The Best Turkey Cranberry Slider Recipe
These turkey cranberry sliders are the ultimate way to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers — sweet, savory, cheesy, and baked to golden brown perfection!
The best leftover turkey recipes are ones that combine soft white bread rolls and fresh cranberry sauce. Add in melty cheese and extra seasoning, and these sliders do not disappoint!
After a big holiday feast, there’s nothing better than raiding the fridge for leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. These cranberry turkey sliders turn those fridge finds into something magical.
Think cozy comfort food meets easy weeknight dinner. Plus, they’re baked all at once, so there’s no flipping sandwiches while your teenagers hover over your shoulder asking, “Are they ready yet?”
If you’ve ever looked at your leftover homemade cranberry sauce and thought, “Now what?”, this recipe is your answer. So grab a pack of Hawaiian rolls, some cheese, and leftovers for a post-holiday hit that’s equal parts sweet, savory, and melty-good.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These leftover turkey cranberry sliders are the best of both worlds. They take all your favorite holiday flavors and wrap them up in soft, buttery Hawaiian dinner rolls.
They’re easy enough for a lazy Sunday, but impressive enough to serve to guests. The layers of turkey, cranberry sauce, and cheese give you that “just one more bite” feeling every single time.
Plus, they’re totally customizable — mix and match cheeses, sauces, or add-ins to make them your own!
In my opinion, the best part of any holiday meal is the leftovers, so be sure to add these cranberry turkey sliders to your menu planning. Holiday leftovers have never tasted so good!
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After many seasons of turkey roasting, I’ve learned to keep things like Hawaiian rolls and extra cheese on hand for easy meals the next day.
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Supplies
- 7×9″ casserole dish or baking sheet
- Serrated knife
- Pastry brush
- Aluminum foil
Turkey Cranberry Sliders Recipe
Ingredients
- Sweet Hawaiian rolls – These fluffy rolls are the perfect mix of sweet and soft, soaking up all that buttery goodness.
- Leftover turkey breast – There are always extra turkey slices around during the holiday season.
- Cranberry sauce – Use whatever leftover cranberry sauce you have on hand for that tangy-sweet flavor pop.
- Slices of cheese – Swiss, provolone, cheddar, or mozzarella — pick your favorite and let it melt into gooey perfection.
- Olive oil – Adds shine and helps the seasoning to stick to the tops of the rolls.
- Everything but the Bagel seasoning – A sprinkle of this adds crunch and flavor to your sliders.
Tip: What makes these sliders so special is the homemade cranberry salsa that we love to make during the holidays. It’s the perfect mix of cranberries, hot peppers, and fresh herbs.
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared pan.
4. Cut the turkey into bite-sized pieces. Layer on top of the rolls.
5. Spread cranberry sauce evenly over the turkey layer.
6. Top with a layer of cheese slices.
7. Place the top halves of the rolls over the filling.
8. Brush the tops of the sliders with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning.
9. Cover in aluminum foil.
10. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden brown.
This slider recipe makes about 12 mini sandwiches — perfect for feeding hungry teens, unexpected guests, or just yourself during a late-night fridge raid.
The beauty of this leftover turkey recipe is that it’s super versatile, and if you want to mix it up, there are a ton of delicious ways to create tasty sliders. The basic slider recipe is great for Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving leftovers!
I love making all kinds of slider recipes with Hawaiian rolls. They make creating a meal for the whole family really easy!
More Sliders Recipes
- This simply delicious roast beef sliders recipe makes the perfect party appetizer or quick main dish to feed a crowd. Everyone loves the combination of mouth-watering roast beef and melty cheese.
- This is the best hamburger sliders recipe – full of melty cheese and tasty hamburger on a sesame seed bun. These classic beef sliders make the perfect party appetizer!
- These delicious pulled pork sliders are irresistibly flavorful and perfect for any occasion. Tender, smoky pulled pork is piled onto soft buns and topped with tangy BBQ sauce.
- This recipe makes the best turkey cranberry sliders – perfect for using up that leftover turkey breast from the holidays. Use this easy recipe to make the most delicious leftover turkey sliders that you’ve ever had!
Substitutions
- Try making homemade cranberry sauce or cranberry salsa to go with Thanksgiving dinner. Then used the leftover cranberry sauce in this easy recipe.
- Use deli turkey, oven-roasted chicken, or beer can chicken instead of roasted turkey.
- Add leftover ham, stuffing, yams, or cooked carrots.
- Top the buns with sesame seeds and poppy seeds for a bakery-style finish.
- Replace olive oil with unsalted butter for a richer taste.
- Combine oil or melted butter with onion powder, garlic powder, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce for the top of the buns — it adds incredible flavor!
- Use your favorite cheese. Sliced Swiss cheese, provolone cheese, Havarti cheese, or even brie would all taste amazing.
- Add yellow mustard, Dijon, mayonnaise, or butter to the inside of the buns for extra flavor and moisture.
Tips and Tricks
- Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag for 2–3 days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer.
- For storage beyond a few days, freeze the sliders in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for a quick meal later.
- Plan to cook a turkey once a month and have leftovers for an entire week of meals! We love to use this garbage can turkey method for the most delicious bird!
- Use this awesome turkey brine recipe for the tastiest turkey, every time.
- Have more leftovers? Make this delicious turkey pizza or these tasty turkey salad sandwiches!
- Bake your sliders covered first to trap steam, then uncover for that perfect golden brown top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make turkey cranberry sliders ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble them a day ahead, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and store in the fridge. Just pop them in the oven when you’re ready to bake.
What’s the best cheese for turkey sliders?
Swiss, Havarti, or provolone cheese all melt beautifully. Cheddar cheese adds a nice sharp flavor too.
How do I keep the sliders from getting soggy?
Make sure to use just enough cranberry sauce and layer the turkey evenly. Baking uncovered for a few minutes helps evaporate extra moisture.
Can I freeze leftover sliders?
Absolutely! Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven until warm and melty again.
What other meats can I use besides turkey?
You can swap in ham, chicken, or even roast beef — they all taste fantastic in this sliders recipe.
If you love this leftover turkey cranberry slider recipe, please help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!
Leftover Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 pkg sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 2 cups leftover turkey breast
- ½ cup cranberry sauce
- 8 slices of cheese
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Everything but the Bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Slice the rolls in half. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the dish.
- Cut the turkey into bite-sized pieces. Layer on top of the rolls.
- Spread cranberry sauce evenly over the turkey layer.
- Top with a layer of cheese slices.
- Place the top of the rolls over the filling.
- Brush the top half of the rolls with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning.
- Cover in aluminum foil.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden brown.
Video
Notes
- Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag for 2–3 days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer.
- For storage beyond a few days, freeze the sliders in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for a quick meal later.
- Plan to cook a turkey once a month and have leftovers for an entire week of meals! We love to use this garbage can turkey method for the most delicious bird!
- Use this awesome turkey brine recipe for the tastiest turkey, every time.
- Have more leftovers? Make this delicious turkey pizza or these tasty turkey salad sandwiches!
- Bake your sliders covered first to trap steam, then uncover for that perfect golden brown top.
Nutrition
