You know that moment on Black Friday when you open the fridge and face that mountain of leftover turkey? Last year, Emily groaned when she saw it all (again), but then I made these turkey cranberry sliders and suddenly she was asking if we could have Thanksgiving more often!
These sliders take about 30 minutes total and honestly? They're one of those recipes where the leftovers might actually taste better than the original meal. The sweet cranberry sauce mixed with savory turkey and melty cheese creates this amazing flavor combination that works for everything from casual lunches to game day parties.
If you're looking for more creative ways to use up those holiday leftovers, you'll want to check out my easy chicken pot pie recipe with crescent rolls – it uses similar techniques but with a totally different flavor profile!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- Ingredients For Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- How To Make Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- Storage And Reheating Tips
- Tips For The Best Leftover Turkey Sliders
- Variations On Turkey Sliders With Cranberry
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders FAQs
- Recipes You May Like
- Final Thoughts On These Amazing Sliders
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Why You'll Love These Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- Ready in 30 minutes – Perfect for when you need a quick meal after all that holiday cooking
- Uses leftovers brilliantly – Transforms turkey and cranberry sauce into something that feels brand new
- Kid-approved – Emily actually requests these now, and that's saying something
- Makes 12 servings – Great for feeding a crowd or meal prep for the week
- Sweet and savory combo – The cranberry sauce with Havarti cheese is just chef's kiss
- Customizable – Easy to adapt based on what you have in your fridge
Ingredients For Turkey Cranberry Sliders
For The Sliders
- 12-count package Hawaiian rolls
- 8 ounces sliced turkey (leftover or deli works great)
- 8 ounces sliced Havarti cheese
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
For The Butter Topping
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
How To Make Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Preparing The Base
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or rimmed baking sheet.
- Take those Hawaiian rolls and cut them in half horizontally – keep them connected as one big sheet. This makes assembly so much easier!
- Place the bottom half of the rolls in your prepared baking dish.
Building The Sliders
- Layer the sliced turkey evenly over the bottom buns. I usually tear larger pieces to make sure every slider gets some.
- Add the Havarti cheese slices over the turkey. Don't skip this step – the cheese acts as a barrier that keeps everything from getting soggy.
- Spread the cranberry sauce over the cheese layer. I use a spoon to dollop it around and then spread it gently. Doesn't need to be perfect!
- Place the top half of the rolls over the cranberry layer.
Making The Butter Mixture
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, everything bagel seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
- Drizzle this mixture evenly over the tops of the rolls. Use a pastry brush if you have one, or just drizzle and spread with a spoon.
Baking The Sliders
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the sliders are heated through and the cheese has melted completely.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes to let the tops get slightly golden and crispy.
- Let them cool for just 2-3 minutes, then cut into individual sliders and serve warm!
Storage And Reheating Tips
These turkey cranberry sliders keep really well, which is great news if you're making them for meal prep or want to have easy lunches ready.
Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I usually wrap them individually in foil so I can just grab one when I need it.
To reheat, wrap in foil and warm in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes, or microwave for 30-45 seconds. The oven method keeps them from getting soggy, but honestly? When I'm hungry, the microwave works just fine.
You can also freeze these! Wrap unbaked sliders tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen at 350°F for 30-35 minutes covered, then 5 minutes uncovered.
Tips For The Best Leftover Turkey Sliders
Use whole berry cranberry sauce, not jellied. I learned this the hard way last year when the jellied version melted everywhere and created a sticky mess. The whole berry version holds up much better during baking.
Don't skip the butter topping. I know it seems like an extra step, but this is what takes these from good to amazing. The Dijon and Worcestershire add this tangy depth that balances the sweet cranberry perfectly.
Keep the rolls connected while assembling. Trust me on this – trying to make 12 individual sliders is way more work than necessary. Cut them apart after baking.
Let the cheese do its job. The Havarti creates this creamy layer that keeps the bottom buns from getting soggy. Plus, it melts beautifully and adds a mild, buttery flavor that doesn't compete with the other ingredients.
Can you use different cheese? Absolutely! Swiss, provolone, or even a sharp cheddar would work. I just really love how mild and creamy Havarti is with the sweet cranberry.
Adjust the mustard to your taste. If you're not a huge Dijon fan, start with just 2 teaspoons and taste the butter mixture before adding more.
Variations On Turkey Sliders With Cranberry
Want to mix things up? Here are some ways I've adapted this recipe:
Add stuffing: Layer some leftover stuffing under the turkey for an extra Thanksgiving vibe. Just don't add too much or the sliders get too tall to eat easily.
Try different rolls: Brioche buns are amazing if you want something a bit richer. Regular dinner rolls work too, though I really do love the sweetness of Hawaiian rolls here.
Make them spicy: Add sliced jalapeños or a drizzle of sriracha mayo. Emily thinks I'm crazy when I do this, but sometimes I want that kick!
Use different meat: Leftover ham with cranberry sauce? Yes please! It's actually one of my Christmas Day traditions now.
Go veggie: Replace the turkey with roasted portobello mushrooms or thick slices of roasted sweet potato. Not traditional, but surprisingly good.
Turkey Cranberry Sliders FAQs
Yes! Assemble the sliders completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 5 extra minutes to the covered baking time.
Any soft dinner rolls or slider buns work well. Brioche buns are an excellent sweet alternative that complements the cranberry sauce.
Yes. Assemble unbaked sliders, wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen at 350°F for 30-35 minutes covered, then 5 minutes uncovered.
Serve with sweet potato fries, coleslaw, a green salad, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal that complements the savory-sweet flavors.
Recipes You May Like
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders – Another crowd-pleasing slider recipe that's perfect for parties
- Reuben Sandwich Sliders – If you love deli-style sandwiches, these are incredible
- Ham Cheese Pinwheels – Another easy way to feed a crowd with minimal effort
Final Thoughts On These Amazing Sliders
Listen, I get it. After Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to do is eat the same meal again. But these turkey cranberry sliders genuinely feel like a completely different dish.
The combination of melted cheese, sweet cranberry, and that buttery topping creates something special. Plus, they're so simple that even on that crazy day-after-Thanksgiving when you just want to sit on the couch in stretchy pants, you can still pull these together.
Make a batch this weekend! Whether you're using up actual Thanksgiving leftovers or just grabbed some deli turkey because these sounded good (totally valid), I think you're going to love how easy and tasty these sliders turn out.
Don't forget to pin this recipe to your Thanksgiving or leftover recipes board on Pinterest so you can find it when you need it most!
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Equipment
- 9x13 pan
Ingredients
Sliders
- 12 count Hawaiian rolls package
- 8 ounces sliced turkey
- 8 ounces sliced Havarti cheese
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
Topping
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or rimmed baking sheet.
- Cut the rolls in half horizontally.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared baking dish.
- Add the turkey in a layer over the bottom buns, and then layer the sliced cheese over the turkey.
- Top the cheese with the cranberry sauce, spreading to cover as needed.
- Place the tops of the buns over the cranberry sauce.
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, bagel seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar until well-combined.
- Drizzle the tops of the rolls with the butter mixture.
- Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the sliders are heated through and the cheese has melted.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for about 5 minutes.
- Serve warm.
