A classic Turkey Avocado Sandwich gets an upgrade with smoky chipotle mayo and crisp sprouts! You’ll love this easy take on a deli classic!

Two turkey avocado sandwiches stacked on top of each other.

Table of Contents

Elevating a Classic Turkey Avocado Sandwich

Recently I was asked to my name my favorite food, which is honestly a rude question. How could I ever be expected to decide between Giant Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Grilled Chicken Quesadillas?

So, I decided to cheat just a little and picked sandwiches. Yes, it’s more of a category than a specific food, but give a girl a break! The truth is, I could eat sandwiches every day and never get bored. For every craving, there’s a sandwich to match it. If it’s something fresh and healthy, there’s The Best Veggie Sandwiches. Something sweet? Fluffernutter Sandwiches. Something gooey and warm and comforting? Gruyere Grilled Cheese.

And when I want a classic deli sandwich, nothing beats a Turkey Avocado Sandwich. It’s fresh and creamy and satisfying; there’s a reason it’s on the lunch menu of almost every cafe.

My take on the turkey avocado includes sharp cheddar cheese, juicy tomato, crisp sprouts and a smoky chipotle mayo that adds just enough heat to make things interesting. Try it once and I expect you’ll be craving this easy, flavorful sandwich for weeks after!

Ingredients You’ll Need + Substitutions

Cutting board with cheddar cheese slices, deli turkey, avocado, tomato, sprouts, chipolte mayo, and bread slices.

Bread– Many different kinds of bread can work for a turkey sandwich, it just depends on your mood! I highly recommend a sourdough bread or Italian loaf, but if you’re feeling something a bit healthier, a seedy or oat-y whole grain bread is also delicious. If you really want to amp up the flavors, pair it with a Cheesy Jalapeno Bread.
Cheese– We used a sharp cheddar in this version, but we’ve also made this sandwich with creamy Gouda or Meunster. You can’t really go wrong here–use what you’ve got on hand!
Turkey- Use store bought deli turkey breast or leftover turkey, like our Thanksgiving Oven Roasted Turkey.
Avocado– Look for avocados that are a bit soft but not wrinkly and have a dark, almost purple color. If you press it with your thumb, it should leave a small indent.
Tomato– A juicy tomato is the perfect texture contrast for a turkey sandwich!
Sprouts– I love the texture of fresh sprouts on a sandwich–use alfalfa or clover sprouts for a mild flavor or broccoli sprouts for a spicier flavor. You can also get that crisp, fresh texture from microgreens, arugula, romaine or little gem lettuce, or even red onion!
Chipotle Mayo– Make a quick aioli by combining mayonnaise and chopped chipotles in adobo sauce. If you’ve got limes on hand, a squeeze of lime juice really takes it over the top!

How to Make an Avocado Turkey Sandwich

Mayonnaise and chipotle peppers in adobo in a bowl, with a halved lime beside it.

Step 1: Make the chipotle mayo. Whisk together mayonnaise and chipotle pepper with sauce. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Two slices of bread spread with a chipotle mayonnaise.

Step 2: Add the spread. Spread the chipotle mayo all over one side of each slice of the bread.

Two slices of bread stacked with turkey, cheese, avocado, tomato, sprouts, and chipotle mayo.

Step 3: Add your fillings. Layer the bottom slice of bread with cheese, turkey, tomato, avocado, then sprouts. Top with the second slice of bread, then serve.

Up close picture of a sandwich with cheese, tomato, turkey, avocado, sprouts, and chipotle mayo.

Our Best Sandwich Making Tips

Over the years, I’ve learned some tricks for turning any ho hum sandwich into a truly delectable sandwich.

Spread to the edges. There is nothing worse than a dry sandwich, so be sure to spread the ailoi all the way to the edges on both pieces of bread.
Use salt and pepper! They’re the most underrated sandwich ingredients around. Deli meat and cheese are typically plenty salty in their own right, but if you add any vegetables to your sandwich (tomatoes, avocado, radishes, etc), make sure to give them a light sprinkling of Kosher salt and pepper. It really helps bring out their flavors!
Balance the fillings. If you’ve got thick, hearty slices of bread, match the fillings with thick stacks of hearty meats and cheeses. If you’re using a thinner bread, like the one here, go easy on the fillings so you don’t overwhelm the bread.
Pay attention to the distribution of your ingredients. Ideally, you want a little of each filling in each bite.
Make the most of leftovers. Sandwiches are the perfect vehicle for odds and ends in your produce or cheese drawer. If you’ve got leftover chipotle peppers, check out these recipes for canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Two sandwiches with turkey, avocado, cheese, tomato, and sprouts in a bowl.

Storage and Make Ahead Instructions

The chipotle aioli can be made up to 5 days in advance. Store it in a sealed container in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. If you have extras, try it on a Double Bacon Cheeseburger!

More Sandwich Recipes to Love