this sandwich came to Blandi when he ran the Lemont Restaurant in the Mount Washington neighborhood. Looking down at the city of Pittsburgh, he could see Devonshire Street, and he thought that would make a good name for a sandwich.
The Turkey Devonshire recipe was such a success that Blandi had to make the sauce in five-gallon batches! The basic ingredients of the original Devonshire were slices of turkey and strips of crispy bacon. However, Blandi went on to offer variations on the main theme (the cheese sauce) with chicken, crab, shrimp, and asparagus.
Origin Possibly Comes From the Kentucky Hot Brown
The Turkey Devonshire Sandwich is similar to the Kentucky Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich, which originated at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY. The main difference is in the cheese – the Hot Brown is usually made with parmesan, romano, or Swiss, while an authentic Turkey Devonshire is made with cheddar.
Why You Should Try This Turkey Devonshire Recipe
If you are into satisfying hearty sandwiches, this recipe for Turkey Devonshire is hard to beat. And this is the perfect sandwich to make for brunch the day after Thanksgiving when you have leftover turkey. The cheese sauce is the star of this sandwich. Say goodbye to boring leftover turkey sandwiches!
Best Turkey Devonshire Recipe – Ingredients You Will Need
For this recipe for Turkey Devonshire, you will need a few simple ingredients:
Cheese Sauce
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Chicken broth
- Milk
- Cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
Sandwich
- Italian bread
- Turkey breast (thin slices)
- Bacon
- Tomato
- Paprika
Bread: This sandwich works best when made with hearty bread. Thinly-sliced Italian bread or sourdough both work well.
How to Make Turkey Devonshire
This Turkey Devonshire recipe is easy to make. Here are the steps:
Cheese Sauce
- Melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add all the cheeses and whisk or stir until melted.
- Add the flour and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add the chicken broth and milk and stir until the sauce thickens. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired (note there will be saltiness with the bacon).
Sandwich
- Set the oven to broil.
- Toast the bread and place 2 pieces of the toasted bread in a pie pan or individual oven-proof casserole dish.
- Top the slice of toast with half of the turkey and 2 slices of tomato.
- Ladle half the cheese sauce over the sandwich.
- Sprinkle with paprika.
- Place 2 slices of bacon over the cheese sauce.
- Broil until the cheese begins to brown (light golden brown).
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Recipe Notes
- You can add a couple of dashes of hot sauce to the cheese if desired.
- You can substitute the Cheddar cheese with provolone or gruyere.
- Tomatoes may be omitted.
What to Serve With Turkey Devonshire Sandwich
This is not the type of sandwich you pick up with your hands to eat – clearly, a knife and fork are required here! It is also a very hearty and filling sandwich. All you really need to make a complete meal is to add a salad. However, if you want more heartiness, serve it up with some French fries or potato wedges.
How to Store Leftover Devonshire Sandwiches
Refrigerator: You can keep cooked Turkey Devonshire sandwiches in the fridge for around 3 days.
Freezer: Place leftovers in a freezer bag, remove excess air, and freeze for up to 3months.
More Hearty Sandwich Recipes
Are you looking for more hearty sandwiches? Here are some great ones to make. And, please let me know if you have a favorite sandwich recipe to share.
- Best Ever Sloppy Joes
- Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwich
- Ham Sandwich Spread
- Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Tuna Melt Sandwich
Wonder what other sandwiches to make with leftover turkey? Here are 35 leftover turkey sandwich ideas.
Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
- Baked Creamed Corn
- Best Deep Fried Turkey Recipe
- Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes
- Green Beans Wrapped in Bacon
- Pan Fried Potato Slices
- Panera Bread Mac and Cheese
- Pumpkin Bisque
- Turkey Legs
You can find lots of easy sandwich recipes and the best Thanksgiving dinner recipes here on CopyKat!
Turkey Devonshire Sandwich
Enjoy this classic sandwich that is well-known in Pittsburg.This open-faced turkey sandwich is piled with sliced turkey, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and a rice cheese sauce.
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Armstrong’s Turkey Devonshire Sandwich, Turkey Devonshire Sandwich
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 1423kcal
Author: Stephanie Manley
Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese sharp cheddar recommended
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Sandwich
- 4 slices Italian bread lightly toasted
- 1/2 pound turkey breast
- 4 slices tomato
- 1 dash paprika
- 4 slices bacon cooked
Instructions
Cheese Sauce
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add the flour and cook for about 1 minute, until the flour begins to smell nutty.
Add the chicken broth and milk and stir until the sauce thickens.
Add the cheeses and stir until melted.
Remove from the heat and stir occasionally as you assemble the sandwiches to prevent a skin from forming on top of the sauce.
Sandwich
Set the oven to broil.
Place 2 pieces of toasted bread in a pie pan. The 2 pieces of bread will form 1 open-faced sandwich.
Top the bread with ¼ pound of turkey and 2 slices of tomato.
Ladle some of the cheese sauce over the sandwich and sprinkle with paprika.
Place 2 slices of bacon crisscrossed over the cheese sauce and broil until the cheese begins to brown.
Repeat for the second sandwich.
Transfer the sandwich to a plate and serve.
Notes
You can add a couple of dashes of hot sauce to the cheese if desired.
Tomatoes may be omitted.
Nutrition
Calories: 1423kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 106g | Saturated Fat: 58g | Cholesterol: 300mg | Sodium: 2327mg | Potassium: 964mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 2592IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 1129mg | Iron: 4mg
