Turkey Cranberry Sliders are a delicious way to turn leftover turkey into an easy and flavourful meal. Tender turkey, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, creamy cheese, and soft slider rolls come together in these warm, buttery sandwiches. They’re perfect for the days after Thanksgiving, holiday parties, family lunches, or a quick weeknight dinner.
The Best Turkey and Cranberry Sliders
Turkey and cranberry are a classic holiday combination, and these sliders bring those familiar flavours together in a simple handheld sandwich.
The savoury turkey pairs beautifully with sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, while melted cheese adds richness and helps bring everything together. Soft slider rolls are brushed with a buttery topping and baked until warm and golden.
These sliders are especially useful after Thanksgiving when you have containers of leftover turkey and cranberry sauce sitting in the refrigerator. Instead of eating the same leftovers on another plate, you can transform them into something completely different.
The recipe is also easy enough to prepare for a crowd. Assemble the sliders as one batch, bake them together, and separate them just before serving.
For an extra special holiday flavour, use leftover homemade cranberry sauce. If you don’t have any available, your favourite canned cranberry sauce works perfectly too.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these delicious holiday sliders.
Slider Rolls
Soft Hawaiian rolls are an excellent choice because their subtle sweetness complements the cranberry sauce.
You can also use brioche slider buns, dinner rolls, or any soft rolls you have available.
Keep the rolls connected when slicing them open so the sliders are easier to assemble and bake.
Cooked Turkey
Use sliced or shredded cooked turkey.
Leftover Thanksgiving turkey works beautifully, but deli turkey can also be used when you want to make these sliders at another time of year.
White meat, dark meat, or a combination of both can be used.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce provides sweetness and acidity that balances the savoury turkey and rich cheese.
Homemade cranberry sauce is delicious, but canned whole-berry or jellied cranberry sauce can also be used.
Cheese
Choose a cheese that melts well and complements the turkey.
Provolone, Swiss, Havarti, Brie, and Mozzarella are all excellent options.
For a sharper flavour, try cheddar.
Butter
Melted butter is brushed over the tops of the rolls before baking.
It adds richness and helps the rolls become golden and lightly crisp.
Dijon Mustard
A thin layer of Dijon mustard adds tang and helps balance the sweetness of the cranberry sauce.
Honey mustard can be used if you prefer a sweeter flavour.
Seasonings
Garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, parsley, or poppy seeds can be added to the butter topping.
A little black pepper also works beautifully with turkey.
How To Make Turkey Cranberry Sliders
These sliders are incredibly easy to assemble and bake.
Prepare the Rolls
Preheat your oven to approximately 350°F (175°C).
Keep the slider rolls connected and carefully slice them horizontally using a serrated knife.
Place the bottom half of the rolls into a baking dish.
Don’t separate the individual rolls yet.
Add the Turkey
Arrange the cooked turkey evenly over the bottom half of the rolls.
If using sliced turkey, slightly overlap the slices.
If using shredded turkey, spread it evenly so every slider gets a good amount.
Add the Cranberry Sauce
Spread a layer of cranberry sauce over the turkey.
You don’t need a very thick layer. A moderate amount provides plenty of flavour without making the bread soggy.
If your cranberry sauce is very thick, gently spread it with the back of a spoon.
Add the Cheese
Place slices of your chosen cheese over the cranberry sauce.
Make sure the cheese covers most of the surface.
As it melts, it will help hold the turkey and cranberry sauce together.
Add Dijon Mustard
For extra flavour, spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard over the top or bottom rolls.
If you don’t enjoy mustard, simply leave it out.
Add the Top Rolls
Carefully place the top half of the rolls over the filling.
Press down gently so the sandwiches stay together.
Prepare the Butter Topping
Melt the butter in a small bowl.
Add garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, or parsley.
For a holiday-inspired flavour, a little dried sage can also be delicious.
Stir until everything is combined.
Brush the Rolls
Brush the seasoned melted butter generously over the tops of the rolls.
Make sure the butter reaches the edges.
You can sprinkle poppy seeds or sesame seeds over the top if desired.
Bake
Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminium foil.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the turkey is heated through and the cheese has melted.
Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5–10 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.
Watch carefully during the final few minutes to prevent the rolls from becoming too dark.
Slice and Serve
Remove the sliders from the oven and allow them to cool for a couple of minutes.
Use a sharp knife to separate the individual sliders.
Serve warm while the cheese is still melted.
Using Leftover Turkey from Thanksgiving
These sliders are one of the best ways to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
After a large holiday meal, it’s common to have more turkey than you know what to do with. Instead of making another traditional turkey dinner, turn those leftovers into warm, cheesy sliders.
