Ready to turn Thanksgiving leftovers into something downright crave-worthy? These leftover Cranberry Turkey Sliders are stacked with juicy turkey, melty cheese, sweet-tangy honey mustard, and whole-berry cranberry sauce, all baked on soft Hawaiian rolls until perfectly toasty.
Try these turkey and cheese sliders, too! They make another simple way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Main Dish or Party Appetizer
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 25 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 4-6 servings
- 🦃 Flavor Profile: Sweet, savory, and tangy! The perfect balance of buttery rolls, melted cheese, turkey, and cranberry sauce.
- 🍽️ Best Served With: Great on their own or paired with soup, salad, or holiday sides like stuffing or roasted veggies.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes! Assemble up to 24 hours ahead, then bake just before serving for fresh, warm sliders anytime.
Summarize and Save This Content On
It's that classic turkey-and-cranberry combo we all love, transformed into a pull-apart party hit. I always use whole-berry cranberry sauce because it adds bright pops of flavor that balance the richness of the buttery glaze.
Whether you're feeding a hungry crowd or just keeping dinner easy after the holidays, these sliders are guaranteed to disappear fast. For more game day slider recipes, try my pulled BBQ chicken sliders, BBQ meatball sliders, and crack chicken sliders next!
Jump to:
From Our Kitchen to Yours
I love how quick and easy these Thanksgiving leftover sliders come together in less than 30 minutes from start to finish. They're perfect for busy weeknights or lazy post-holiday dinners. They're sweet, savory, and just the right touch of tangy from the cranberry sauce.
They've become one of my favorite ways to use up Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers, and honestly, sometimes I don't even wait for the holidays to make them! Try these turkey club sandwiches for an easy lunch!
Ingredients
- Hawaiian sweet rolls: King's Hawaiian Rolls are my favorite rolls to use for sliders. They are perfectly soft and a little sweet! Plus, they brown wonderfully in the oven.
- Turkey: Use leftover oven-roasted turkey, slow cooker turkey breast, or even slow cooker turkey legs after Thanksgiving. To enjoy any time of year, you can also use regular sliced or shaved deli turkey.
- Cranberry sauce: I prefer whole cranberry sauce for this Thanksgiving sliders recipe. It's thicker, and the whole berries add a little texture, like my Instant Pot cranberry sauce recipe. You can also try this balsamic cranberry sauce for a slightly different flavor.
- Sliced Cheese: You can use any sliced cheese you like, but provolone is my favorite. It melts great and has a subtle, sharp flavor that balances the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Glaze: A simple glaze made with melted butter and honey mustard dressing gives these sliders a rich, subtly sweet, and tangy finish. I mix in a blend of minced yellow onions and diced green onions for a little crunch and depth of flavor, then sprinkle poppy seeds on top before baking for a fun, toasty garnish.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients with exact quantities of each one.
Leftover Turkey Sliders Variations
- Spicy: Turn up the heat by swapping the cranberry sauce for cranberry jalapeño jam. The sweet-tart cranberry base with the gentle kick of jalapeño gives these sliders a zesty pop that balances beautifully with melted cheese and buttery rolls. For even more flavor, add a thin layer of sliced pickled jalapeños or a drizzle of spicy honey before baking.
- Ham: These sliders aren't just for turkey! These sliders taste amazing with sliced ham, either deli-style or leftovers from another meal. You can also do a turkey and ham combo for a crowd-pleasing, meat-lovers twist that's perfect for game day or after the holidays.
- Different Jam Flavors: Don't stop at cranberry! Try swapping in other fruity jams for a fun flavor change-up. Mango jam adds a tropical sweetness that pairs deliciously with savory turkey or ham. You could also experiment with apricot, peach, or raspberry jam for new flavor combinations. Try different flavors of jalapeno jam recipes if you like it spicy!
- Cheese Swaps: Mix it up with different cheeses. You can try Havarti for extra melt, Swiss for a nutty note, or brie for a creamy, elegant upgrade. Each one adds a unique texture and flavor twist.
- Sweet & Savory Upgrade: Brush the rolls with maple butter instead of honey mustard glaze for a cozy fall flavor, or mix in a bit of Dijon mustard for extra tang. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning or crispy fried onions before baking for crunch instead of the poppy seeds.
For more ways to use your leftover turkey, try our leftover turkey and stuffing muffins recipe.
How to Make Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Step 1: Make the honey mustard butter. Whisk together the melted butter, honey mustard, minced onions, and green onions in a small bowl.
