Ingredients
75g sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated (about 3/4 cup, skip pre-shredded! The anti-caking agents prevent that perfect melt.)
8 thick-cut dill pickle slices, patted bone-dry (Go for hamburger-style chips, they’re sturdy and hold up to the cheese.)
1 tsp spicy mayo (Or mix mayo with a dash of hot sauce or sriracha for kick!)
1 handful peppery microgreens or crisp butter lettuce (Adds a fresh crunch against the rich cheese.)
3 slices roasted turkey breast (Look for thick-cut, juicy deli slices, or swap in honey ham if you’re feeling sweet-and-salty.)
3 slices ripe tomato (Pat these dry too, no one wants a watery sandwich!)
3 thin slices red onion (optional) (Soak them in ice water for 10 minutes if you want milder bite.)
Instructions
- Heat the oven – Crank it up to 400°F (200°C and let it get nice and toasty while you prep. A hot oven means crispy, golden cheese, no sad, soggy sandwiches here!
- Dry those pickles – Grab 8 thick-cut dill pickle slices and press them between paper towels until they’re bone-dry. (Wet pickles = steamed cheese, and nobody wants that.)
- Build your cheesy base – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then sprinkle a thin, even layer of shredded cheddar into two rectangles, each big enough to hold 4 pickle slices side by side. This is your sandwich’s crispy “bread,” so pack it tight!
- Add the pickles – Nestle 4 pickle slices onto each cheese rectangle, squeezing them close so they stick together as they bake. Gaps = cheese escape routes, and we’re not letting that happen.
- Blanket with more cheese – Sprinkle another thin layer of cheddar over the pickles, this’ll glue everything together. Slide the tray into the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden at the edges. (Peek at 15 minutes, ovens can be sneaky!)
- Cool and crisp up – Pull the tray out and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. The cheese will firm into a perfect, crunchy shell that lifts off the paper like a dream.
- Load it up – Now for the fun part: slather on spicy mayo, pile high with roasted turkey, juicy tomato slices, peppery arugula, and sharp red onion, or go wild with bacon, avocado, or even a fried egg. The pickle-cheese shell can handle it all.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
Pro tip: If your cheese spreads while baking, just nudge it back into shape with a spatula before it fully sets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
