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These turkey cranberry sliders pack all the best Thanksgiving flavors into one melty, buttery bite. Tender turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and creamy Havarti cheese on sweet Hawaiian rolls with a savory butter topping. Ready in about 30 minutes using leftover turkey or even deli turkey.
The perfect melty buttery bite.
I used to get stressed about a fridge full of leftovers, but now I kind of look forward to it.
What do you mean I don’t have to plan an elaborate meal days on end?
You really think I should just take everything out of my fridge and toss it together into a leftover turkey casserole?
Are you saying I can just pile turkey and cranberry onto buttery rolls and make the actual best little turkey sliders filled with melty Havarti (so creamy), tangy cranberry sauce, and a zippy little buttery sauce over the top?
Sold. Sign me up. Bring on the leftovers.
These cranberry turkey sliders are, honestly, perfection. It uses up 3 leftovers in one meal (turkey, cranberry sauce, rolls) and if you really wanted to, you could throw some stuffing or mashed potatoes on there too.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 30 minutes. Just assemble, brush with butter, and bake. No fancy techniques, no stress.
- Uses what you already have. Leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and basic pantry staples come together for something way better than reheated plates.
- Feeds a crowd with zero fuss. Twelve sliders means everyone gets fed, and you only dirty one baking dish. Perfect for day-after-Thanksgiving gatherings or easy weeknight dinners.
For the sliders:
Rolls – We love a Hawaiian roll for sliders, but any type of dinner roll is going to work just fine. Our homemade quick dinner rolls are perfect here, just make a double batch so you’re sure to have leftovers after the big day.
Roasted Turkey – This is the best way to use up that leftover turkey, but if you’re craving these sliders with no turkey in sight, go ahead and use deli turkey (thick sliced preferred!), a rotisserie chicken (no one’s gonna know), or you could really go the extra mile and make our air fryer turkey breast.
Cranberry Sauce – Homemade or the whole berry canned kind works great here.
Mayo – Just enough to give the sandwiches a little fat and moisture.
Havarti – If you’ve never tried havarti, it’s a really mild, super creamy cheese that melts like a dream. You could swap this for colby jack or smoked gouda, if that’s what you have, but we love havarti on sandwiches like this.
For the buttery topping:
Melted Butter – This is going to be the base of the sauce for our sliders.
Seasoning – A simple mix of garlic powder, onion powder, and salt will add flavor.
Dijon Mustard – Adds a nice kick to help balance the richness of the sliders.
Worcestershire Sauce – Honestly, just makes everything better. Adds that umami flavor we crave.
Poppy Seeds – These are totally optional and can be swapped for sesame seeds or left off entirely.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions:
Slice the slider rolls in half and spread the bottom half with mayonnaise.
Layer the turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce over the mayo and place the top bun over it all.
Stir together the butter and seasonings to combine.
Spoon the butter mixture over the sliders, cover with foil, and bake until hot and melty.
Helpful Tip!
Storage & Freezing:
Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in a 300-degree oven wrapped in foil for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through. Alternately, microwave until warm.
We haven’t tried freezing these and I’d be a bit worried about the mayo getting funky upon thawing.
Karly’s Tips & Tricks
Prep ahead: You can assemble these sliders a few hours ahead of time, cover with foil, and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Just add an extra 10 minutes to the covered baking time if they’re going in cold.
Give ’em a kick: Add a few slices of pickled jalapeños or a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet-spicy kick.
Get creative: Add a layer of stuffing or mashed potatoes if you really want to use up those leftovers!
More Slider Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Hawaiian Roll Sliders
- Crack Chicken Sliders
- Cuban Sliders
- Chicken Parm Sliders
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Ingredients
For the sliders:
- 1 12-count package King's Hawaiian Rolls or homemade dinner rolls
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 8 ounces sliced leftover turkey see notes
- 6 slices Havarti cheese
- ½ cup cranberry sauce see notes
For the topping:
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Sesame seeds or poppy seed optional
Instructions
To make the sliders:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Open the package of slider rolls and slice them in half horizontally. Place the bottom halves of the rolls into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the bottom of the rolls with the mayonnaise. Top with the turkey. Slice each piece of cheese into 4 squares and place 2 squares over each sandwich. Spread the cranberry sauce over the cheese and place the top bun on top of the sandwich.
For the topping:
- Combine the melted butter, dijon, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and kosher salt in a small bowl and whisk well.
- Spoon the butter mixture over the top of each roll. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, if using.
To bake:
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10-15 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and the rolls are browned a bit.
- Serve hot.
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