“I made these for dinner last night. My husband and I both have Kentucky roots so we have had many versions.”
These classic Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwiches feature toasted bread topped with turkey, tomato, a rich cheese sauce, and crispy bacon, all broiled to bubbly perfection.
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Ingredients:
For the Sauce:
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| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Butter | 4 tablespoons |
| All-purpose flour | 1/4 cup |
| Whole milk | 2 cups |
| Shredded sharp cheddar cheese | 2 cups |
| Worcestershire sauce | 1 teaspoon |
| Paprika | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Cayenne pepper | Pinch |
| White pepper | Pinch |
| Salt | To taste |
| Pepper | To taste |
Directions for the Sauce
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- Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
- Whisk in the all-purpose flour and stir continuously until it is fully incorporated and smooth. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture turns a light golden color. This creates a roux.
- Gradually whisk in the whole milk. Increase the heat to medium and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens, stirring frequently to prevent lumps from forming.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the sauce.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Optional: For an extra smooth sauce, use a metal immersion blender to further emulsify the mixture.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, paprika, cayenne pepper, and white pepper. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep the sauce warm while you prepare the sandwiches.
For the Sandwiches
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Toasted sourdough bread | 4 slices |
| Sliced cooked turkey breast | 9 oz |
| Beefsteak tomato, sliced and patted dry | 1 |
| Salt | Pinch |
| Crispy cooked bacon | 8 slices |
Directions for the Sandwiches
- Arrange the toasted sourdough bread slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
- On top of each slice of toasted bread, layer 3 to 4 slices of cooked turkey breast.
- Place 2 slices of patted-dry beefsteak tomato on top of the turkey on each sandwich. Sprinkle the tomato slices with a very small pinch of salt.
- Divide the warm cheese sauce evenly among the four sandwiches, pouring it generously over the turkey and tomatoes.
- Top each sandwich with 2 slices of crispy cooked bacon.
- Set your oven to low broil.
- Place the baking sheet with the assembled sandwiches under the broiler. Broil for 4 to 7 minutes, or until the cheese sauce is bubbly and lightly browned. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Remove the Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwiches from the broiler and serve immediately while piping hot. Enjoy!
