Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Need an idea for using up all of the Thanksgiving leftovers? My favorite way to turn the turkey into a whole new meal is to make Turkey Cranberry Sliders. They couldn’t be easier and they are super tasty! Simply fill Hawaiian rolls with turkey, cranberry sauce, your favorite cheese, and you could even add potatoes or stuffing.
This post and photos were updated on 11/20/18.
One of the main reasons I get so excited for Thanksgiving, besides my pumpkin pie dessert squares, is Black Friday. And these sliders are a Black Friday must! Black Friday is one of my favorite traditions. We’re old school and go shopping the morning after Thanksgiving because this girl needs her beauty rest. But I absolutely love getting up early on Friday, grabbing a white chocolate peppermint mocha and checking gifts off my kiddos’ wishlists, all with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. When we get home and are all just about to drop, I whip up these leftover turkey sliders. It’s the most delicious way to make a new meal out of the leftovers.
How To Use Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey
These Turkey Cranberry Sliders are so good and almost better than the big meal. The sweet and savory combo is so delicious and I’m pretty much a fan of any recipe using Hawaiian rolls.
If you’re looking for more ways to use the leftover turkey, just use any recipe that calls for shredded chicken and swap the chicken out for turkey. This Creamy Pumpkin Chicken Chili or this Healthy Harvest Cobb Salad would work great with turkey!
How To Make Leftover Turkey Sliders
Start off by grabbing all of the leftovers, plus a package of Sweet Hawaiian rolls, cheese, butter, and seasonings. If you don’t happen to have leftovers, but you want to make this recipe, you can use sliced deli turkey and store-bought cranberry sauce. Trader Joe’s makes a tasty option!
The first step to make these is to slice the Sweet Hawaiian Rolls. You want to keep all of the rolls together, like pictured below.
Next, you’re going to start layering the ingredients. Feel free to layer on more leftovers, if you have them. I think sweet potatoes or stuffing would be awesome on these as well. It really doesn’t matter the order you layer ingredients, but I start with the turkey.
Then, spread the cranberry sauce over the turkey. Use as much or little as you like.
The last layer here is the cheese. You can use any type of cheese. I like a white cheese for these sliders and I’ve used Swiss, Gouda and Provolone. A good smoked Gouda is my favorite.
Last, place the top half of the rolls over the cheese layer. Use a brush to spread the melted butter mixture over the rolls. If you don’t have a brush, you can spoon the melted butter over the rolls. Cook the rolls until cheese is melted and the turkey is heated. I cooked mine with tinfoil over the top for about 15 minutes, to keep the tops from getting too brown. After 15 minutes, take the tinfoil off and continue to cook for another 5-8 minutes.
Loving these Turkey Cranberry Sliders? You’ll love my other favorite cranberry recipes!
Sparkling Cranberry Lemon Mocktail
I’d love to know if you make this (or any) recipe! Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Need an idea for using up all of the Thanksgiving leftovers? My favorite way to turn the turkey into a whole new meal is to make Turkey Cranberry Sliders. They couldn't be easier and they are super tasty! Simply fill Hawaiian rolls with turkey, cranberry sauce, your favorite cheese, and you could even add potatoes or stuffing.
- 8 ounces leftover turkey or thick cut turkey deli meat
- 4 large slices Gouda, Havarti, Swiss or Provolone cheese (or other favorite cheese)
- 1 cup cranberry relish or sauce
- 1 package Hawaiian dinner rolls (12 rolls)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Everything Bagel seasoning or poppy seeds
Preheat oven to 375° F. and prepare a 9X13 (or slightly smaller) baking dish with cooking spray.
- Slice Hawaiian buns in half while keeping all of the buns attached to one another. Remove the top buns and set aside.
Place the bottom buns in the pan. Add the turkey over the buns and top with cranberry relish or sauce, slices of cheese and the tops of the buns.
- In a small microwave safe bowl, mix the butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon and seasoning or poppy seeds. Microwave for 30-60 seconds, or until the butter is melted.
Brush the butter mixture over the top of the buns. Cover with tinfoil and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes. Remove the tinfoil and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes. Serve immediately.
*Measurements for turkey, cranberry sauce and cheese are all approximate. Use the preferred amount for your sliders.
Did you make this recipe?
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Yay for cranberry season! I love baking with cranberries during the holidays. I also love making cranberry sauce not just for Thanksgiving, but to have throughout the season as well. What a fun idea to create sliders with the leftovers! And I love the idea of decorating with fresh cranberries and pecans…it’s perfect for this time of the year! #client
I am not the biggest fan of cranberries but I guess the mix with Turkey might make me like them. This recipes sounds great and the pictures are amazing! the sliders look so tasty!
I had some turkey sliders similar to this last year after thanksgiving they were mighty tasty Thanks for sharing
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Yes please! I just love cranberries! I’ll be making this soon. I know I’ll eat so many of these sliders.
These Turkey Cranberry Sliders look so delicious and easy to make. I am sure they are going to be a big hit with my family. It is a great way to use some leftover turkey.
I love your cranberry turkey sliders recipe! Those ingredients complement each other nicely and are oh so delicious!
Wow, this looks delicious! I love cranberry everything.
It’s cranberry season once again! Great recipes! I’ll try them all on weekends. Thanks!
Can’t wait to try the turkey sliders after Thanksgiving! They look absolutely amazing! Thanks for the idea!
This is a great idea to use up leftovers after Thanksgiving. My husband loves these kinds of things.
what a great idea! this will be good to pack as well for lunches or even a snack!
This looks absolutely amazing! We are for sure trying this recipe this Thanksgiving…thank you for such a wonderful idea!
I love these! Not a big turkey fan so i pulsed the turkey, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in the food processor. I used swiss cheese. Made an excellent lunch for my guests the day after Thanksgiving. Delicious!
So glad you enjoyed and thanks so much for taking time to comment!
This is a great way to use up that extra turkey and cranberries after Thanksgiving.
Great idea on the leftovers! I believe this will be a hit on our house, so yummy!
These look like the perfect handy food to get the day after Thanksgiving day started. I love them and may need to give this recipe a try!
What a great recipe to try in the season. Cranberry comforts me. Delicious!
Wow this looks delicious… feel like having it right away :D… Will definitely try this recipe 🙂
Just finished eating this! It was wonderful! I didn’t have the Everything Bagel seasoning so I used some poppy seeds and some onion salt, I used homemade cranberry orange sauce…….delicious! I will for sure make this again. Thank you for your recipe!
We made these the day after Thanksgiving. Delicious! We had a lot of leftover stuffing and added it to the turkey and cranberries. Will definitely make again.
I bet that was so good with the addition of stuffing! Thanks so much for taking time to comment and happy holidays!
Do they have to be eaten while they’re hot or are they good at room temp?
We ate the leftovers at room temperature this year!
Made this for a neighborhood potluck last night and it was a hit. Fast, easy & delicious… my kind of recipe!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed!!
Can you use chai seeds instead of poppy seeds?
I would think that would work just fine. Enjoy!
Looks amazing! What a wonderful idea. Can this be assembled in advance and baked later or would it get soggy?
Sorry I’m just now getting back to you. I think it would work fine to make these ahead as long as the cranberry sauce is not directly against the bread.
These were delicious! Also, they were easy to make since all the ingredients were at hand. Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m so glad you loved these as much as my family does!