Description
This Hot Brown Sandwich is a legendary Kentucky comfort food featuring thick-sliced turkey, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and a rich, bubbly Mornay cheese sauce broiled to golden perfection. It’s quick, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for brunch, dinner, or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 thick-sliced white bread (Texas toast style)
- 8 oz oven-roasted turkey breast, sliced
- 8 strips crispy bacon, cooked
- 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded (or Swiss)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- Pinch ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
- Extra Parmesan for sprinkling (optional garnish)
- Paprika or cayenne (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Set oven rack about 6 inches from broiler.
- Place bacon strips on a baking sheet and bake for 15–18 minutes, turning once, until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Lightly butter both sides of bread slices and toast in oven for 5–7 minutes until golden. Set aside.
- Make Mornay sauce: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbly.
- Slowly add milk and cream, whisking constantly. Cook 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère. Whisk until smooth and melted, about 2 minutes.
- Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Worcestershire. Taste and adjust seasoning. Sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
- Place toasted bread on a baking sheet. Top each with 2 oz sliced turkey and two tomato slices.
- Pour a generous ladle of Mornay sauce over each sandwich.
- Lay 2 strips of crispy bacon crisscrossed on top.
- Broil sandwiches for 2–3 minutes until cheese sauce bubbles and browns in spots. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish with chopped parsley, extra Parmesan, and paprika or cayenne if desired.
- Let sandwiches cool for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Baking and Broiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Hot Brown Sandwich, Cheesy, Kentucky Classic