Turkey Cranberry Sliders
My easy Turkey Cranberry Sliders are stacked with leftover smoked turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, and melted Swiss cheese, and then brushed with a buttery poppy seed topping and baked until they are hot and golden brown. These only take about 35 minutes from start to finish and are the best way to use up holiday leftovers!
Turkey Sliders With Cranberry Sauce
If your fridge is full of Thanksgiving turkey and you're tired of the same Thanksgiving dinner on day 3 of leftovers, this recipe is a great solution.
If it isn't, grab a pound of sliced deli turkey and make these anyway. We won't tell.
We host Thanksgiving every year, and because I really love a Traeger Smoked Turkey but a lot of the family likes a traditional oven-roasted turkey, we usually make two. That means that everyone gets what they love, AND we have a hefty amount of leftovers available for all kinds of fun leftover turkey recipes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Uses Up Leftovers - Leftover turkey and cranberry sauce get a second life that tastes different enough to be interesting.
- Ready In 35 Minutes - It's 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes in the oven.
- Sweet And Savory - The sweet and tart cranberry sauce and sharp Swiss cheese are SO good with that smoked turkey and the buttery rolls.
- Feeds A Crowd - One pan makes 12 sliders, so it works for game day, parties, or a casual dinner.
- Make-Ahead Friendly - You can assemble the sliders a few hours ahead and bake when you're ready.
Try my Traeger Smoked Spatchcock Turkey!
Recipe Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls - I love how the sweet Hawaiian rolls work in this slider, but if you have a whole bunch of leftover rolls from Thanksgiving, they work really well, too.
- Cooked Turkey - Sliced or shredded leftover turkey works best. Deli turkey is a decent substitute if you're getting a craving and don't have leftover Thanksgiving turkey in your fridge!
- Cranberry Sauce - I prefer my homemade Traeger Cranberry Sauce for this recipe, but whatever your favorite is works! Heck, you could even slather on some of that cranberry sauce in the can if you wanted to.
- Swiss Cheese - Melts well and has a sharp, savory flavor that works with the cranberry. Cheddar also works here.
- Salted Butter - Melted and brushed over the top for a golden, crisp finish.
- Worcestershire Sauce - Optional, but adds a TON of flavor to the butter that gets painted on the rolls!
- Dijon Mustard - There really isn't a sub for Dijon. It is worth the trip (or the grocery order) for this recipe.
- Garlic Powder And Onion Powder - Season the butter topping without adding extra moisture.
- Poppy Seeds - Add a little crunch and the classic slider look.
- Fresh Thyme - Optional, but a nice herby touch with turkey.
Get all of my Thanksgiving Recipes!
How To Make This Recipe
This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Prep The Pan - Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Slice The Rolls - Without separating the rolls, slice the whole slab in half horizontally. Place the bottom half in the baking dish.
- Layer The Sliders - Add the turkey, spoon the cranberry sauce evenly over the turkey, and top with the Swiss. Set the top half of the rolls on top.
- Brush On The Butter Topping - Stir together the melted butter, Worcestershire, Dijon, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, and thyme if using. Brush it over the rolls and let some run down between them.
- Bake And Rest - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Uncover and bake 8 to 10 minutes more, until the tops are golden and the cheese is melted. Rest for 5 minutes, then cut into individual sliders.
Tips For The Best Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- Keep the foil on for the first part of baking. It heats the filling without over-browning the rolls.
- Uncovering for the last 8 to 10 minutes is what gives you the crisp, golden tops.
- Let the pan rest for 5 minutes before cutting so the cheese and cranberry sauce can settle.
Recipe FAQ
You need a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, a pastry brush, aluminum foil, and a serrated knife for slicing the rolls. A small bowl is also handy for mixing the butter topping.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at 325°F for about 8 minutes, until warmed through.
Yes. Assemble the sliders up to 4 hours ahead, cover loosely with foil, and refrigerate. Add about 5 extra minutes to the baking time when you bake them from cold. If you can, wait to brush on the butter topping until right before baking so the rolls don't get soggy.
Yes, and it's the easiest option. Leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or any roast works well. If you have extra smoked turkey, my Smoked Turkey Breast slices up nicely for these.
Layer the ingredients evenly without overpacking, and use a thick whole berry cranberry sauce. Putting the cranberry sauce between the turkey and the cheese helps keep the rolls from absorbing too much moisture. If you can, assemble just before baking.
Serving Suggestions
More Traeger Turkey Recipes
More Traeger Chicken Recipes
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Soft Hawaiian rolls layered with turkey, cranberry sauce, and Swiss cheese, brushed with a buttery poppy seed topping and baked until golden.
Ingredients
- 1 package (12-count) Hawaiian sweet rolls
- 1 pound sliced or shredded cooked turkey
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Without separating the rolls, slice the entire slab in half horizontally. Place the bottom half in the baking dish.
- Layer the turkey on the bottom rolls, spoon the cranberry sauce evenly over the turkey, and top with the cheese. Add the top half of the rolls.
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, and thyme, if using. Brush the mixture over the rolls, allowing some to run between them.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10-12 minutes. Uncover and bake for 8-10 minutes more, until the tops are golden and the cheese is melted. Rest for 5 minutes, then cut into individual sliders.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 207Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 14g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate. If you are tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!