Step 2: Prep the bread. Slice the rolls in half horizontally, leaving all the rolls connected, and put them on the baking sheet. Brush with ½ of the butter mixture.
💡Easy Cleanup Tip: Add foil or parchment paper under the rolls. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze - especially when the glaze caramelizes on the pan.
Step 3: Add the cheese and turkey. Layer 6 slices of cheese on the bun bottoms and then top with your sliced turkey.
Step 4: Add the sauce. Add about 1 ½ tablespoons of cranberry sauce, another layer of cheese, and then add the tops of the buns.
Step 5: Brush tops. Brush the remaining butter mixture on the bun tops and sprinkle the poppy seeds on top. Lightly spray the inside of a piece of foil with nonstick spray, cover, and bake for about 15-20 minutes.
Step 6: Uncover and broil. Remove the foil and turn the oven to broil for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Slice the sliders into portions and enjoy! Use leftover turkey gravy or make a quick homemade gravy for dipping.
Recipe Tips
- Slice the turkey thinly: If you're using leftover turkey, slice it into even, thin pieces so it heats through quickly and evenly in the oven.
- Toast the bottoms first: Pop the bottom half of the rolls in the oven for 2 minutes before assembling. This helps prevent soggy bread once the cranberry sauce and butter glaze go on.
- Don't overdo the cranberry sauce: Use just enough to coat the bread or turkey. Add too much and it can cause the sliders to slip apart or make the bread overly soft.
- Cover with foil, then uncover: Bake the sliders covered first to melt the cheese and heat the filling, then uncover for the last few minutes to crisp the tops and get that golden-brown finish.
- Let them rest before slicing: After baking, let the sliders cool for 5 minutes. This helps the cheese set slightly, so the sliders slice and serve more cleanly.
- Storing: Store leftover sliders tightly covered or in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These turkey and cranberry sliders make a great holiday appetizer. As Christmas sliders, pair them with a cocktail seafood salad, and ham and cheese pinwheels. For a Thanksgiving slider, we love them with this buffalo chicken spinach dip.
Enjoy them for gameday or as a meal. They're great with my grandma's coleslaw and air fried frozen sweet potato fries.
Cranberry Turkey Sliders Recipe FAQs
If turkey cranberry sliders are the main dish, plan on 2-3 sliders per person. If you're combining the sliders with other appetizers for a party, 1-2 sliders per person is likely enough. The beauty of this recipe is that you can easily scale it up or down to make enough for your group.
Absolutely! You can prep these turkey sliders up to 24 hours ahead of time. Wrap them well and store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them. If your cranberry sauce is super juicy you may want to serve it on the side or add it just before baking.
I prefer the oven since it toasts the bread up nicely. Place the desired amount on a baking tray and brush with a bit more melted butter before baking in a 350° F oven until warm, about 5-7 minutes. You can also reheat individual sliders in the microwave, but this can alter the texture of the bread.
Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
- 10-12 ounces leftover turkey or as desired
- ¾ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 6-12 slices mozzarella cheese or provolone cheese
Optional Spread and Topping
- 4 tablespoons butter melted, divided
- 2 tablespoons honey mustard dressing
- 1 tablespoon onion minced
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds or sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons green onions minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally, leaving all the rolls connected (optional), and put them on the baking sheet.
- Cut Hawaiian rolls in half and place the bottoms in your prepared baking pan.
- In a small bowl, melt butter. Add honey mustard dressing, minced onions, and green onions. Spread 3⁄4 of this mixture on cut rolls.
- Layer 6 slices of mozzarella cheese on the bun bottoms, then some sliced turkey, about 1 ½ tablespoons cranberry sauce (or more) then another layer of cheese, followed by the tops of buns.
- Brush the butter on the tops of the buns, sprinkle seeds on top, if desired, then lightly spray the inside of foil with nonstick spray, cover and bake for about 15-20 minutes or cheese is melted.
- Remove the foil and turn the oven to broil for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown, if desired.
Notes
- Slice the turkey thinly: Cut leftovers into even slices so they warm quickly and evenly.
- Toast the bottoms first: Toast the bottom buns for 2 minutes to keep them from getting soggy.
- Go easy on the cranberry: Use just enough sauce to add flavor without making the sliders fall apart.
- Bake covered, then uncover: Cover with foil first to melt the cheese, then uncover to brown the tops.
- Rest before slicing: Let sliders cool 5 minutes after baking for cleaner cuts and gooier cheese pull.
Leave a Reply