Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into something totally crave-worthy with these turkey cranberry sliders. They're the perfect way to give all that excess roast turkey and cranberry sauce a creative, flavorful twist with sweet Hawaiian rolls and provolone cheese. This leftover glow-up recipe takes lunchtime to a whole new level.
While I love leftovers from Thanksgiving, having the same foods over and over can get boring fast. That's why these turkey sliders with a homemade tangy cranberry sauce offer a fresh take on holiday food that combines sweet, salty, and savory in one bite.
TL; DR Recipe Summary
- 👩🏼🍳 Cook Level: Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 😋 Taste: Sweet, tart, tangy, buttery, savory
- 🍽️ Best Served With: You can use up more of your leftover holiday sides like a creamy sweet potato casserole, easy baked macaroni and cheese, or an appetizer like caramelized onion and brie crostini.
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Tips, Tricks, and Reminders
- Do not cut the sliders into individual sandwiches. Rather, cut them lengthwise so that it creates one large sandwich to stuff with the turkey and other ingredients. After they warm in the oven, THEN cut them into bite size sliders.
- Save the au jus or gravy from Thanksgiving and use as a dip for the leftover turkey sliders.
- Tent aluminum foil over the top of the sliders as they bake so you do not run the risk of burning the tops of the slider buns. Trust me, no one likes biting into a hockey puck.
- Use just enough cheese to cover the area of the turkey and cranberry. Adding too much cheese may result in uneven melting.
The Main Ingredients
- Hawaiian Rolls - Soft, slightly sweet rolls that hold everything together.
- Cooked Turkey - Leftover sliced Thanksgiving turkey works perfectly, and it doesn't matter whether it's white or dark meat.
- Cranberry Sauce - Adds that tangy, tart, and slightly sweet flavor that rounds out the savory and cheesy profiles from the turkey and provolone.
- Provolone Cheese - Packs a well-balanced nutty and cheesy flavor.
- Butter - Brushed on top before baking for golden perfection.
- Dried Parsley - A sprinkle of fresh herbs to mix with the butter on top of the rolls.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Simple Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
- You do not need to use the hawaiian rolls if you'd prefer to use mini challah rolls, a hero, italian bread, etc.
- Swap out the provolone cheese for gruyere or swiss.
- Use whatever meat you have leftover if you are not a huge turkey fan. Sliced roasted chicken or even leftover ham works too!
How to make turkey cranberry siders
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper. Without separating the rolls, slice the whole slab of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom half on the baking sheet, then layer on the sliced turkey.
Step 2: To the turkey, spoon fresh cranberry sauce on top, spreading with the back of the spoon to create an even layer of cranberry sauce.
Step 3: Add a thin layer of sliced provolone cheese on top of the cranberry and turkey.
Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk melted butter with parsley. Place the top half of the rolls back on. Brush generously over the tops of the rolls. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Turkey Cranberry Sliders FAQs
These sliders are great when stored in a large airtight container for up to 4 days. You can reheat in the microwave or for a few minutes at 350º in the oven on aluminum foil.
You can smother these sliders with leftover garlic red skin mashed potatoes or even some homemade stuffing.
You can easily use whatever type of cranberry sauce you have leftover from your big feast. Homemade cranberry sauce is not necessary, but of course, is a simple and easy recipe to prep ahead of time.
Here are some other holiday-friendly recipes
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Equipment
- Sheet Pan or Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian Slider Rolls
- 2 cups Sliced Turkey white or dark meat
- ¾ cup Cranberry Sauce
- 4 slices Provolone Cheese
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 1 teaspoon Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper. Without separating the rolls, slice the whole slab of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom half on the baking sheet, then layer on the sliced turkey.
- To the turkey, spoon fresh cranberry sauce on top, spreading with the back of the spoon to create an even layer of cranberry sauce.
- Add a thin layer of sliced provolone cheese on top of the cranberry and turkey.
- In a small bowl, whisk melted butter with parsley. Place the top half of the rolls back on. Brush generously over the tops of the rolls. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
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