Turkey, Bacon, & Guacamole Panini

This Turkey bacon guacamole panini is hands down one of my all time favorites! It's my go to on my busiest night for dinner, (Monday night for me), when I need to pull a quick, yet satisfying dinner together, this one is it.

No complaints around the table at dinner when you pull out the panini press in my house, and I bet it is the same at yours!

I prefer using guacamole (or even just plain smashed avacados) over sliced avacados in my sandwiches or on burgers (turkey burgers with bacon and guac.. yummo)because the slices usually just slide right out of the sandwich, but with guacamole at least it pretty much stays put long enough to get most of into your mouth!

My husband loves "Club" sandwiches, so I'll add a layer of ham on his too, so feel free to play around a bit with the ingredients to suit you.

Jan's Tip: I choose not to add mayo or other dressings inside the sandwich and let the guacamole take their place, so add that in if you want to, but I do use olive oil mayonnaise instead of butter on the outside of my bread to grill the panini's with. The flavor is fantastic and it lightens it up just a bit.

Here's the basics:

Turkey Bacon Guacamole Panini
Makes 2 sandwiches:

Ingredients:
4 slices bread such as sourdough, asiago, or other hearty bread
2 slices cheese your choice: cheddar, Swiss, provolone or other
4 -6 slices (depending on desired thickness) deli sandwich turkey meat
4 slices thick cut bacon cooked crispy
1/4 cup guacamole or 1 avocado smashed
2 slices tomato
2 Tablespoons butter or olive oil mayonnaise

Directions:

1. Preheat the skillet or  panini press
2. on 2 slices of bread layer ingredients:
3. Spread 2-3 Tablespoons guacamole onto bread
4. Add 2-3 turkey slices per bread, and top with cheese.
5. place 2 slices bacon on top of cheese slices and top with tomato.
6. Place remaining bread on top of each sandwich and spread butter or mayonnaise over the top slice of bread.
7. Place sandwich buttered side down onto skillet or panini press. Spread remaining butter or mayonnaise onto the top slice of bread.
8. Press the panini maker together and grill for 3-4 minutes, or until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted and warmed on the inside.
9. If using a skillet take another skillet (like a cast iron if you have it) and press it on top of sandwiches to brown the bread. (I used to preheat the skillet and place it on top of the sandwiches to make my own press). Then flip the sandwiches over and brown the other side.
10. Remove sandwiches from panini press or skillet.