Cranberry Turkey Sliders 🦃🧀🍞

Cranberry Turkey Sliders are the cozy, party-perfect answer to one of life’s greatest questions: “What am I doing with all this turkey?” 😄 Whether you’re using holiday leftovers or grabbing deli turkey, these sliders bring together everything people love about a classic turkey dinner — tender meat, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and gooey cheese — and tuck it neatly into buttery, golden Hawaiian rolls.

They’re easy to assemble, bake beautifully in one pan, and disappear shockingly fast at parties, game nights, potlucks, or lazy Sunday dinners. Each bite is soft, slightly sweet, savory, tangy, cheesy, and just rich enough to feel indulgent without being heavy.

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The Magic of Cranberry + Turkey 🦃🍒

Turkey and cranberry are one of those iconic flavor pairings that just work:

• Tender sliced turkey adds mild, savory protein.
• Cranberry sauce brings sweetness and gentle tartness that cuts through the richness.
• Creamy, melty cheese (Havarti or Provolone) brings everything together.
• Soft, slightly sweet Hawaiian rolls make the perfect base and top — pillowy and golden.

Then, everything gets brushed with a buttery, tangy, herby topping speckled with poppy seeds and dried onion. That topping is what turns simple sliders into something that looks (and tastes) like you fussed way more than you did. ✨

These sliders are:

• Fantastic for using leftover turkey 🦃
• Easy to scale up or down
• Great to make ahead and bake just before serving
• Crowd-pleasers for adults and kids

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Ingredient Breakdown 🧺

Let’s walk through what goes into these sliders and why each piece matters.

Hawaiian Rolls 🍞

16 oz package Hawaiian rolls (12 count)

These slightly sweet rolls are perfect for sliders. They bake up soft, golden, and lightly caramelized around the edges. You’ll slice the whole sheet of rolls in half horizontally so you can fill and bake them like one big “slider slab,” then cut them apart later.

Turkey 🦃

1 lb deli turkey, thinly sliced

Thin slices layer really nicely and heat through quickly. You can use:

• Deli turkey (oven-roasted, smoked, or honey turkey all work)
• Or leftover roasted turkey, sliced or chopped

Turkey brings a gentle savoriness and protein to balance the sweetness of the rolls and cranberry sauce.

Cranberry Sauce 🍒

1 cup cranberry sauce (jellied or whole berry)

Either style works beautifully:

• Jellied spreads smoothly and evenly.
• Whole berry adds more texture and visible berries for a rustic feel.

Cranberry sauce wakes up the sliders with brightness and a little tang, so they never feel flat or heavy.

Cheese 🧀

6 slices Havarti or Provolone cheese

Both are great melting cheeses:

• Havarti is buttery, creamy, and mild.
• Provolone is smooth and slightly sharper, with a classic Italian-style flavor.

You’re layering the cheese over the cranberry and turkey so it melts into a unified, gooey layer during baking.

Butter Topping 🧈

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced dried onion
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
2 teaspoons fresh minced chives

This is your slider “glaze” — it adds flavor, texture, and a beautiful finish:

• Butter: Richness and golden color.
• Worcestershire sauce: Umami depth and slight tang.
• Dijon mustard: Gentle heat and sharpness to balance the sweet elements.
• Minced dried onion: Savory bits that soften slightly as they bake.
• Poppy seeds: Classic slider look plus light nutty flavor.
• Chives: Fresh, oniony brightness and a pop of green. 🌿

Brushing this mixture over the tops of the rolls is what makes them look bakery-quality when they come out of the oven.

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Step-by-Step: How to Make Cranberry Turkey Sliders 👩‍🍳

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350ºF (177ºC) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Lightly greasing the dish helps prevent sticking and makes it easy to lift the sliders out later. You can use butter or cooking spray.

2. Prepare the Rolls

Cut the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom half in the prepared baking dish.

Keep the rolls attached as a slab — slice them horizontally like you would a big sandwich bun.

• Place the bottom layer flat in the baking dish.
• Save the top layer for later.

This makes it much easier to assemble everything quickly and evenly.

3. Layer the Turkey

Arrange the sliced turkey evenly over the rolls.

Layer the turkey so it completely covers the rolls corner to corner. Overlapping slightly is perfect. You want every slider to have plenty of turkey in each bite.

4. Add the Cranberry Sauce

Evenly spread the cranberry sauce over the turkey.

You can:

• Use a spoon to dollop it and gently spread.
• Go all the way to the edges for even coverage.

Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly smooth — it will melt and settle as it bakes.

5. Add the Cheese

Layer the cheese slices on top of the cranberry sauce.

Lay the 6 slices of Havarti or Provolone to cover the cranberry-topped turkey.
Overlap the slices if needed — it’s better to err on the side of cheesy. 🧀

6. Cap with the Top Rolls

Cover with the top half of the rolls.

Place the top half of the Hawaiian rolls over everything like a lid, aligning them with the bottom half. At this point, your sliders are stacked and ready to be “glazed.”

7. Make the Butter Topping

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, minced dried onion, poppy seeds, and chives. Brush this mixture generously over the top of the rolls.

Stir together:

• Melted unsalted butter
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dijon mustard
• Minced dried onion
• Poppy seeds
• Fresh minced chives

Use a pastry brush (or spoon if needed) to coat the tops of the rolls thoroughly. Make sure every roll gets some of the onion, seeds, and chives — they bake into a fragrant, flavorful crust.

8. Bake Covered

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the sliders are heated through and the cheese has melted.

Covering with foil keeps the tops from browning too quickly and helps the cheese melt evenly and the turkey heat through.

At this stage, you’re aiming for:

• Warm turkey
• Fully melted cheese
• Rolls that are soft but starting to puff slightly

9. Brown the Tops

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes to allow the tops of the sliders to brown slightly.

Once you remove the foil, the butter topping and rolls get a chance to turn lightly golden. Watch carefully — they can brown quickly.

You’ll know they’re ready when:

• The tops are lightly toasted and shiny.
• Cheese is clearly melted and gooey at the edges.
• Everything smells incredible 😍

10. Serve

Serve the sliders warm from the oven.

Let them sit for a couple of minutes so they’re easier to slice. Then:

• Use a sharp knife to cut along the roll lines, creating 12 sliders.
• Serve them warm, straight from the pan or transferred to a platter.

They’re fantastic as-is, but you can also add extra cranberry sauce or even a small dish of gravy on the side if you’re feeling extra festive.

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When and How to Enjoy Cranberry Turkey Sliders 🎉

These sliders are perfect for:

• Holiday leftover nights 🦃
• Game day spreads 🏈
• Potlucks and family gatherings
• Casual movie nights
• Office parties or Friendsgiving

They also pack well for lunch if you let them cool and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently in the oven or air fryer to crisp the tops again.

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Variations & Tips 💡

• Cheese swaps: Swiss, mozzarella, or white cheddar also work beautifully.
• Extra flavor: Add a thin layer of stuffing or a spoonful of gravy between the turkey and cranberry for Thanksgiving-on-a-bun vibes.
• Make-ahead: Assemble sliders, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add a couple of extra minutes to the covered baking time to account for the cold start.
• Leftovers: Store leftover sliders in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 325ºF (163ºC) until warmed through.

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