Bravo Turkey and Bacon Sandwich Recipe Copycat Panera

There’s just something about a turkey sandwich for lunch that’s so satisfying: it fills you up and hits the spot every time. This Bravo Panera Turkey and Bacon Sandwich, developed by Kate Shungu, transforms a traditional lunch favorite into something restaurant-worthy. It has all the fixings of a turkey sandwich (lettuce, tomato, cheese), plus crispy bacon and a mayonnaise-based bravo sauce for added heat.

Since a tomato-flavored sandwich loaf, like Panera’s Tomato Basil Loaf, is not a very common find in most grocery stores, we took the liberty of substituting tomato focaccia in this recipe. Any type of focaccia is good here, or you can use your favorite sandwich bread. For example, thickly sliced ​​sourdough is a good substitute.

You can easily prepare the bravo sauce, slice the tomatoes and crisp the bacon in advance. So come lunchtime, put it together and enjoy. Kettle chips or an apple on the side are a nod to a Panera-style experience. Or serve it with a cup of Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup or Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup to truly bring the restaurant to your table at home.

Read more: The Most Unique Chip Flavors Ever Hit Store Shelves

Gather the ingredients for this Copycat Panera Turkey and Bacon Bravo Sandwich

The base of the sandwich is tomato focaccia (or use your favorite sliced ​​sandwich bread). We will add roasted turkey, slices of white cheddar, bacon, tomato and lettuce. That finishing touch is Bravo sauce, made with mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and lemon juice.

Step 1: Prepare the Bravo Sauce

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice and mustard.

Step 2: Slice the Focaccia

Cut the focaccia evenly in half horizontally.

Step 3: Spread on Bravo Sauce

Spread both sides of the focaccia with the mayonnaise mixture.

Step 4: Stack the sandwich fixings

Top the bottom half of the focaccia with the lettuce, then the tomato slices, then the turkey breast, then the cheddar and finally the bacon.

Step 5: Top the Sandwich

Place the top half of the focaccia on the sandwich.

Step 6: Slice and Serve

Cut the sandwich into 4 pieces and serve.

Bravo Turkey and Bacon Sandwich Recipe Copycat Panera

How can you make sure that Copycat Panera sandwich doesn’t get soggy?

You do all the work of making an amazing sandwich, you take one bite, and… the bread is soggy. It turns out the key to avoiding soggy bread lies in how you make a sandwich. Add-ins such as tomatoes, pickles or still-wet lettuce are typical culprits for soggy sandwiches. However, a thin layer of mayonnaise or butter, spread on both sides of the bread, creates a barrier between the bread and the filling. And, as a bonus, it adds more flavor and a creamy texture to the sandwich.

For this turkey bacon bravo sandwich, we’ll spread a thin layer of mayonnaise-based bravo sauce on top and bottom. This will prevent moisture from the tomato or lettuce from seeping into the focaccia. Now, this won’t keep your sandwich going forever. We recommend that you enjoy this copied recipe the same day it is prepared. If you’re making it before you’re ready to eat, wrap it in foil and place it in the refrigerator for up to four hours before having a Panera-like experience at home.

Can you grill a Bravo turkey and bacon sandwich?

At Panera, this sandwich isn’t grilled, but sometimes you just want a hot sandwich! The turkey bravo, with its melting white cheddar, is ideal for this. To grill the sandwich we will have to construct it a little differently. Place both focaccia halves face up on a baking sheet. Broil until lightly toasted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the top half. Spread bottom half with bravo sauce, then top with turkey, cheese and bacon. Grill the bottom half and toppings for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Stack the lettuce and tomato and serve.

If you don’t want to use a grill, a toaster oven also works well. Simply heat the bread until toasted, then add the turkey, cheese and bacon and heat until the cheese is melted. If you reheat the sandwich, you’ll want to enjoy it right away. When you’re ready to eat, don’t forget the chips and apple, like at Panera.

Read the original article on Mashed.