Both white and dark meat work well.
If the turkey has become slightly dry after refrigeration, shredding it and combining it with cranberry sauce and melted cheese can help make it much more enjoyable.
Leftover turkey gravy can also be served alongside the sliders as a dipping sauce.
You can even use other Thanksgiving leftovers.
Add a thin layer of stuffing for extra texture and flavour.
A small amount of mashed potatoes can also be added, although you should avoid making the sandwiches too thick.
Leftover roasted vegetables can be served alongside the sliders rather than added inside.
If you have leftover cranberry sauce, turkey, and cheese, you already have most of what you need for a delicious post-Thanksgiving meal.
These sliders can also be prepared with leftover turkey from Christmas or another holiday dinner.
Tips
Don’t Use Too Much Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce contains moisture, and using too much can make the rolls soggy.
A thin, even layer is enough to provide plenty of flavour.
Use Soft Rolls
Soft Hawaiian rolls, brioche, or dinner rolls work best.
They absorb some of the butter and cranberry flavour while remaining tender.
Choose a Good Melting Cheese
Provolone, Swiss, Havarti, and mozzarella all melt beautifully.
If using a cheese that doesn’t melt as easily, consider combining it with mozzarella.
Don’t Overbake
The turkey is already cooked, so you’re mainly heating the filling and melting the cheese.
Too much time in the oven can dry out the turkey and rolls.
Add Fresh Herbs
If you have fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, or parsley available, finely chop a little and add it to the butter topping.
Fresh herbs make the sliders taste especially festive.
Add Stuffing
For a true Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, add a thin layer of stuffing between the turkey and cheese.
Don’t add too much because the sliders can become difficult to eat.
Add Bacon
Crispy bacon adds smoky, salty flavour and works surprisingly well with cranberry sauce.
Try Brie
Brie is an excellent choice if you want a more elegant holiday slider.
Its creamy texture pairs beautifully with turkey and cranberry.
Make Them Spicy
Add a thin layer of spicy mustard or a few sliced jalapeños.
The heat provides a nice contrast to the sweet cranberry sauce.
Prepare Ahead
You can assemble the sliders several hours before baking.
Cover the dish and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook.
For the best results, brush the butter topping over the rolls shortly before baking.
If the sliders are refrigerated before baking, they may need a few extra minutes in the oven.
Keep the Rolls Together
Don’t separate the individual rolls during assembly.
Keeping them connected makes the sliders easier to prepare and bake evenly.
Serving Turkey Cranberry Sliders
These sliders can be served as an appetizer, snack, lunch, or complete meal.
For a holiday party, arrange them on a large serving platter and garnish with fresh rosemary or parsley.
For a casual family meal, serve them with potato chips, sweet potato fries, roasted potatoes, or a simple green salad.
If you’re serving them as part of a Thanksgiving leftover dinner, pair them with leftover stuffing, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or gravy.
A small bowl of warm turkey gravy on the side makes an excellent dipping sauce.
You can also serve cranberry sauce in a small bowl for anyone who wants extra sweetness.
For a holiday brunch, serve the sliders alongside fresh fruit and a simple green salad.
If you’re preparing them for game day, add chips, dips, vegetable sticks, and other finger foods to create an easy buffet.
Turkey Cranberry Sliders are a simple and delicious way to give leftover turkey a completely new life. The combination of savoury turkey, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, creamy melted cheese, and buttery rolls creates the perfect balance of flavours.
They’re especially useful after Thanksgiving, but there’s no reason to wait for a holiday. You can make them with deli turkey, store-bought cranberry sauce, and your favourite cheese any time of year.
For the best results, don’t overload the rolls with cranberry sauce, choose a good melting cheese, and bake the sliders just until the cheese is melted and the tops are golden. Serve them warm and watch them disappear from the table.
PrintTurkey Cranberry Sliders
Use your Thanksgiving leftovers for these Turkey Cranberry Sliders! These Hawaiian roll turkey sliders are made with turkey, cranberry sauce and swiss cheese and baked to perfection with a butter drizzle.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Snacks
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, 12-count
- 3 cups cooked turkey, diced, sliced or pulled
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
For the butter drizzle:
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, or Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick foil or spray with cooking spray with cooking spray.
- Separate the Hawaiian Rolls (top and bottom portion) and place the bottom half of the rolls into the prepared baking dish.
- Layer with turkey, cranberry sauce and cheese then place the top part of the rolls back on top of the layers of ingredients.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, mustard, garlic powder, salt and poppy seeds.
- Pour butter mixture over the top of the buns and use a brush or spoon to spread the butter and spices evenly over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for 3 more minutes, uncovered.
- Serve immediately.
