Turkey Muenster Focaccia Melt. Homemade garlic pesto mayo spread over crusty focaccia, layered with shredded deli turkey, melty Muenster cheese, and fresh summer tomatoes. Baked until golden and crisp, then finished with crispy prosciutto and fresh summertime greens. Perfect for picnics, beach days, or served warm from the oven for an easy summer dinner.
It’s officially summertime! While it’s felt like summer for the last couple of months, there’s still something exciting about it actually arriving. The long sunny days, warm evenings, and incredible seasonal produce make it one of the best times of year to cook.
For me, summer cooking looks like big salads, grilled meats and vegetables, simple pastas, homemade pizzas, and, of course, sandwiches for picnics, beach days, and easy dinners. The less time spent in the kitchen, the better.
This year, the theme is effortless cooking — recipes that let the ingredients do the work. Lots of tomatoes, sweet corn, garden zucchini, fresh berries, peaches, and plenty of herbs. When ingredients are at their peak, you really don’t need much else.
This Turkey Muenster Focaccia Melt is one of those recipes that gets made all summer long. It’s a sandwich worth coming back to year after year for lunches and dinners. It used to come together on ciabatta, but focaccia has become the preferred choice lately. Trader Joe’s has a great loaf that works perfectly here — the bread gets crisp around the edges while staying soft and chewy in the center.
Muenster cheese is the move. It’s not the most talked-about cheese, but it’s a classic on turkey sandwiches and a genuine comfort food ingredient. When melted, it’s creamy, mild, and just a little sweet. Layer everything together with ripe summer tomatoes, crispy prosciutto, fresh greens, and a garlicky pesto mayo, then bake until melty and golden. It’s simple, satisfying, and one of those recipes everyone always loves.
The Details
Ingredients
Garlic Pesto Mayo
- Mayo
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Basil pesto
For the Turkey Melts
- Focaccia or ciabatta
- Fresh tomatoes (use your favorite variety)
- Salt and black pepper
- Muenster cheese (or your favorite melting cheese)
- Deli turkey, shredded or thinly sliced
- Prosciutto, crisped
- Arugula, romaine, or your favorite summer greens
Tools
- Small bowl or jar
- Mini whisk
- Baking sheet pan
- Bread knife
- Cutting board
A small bowl or jar makes quick work of the creamy garlic pesto mayo, while a sheet pan helps everything bake up golden and melty. Have a bread knife ready to slice through the focaccia and a cutting board for prepping the tomatoes and greens.
The Steps
Step 1: Make the Garlic Pesto Mayo
Start by making the garlic pesto mayo. It comes together in just a few minutes and adds so much flavor to the sandwich. Whisk together the mayo, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and basil pesto until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Tip: Make the mayo ahead of time if you’re prepping for a picnic or easy lunch. The flavors only get better after a little time in the fridge.
Step 2: Build the Sandwich
Arrange the focaccia halves on a sheet pan and generously spread the garlic pesto mayo over both cut sides. Layer the tomatoes onto the bottom half and season lightly with salt and pepper. Add the Muenster cheese and turkey, then place the remaining cheese slices on the top half of the bread.
Don’t skip seasoning the tomatoes — a little salt brings out all of their sweet summer flavor.
Step 3: Bake Until Melty
Transfer the sandwich to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and just beginning to turn golden around the edges.
If you’re making the prosciutto yourself, let it cool completely before adding it to the sandwich. It stays much crispier that way.
Step 4: Add the Prosciutto and Greens
Remove the focaccia from the oven and layer on the crispy prosciutto, followed by the arugula or summer greens. Place the top half of the focaccia over the greens and gently press everything together. Peppery arugula works especially well here, but any fresh summer greens will do the job beautifully. Slice and serve warm.
