Thanksgiving sandwich

Last updated
Thanksgiving sandwich
Thanksgiving-Sandwich-01.jpg
Alternative names
  • Gobbler
  • Pilgrim
  • Puritan
Type Sandwich
Place of origin United States
Region or state New England

A Thanksgiving sandwich or Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, also called a Gobbler, Pilgrim, or Puritan, is an American sandwich constructed from traditional foods eaten on American Thanksgiving, such as roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy.

Contents

History

The origin of the Thanksgiving sandwich is disputed. It may have originated in New England, with recipes and local restaurant claimants by the 1950s. [1] A recipe for a "Thanksgiving Sandwich Special" sandwich featuring a meat salad of turkey, veal and optionally cranberry jelly is given in a 1915 Chicago trade journal. [2] [3]

Open-faced Thanksgiving sandwich Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich open faced.jpg
Open-faced Thanksgiving sandwich

Variations

Hot turkey commercial

In Minnesota, a variation of the Thanksgiving sandwich known as the hot turkey commercial is commonly eaten after Thanksgiving. This sandwich is open faced and consists of turkey, turkey gravy, and mashed potatoes on white bread. [4]

Commercial versions

The Thanksgiving sandwich has been adapted to chain store menus:

Capriotti's, the Bobbie (1976)
pulled turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise [5] [6]
Wawa, the Gobbler (2005)
hoagie with hot turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy [2]
GetGo, the Pilgrim (circa 2014)
sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, cheddar cheese, gravy on stuffing bread [7] [ better source needed ]
Publix, Turkey Cranberry Holiday Sub (2020)
sliced deli turkey, cranberry-orange relish, bacon, Gruyère [2]

In the 1998 episode of Friends , S5E9 "The One with Ross' Sandwich", character Monica Geller constructs a double-decker Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich for Ross featuring a so-called "moist maker"—the middle bread slice soaked in gravy. Ross's sandwich, referred by fans by the synecdoche "The Moist Maker", features in the show's official cookbook, released 2020. [8] [9] [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ DeCosta-Klipa, Nik (2017-11-24), How the Thanksgiving leftover sandwich became a ubiquitous New England staple, Boston.com
  2. 1 2 3 Wilson, Korsha (2024-11-27), "The Triumph of the Gobbler Sandwich" , The New York Times
  3. ↑ Wharton, Frank B. (1915), "Dainty Luncheons", Candy and Ice Cream, no. November, Chicago: Modern Confectioner Publishing Company, p. 10
  4. ↑ Rossi, Lisa (2025-09-01). "15 Minnesota Sandwiches That Were Everywhere Until They Nearly Disappeared" . Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  5. ↑ Iseman, Courtney (2024-10-29), The Iconic Delaware Sandwich That Serves Thanksgiving Dinner In Every Bite, TastingTable
  6. ↑ Talorico, Patricia (2016-11-06), Delaware's signature Bobbie sandwich could have been the 'Winona', Delaware, USA: The News Journal
  7. ↑ https://x.com/getgo/status/654662816092188672
  8. ↑ Bruner, Raisa (2016-11-15), "Here's How to Make Ross's Beloved Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich From Friends", Time.com
  9. ↑ Hosie, Rachel (2020-05-21), "An official 'Friends' cookbook including recipes for Rachel's trifle, Ross's sandwich, and Phoebe's grandmother's cookies is coming this year", Business Insider
  10. ↑ Detwiler, Shelly (July 31, 2018). "A history of the sandwich". Ohio Ag Net. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
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