There are certain recipes that fill your stomach. Then there are the ones that fill your heart, like this Hawaiian Turkey Club sandwich
Every time I make this Hawaiian Turkey Club, I’m transported back to a family vacation in Hawaii when I was about 17 years old. One bite is all it takes, and suddenly I’m remembering sunshine, family adventures, and the most delicious turkey club sandwich I’d ever tasted.
It’s amazing how food can preserve memories for decades. Of course, being a Disney and Pixar family, my kids know this power from the Ratatouille movie. My husband earned a masters in French and that movie’s message was based on the idea of a “Proustian moment,” named after French author, Marcel Proust. All I know is that it’s true for me.
My dad was in the Air National Guard, so our family had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii on a military “hop” flight. We first made our way to an Air Force base in Southern California, where we waited a couple of days for seats to become available.
When our names were finally called, we boarded an enormous double decker military plane. The trip itself felt like an adventure before we had even reached the islands.
I had no idea that one of the memories I would treasure most wouldn’t be a beach, a scenic overlook, or a souvenir.
It would be a sandwich. The Hawaiian Turkey Club sandwich to be exact.
One afternoon, I ordered what looked like a simple turkey club. When it arrived, it was served with a thick, juicy slice of fresh pineapple on the side.
One bite was all it took.
The toasted bread was warm and buttery. The turkey was piled high. The bacon added the perfect crunch, the avocado was wonderfully creamy, and the tomatoes tasted incredibly fresh. Then there was that sweet slice of pineapple that somehow made the entire meal even better.
I’ve never forgotten it.
Ever since that trip, I’ve thought of it as my Hawaiian Turkey Club.
Now, whenever I make one at home, I’m reminded of that vacation and the wonderful memories we made together as a family. It’s funny how something as simple as a favorite recipe can transport you back to a moment in time you never want to forget.
That’s one of the things I love most about cooking.
Sometimes we’re making more than dinner.
We’re making memories that last a lifetime.
Hawaiian Turkey Club Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices sourdough bread (or your favorite bread)
- Mayonnaise
- 4 slices Havarti cheese
- 4 green leaf lettuce leaves
- 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
- 12 ounces peppered turkey
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, cooked
- 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Toast the bread using a toaster, skillet, grill, or panini press until golden brown.
- Spread mayonnaise on each slice of toasted bread.
- Place one slice of Havarti cheese on four slices of bread.
- Add one leaf of green leaf lettuce.
- Layer on two to three slices of Roma tomato.
- Fold approximately 3 ounces of peppered turkey onto each sandwich.
- Break one slice of cooked bacon in half and place it on top of the turkey.
- Finish with four thick slices of avocado.
- Top with the remaining toasted bread slices and serve immediately.
Wendy’s Tip
The restaurant where we first enjoyed a Hawaiian Turkey Club sandwich always served it with a thick slice of fresh pineapple. I still serve mine that way today because the sweetness of the pineapple pairs perfectly with the savory turkey and bacon.
Our family often skips the lettuce and Havarti cheese, and we still think it’s absolutely delicious. Feel free to make it your own using whatever ingredients your family enjoys most.
A Few Final Thoughts about This Hawaiian Turkey Club
I’ve eaten a lot of sandwiches over the years, but somehow this one has always been different.
Maybe it’s the crispy bacon or the creamy avocado.
Maybe it’s that sweet slice of pineapple on the side.
Or maybe it’s because every bite of a Hawaiian Turkey Club sandwich reminds me that some of our happiest memories are wrapped up in the simplest moments. A family vacation. A meal shared together. A recipe that has followed me home and become part of our own family traditions.
Those are the recipes worth keeping.
Thank you so much for spending a little part of your day here with me. I truly hope something you found in this post helps make your life a little easier, save you a little money, encourage you to create something special in your own kitchen, or simply inspires you to try something new.
🤍 Making every house feel a little more like home.
