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    Home » Recipes » Cast Iron

    Published: Sep 26, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Jeremy Klae · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    The Hot Brown Sandwich Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    The Hot Brown Sandwich Recipe is an open-faced sandwich that originated in 1926 at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY. It's also known as the Kentucky Hot Brown or the Louisville Hot Brown. This is a super easy recipe to make, and if you have any Leftover Smoked Turkey from the holidays, this is the perfect way to use that up.

    Hot Brown Sandwich served on a white plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    The smokiness from the bacon and cajun smoked turkey combined with the creamy richness from the mornay sauce and freshness of tomatoes is something only dreams are made of...well...not really, I mean, that's exactly what this sandwich is made of.

    Anyway, you know what I mean!

    The Hot Brown Sandwich is delicious and can be cooked and served in under twenty Minutes!

    Ingredients

    Bread: A thick-cut piece of bread is a must. It has to hold up to the other ingredients and still be a well toast-able bread. I suggest a thick-cut Texas Toast. (See expert tips)

    Meat: The meat used in The Hot Brown Sandwich is Turkey, traditionally roasted. I used some leftover Cajun Smoked Turkey I had from a previous cook.

    The Sauce: This magnificent Mornay Sauce is spectacular, especially after the Gruyere Cheese is folded. It adds all the flavor in the world and is perfectly paired with the light smoke of the turkey. I want another plate just writing this! UGH!

    The Toppings: The only other simple ingredients here are tomatoes and Bacon. I baked my bacon on a broiler sheet as I usually do. I also put the sliced tomato on the Cast Iron Griddle with salt and pepper and cooked it a little before placing it on the sandwich. (See expert tips)

    See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Mornay sauce base being whisked in a small cast iron skillet.

    Step 1: Preheat a medium-sized cast iron skillet for the Mornay Sauce over medium heat.

    Next, melt the butter in the pan, then add the flour, stirring quickly to mix. Now begin slowly adding the milk to the mixture. Once everything is smooth and mixed, remove from the heat. Add the Nutmeg, Salt, and Hot Sauce and stir.

    Freshly shredded cheese being folded into Mornay sauce in a cast iron skillet.

    Step 2: Fold in the finely shredded Gruyere cheese slowly.

    Set aside and begin working on the sandwiches.

    Two sliced tomatoes topped with salt and pepper roasting on a cast iron griddle.

    Step 3: Use the same cast iron griddle over medium heat and preheat your oven to broil.

    Place the tomato slices on the griddle, drizzle with olive oil, and season with Salt and Pepper.

    Once the tomatoes soften, remove them from the griddle and set aside.

    Chopped turkey cooking on a cast iron griddle.

    Step 4: Warm your turkey on the griddle and add a bit crisp, about 10 minutes.

    Sliced Texas toast on a cast iron griddle topped with chopped turkey and a slice of tomato.

    Step 5: Place the cooked turkey in a separate bowl, butter the bread, and place that on the Cast Iron Griddle.

    Let them toast a bit, then top with turkey, tomato, and mornay sauce.

    Two open faced sandiwches on a cast iron griddle topped with mornay sauce and shredded cheese.

    Step 6: Top each sandwich with a little more shredded cheese.

    Place the entire cast iron griddle in the preheated oven set to broil and broil for about 3 minutes or until the mornay sauce is brown and bubbly.

    Expert Tips

    • Another option for the bread would be to make your own rustic rosemary loaf and slice that thick. It adds a lot of flavor, toasts very well, and is sturdy enough to hold all ingredients.
    • Another excellent way to cook bacon is in the air fryer. Set your air fryer to 400°f for five minutes, throw a few slices in, and you'll have some of the most perfectly cooked bacon you've ever had.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is a Hot Brown sandwich made of?

    A Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich is a broiled open-faced sandwich that's served on a slice of white bread topped with turkey, bacon, tomato, cheese, and a mornay sauce.

    Why is it called a Hot Brown sandwich?

    The Hot Brown sandwich gets its name from where it originated, The Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

    What city is the birthplace of the Hot Brown sandwich?

    The Hot Brown sandwich originated at the Brown Hotel located in Louisville, Kentucky.

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    If you made this Hot Brown Sandwich recipe or any other of my recipes, please leave a Star Rating and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

    Don't forget to tag @chickenfriedkitchen on Instagram, Subscribe on YouTube, and Follow on Pinterest and Facebook! I'll see you there!

    📖 Recipe

    Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwiches served on white plates.

    The Hot Brown Sandwich Recipe

    The Hot Brown Sandwich Recipe is amazingly warm and comforting, while light at the same time. It's perfect for leftover Turkey and with Gruyere Cheese.
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 1053kcal
    Author: Jeremy Klae

    Ingredients

    Mornay Sauce

    • 2 Cups Whole Milk
    • 1-½ tablespoon Salted Butter
    • 2 tablespoon Flour
    • 1 ½ Cup Gruyere Cheese-Shredded
    • Pinch Nutmeg
    • 1 teaspoon Hot Sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

    Sandwiches

    • 2 Slices Thick Cut Bread
    • Smoked Turkey - Chopped
    • 4 Slices Thick Cut Bacon
    • 2 Slices Tomato
    • ¼ Cup Gruyere Cheese
    • Salt and Pepper to taste
    • Dried Parsley for sprinkling

    Instructions

    Mornay Sauce

    • Heat Milk in the microwave for about a minute or until warm.
    • In a Cast Iron Skillet slowly melt butter while whisking in the flour.
    • Begin to add the milk slowly while continuing to whisk together.
    • Remove from heat and stir in Pepper, Nutmeg, and Hot Sauce.
    • Add Gruyere Cheese continuing to whisk and set aside.

    The Sandwiches

    • Place tomato slices on a preheated Cast Iron Griddle, sprinkle with olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper.
    • Remove tomatoes and add two slices of bread toasting both sides.
    • Top toast with turkey, tomato, Mornay Sauce, and then sprinkle with extra Gruyere Cheese.
    • Place entire Cast Iron Griddle under Broiler in the oven for about 3 minutes or until the cheese has began to brown.
    • Remove, plate and top each sandwich with two pieces of crispy cooked bacon.

    Video

    YouTube video

    Notes

    • Another option for the bread would be to make your own rustic rosemary loaf and slice that thick. It adds a lot of flavor, toasts very well, and is sturdy enough to hold all ingredients.
    • Another excellent way to cook bacon is in the air fryer. Set your air fryer to 400°f for five minutes, throw a few slices in, and you'll have some of the most perfectly cooked bacon you've ever had.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1053kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 78g | Saturated Fat: 38g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 27g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 211mg | Sodium: 1613mg | Potassium: 711mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1835IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 1543mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ChickenFriedKitchen or tag #chickenfriedkitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

    5 from 15 votes (15 ratings without comment)

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