Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich with Gochujang Mayo

Looking for the perfect sandwich to level up your lunch game? Look no further! Today, we're diving into the delicious world of the Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich with a spicy twist. Allow me to introduce the star of the show: the Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich with Gochujang Mayo, Cheese, and Arugula. This sandwich is not just a meal; it's an experience. A perfect blend of crunch, creaminess, and a little bit of kick.

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When I plan a picnic, this Turkey Avocado Bacon Sandwich with Mayo always makes the menu.  Imagine melty cheese paired with slices of roasted turkey, creamy avocado complemented by the peppery bite of arugula, all inside a toasted ciabatta roll.

We elevate the experience with a layer of gochujang mayo, bringing a spicy, tangy kick that perfectly balances the creamy texture. The mayo is easy to whip up combining gochujang paste (a Korean fermented red chili paste), with mayo, a twist of fresh ground black pepper and a spritz of lime juice.  

Plus, I streamline the bacon cooking by utilizing the microwave—making for easy cleanup and less of a spluttery bacon grease mess. For the finishing touches, I add crispy bacon and my go-to quick-pickled red onions.  Every bite of this sandwich is bursting with flavor, proving that even the simplest of sandwiches can be a gourmet delight.

It’s a perfect choice for lunch or a picnic, offering both convenience and a tantalizing taste.

What you'll need

Lightly salted mashed avocado and crispy bacon anchor this turkey sandwich on a toasted ciabatta roll.   Then we add another layer of flavor by dressing the arugula with vinegar and oil, a generous spread of gochujang mayo, and a zippy topping of quick pickled red onion.  I promise this sandwich will become your new favorite turkey and cheese sandwich.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

• Ciabatta roll
• Gouda or Havarti– I like to slit my ciabatta roll and place a slice of cheese on the top half of the roll and pop it in the oven for a toasted bun with melty cheese.    You could also use Provolone. 
• Gochujang mayo – this is the ultimate game-changer sauce for turkey sandwiches bringing irresistible depth of flavor that complements the mildness of turkey perfectly.  I have included the instructions on how to make in the recipe card below.
• Deli turkey slices – I opt for thinly sliced roasted turkey but you can easily use smoked or honey roasted turkey. 
• Bacon
• Avocado – firm, yet ripe cut into slices.
• Arugula rocket greens - Love it or hate it, rocket is popular all over the world. Also known as arugula, roquette and rucola.  The flavor will be more peppery than other greens but really works well with the turkey bacon avocado sandwich.  Not an arugula fan?  Substitute romaine or any mixed greens.
• Pickled red onion – these pickled sandwich topping gems are easy to make, need only 30 minutes to “pickle” and truly elevate this sandwich.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Gochujang mayo

Gochujang mayo is the ultimate game-changer sauce for turkey bacon avocado sandwiches. This spicy, tangy concoction combines the creamy richness of mayo with the bold, umami-packed punch of gochujang, a Korean chili paste. Slathering gochujang mayo on your turkey sandwich not only adds a delightful kick but also brings an irresistible depth of flavor that complements the mildness of the turkey perfectly.

Here are the ingredients you need.

• Mayo – I mainly use Hellmann’s brand, but Japanese Kewpie Mayo works well too.
• Gochujang paste – You can find this Korean chili paste at Trader Joe’s.  Can’t find gochujang paste? A good gochujang substitute is sriracha sauce.
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh lime or lemon juice – You will add this if you are using a regular mayo, not the Kewpie mayo)

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make turkey bacon avocado sandwiches

Before you begin, consider making pickled red onions – they spice up this sandwich and are ready to go in about 30 minutes. In a pinch you can chop up red onion and toss with the dressed arugula.   

Step 1:   Pickle the red onions, if using.

Step 2: Make the gochujang mayo

Whisk together mayo, gochujang paste, add a generous pinch of sea salt, a twist of freshly ground black pepper and a spritz of lime juice in a small bowl.

Step 3:  Microwave your bacon.

Grab a microwave safe plate and line with 2-3 sheets of paper towels.  Lay the bacon in a single line and place another double layer of paper towels over the top.  Microwave for 4 minutes, continue to cook in 2-minute increments until the bacon reaches desired crispiness.

Step 4:  Toast the bread and Melt Cheese. Slice a ciabatta roll in half lengthwise, then rub with olive oil.  Preheat your oven (or toaster oven) to 450 degrees.  Get out a rimmed baking sheet large enough to hold the ciabatta roll halves.  Place roll, cut side up, on the baking sheet.  Now place cheese on the top piece of the roll.  

Toast in oven for about 4-6 minutes, until the cheese is melted.   

Step 5:  Dress the arugula

In a bowl, combine the arugula rocket, olive oil and vinegar.  Season with some salt and pepper. 

If you are not making the pickled red onions, add about 1 teaspoon finely grated red onion to the salad and Toss.  Set aside until we are ready to layer the salad.

Assemble the Turkey Sandwich

Step 5:    Layer your sandwich together.

Now all you do here is layer!   Spread a generous layer of gochujang mayo on the bottom half of the roll.  Add lots of smashed avocado and season with salt.

Now comes the crispy bacon.   Pile on the turkey. 

For the finishing touches, Place a handful of the dressed arugula on top of the turkey.  Garnish with pickled red onion, if using. 

Add the top piece of ciabatta and give the sandwich a firm push-down to seal everything inside.  And that’s it!  You can slice the sandwich or wrap it and keep it in the fridge for a day.   Get ready to enjoy this gourmet turkey sandwich!

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Best turkey sandwich cheese

Wondering which cheese to use with this turkey bacon avocado sandwich?  My favorite is Gouda cheese for its complex flavors, ranging from notes of caramel and butter to nutty and earthy, with a creamy texture.

With that said, here are a couple of other cheeses you could use in a turkey and cheese sandwich with bacon and avocado. 

• Swiss Cheese like Emmentaler, Raclette or Appenzeller. Interested in learning more about swiss cheese that aren't your deli swiss slices? Read this great article on 7 Swiss Cheeses you should know.
• Cheddar Gruyere – A unique fusion of Cheddar and Gruyere that is classic, creamy and aged to perfection that I found in my local food cooperative deli. It was perfect.
• Provolone
• Havarti – mild, buttery flavor with nuttier notes, similar to Swiss cheese.

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Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with turkey bacon avocado sandwichwith Gochujang Mayo: