Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sliders: 30-Min Easy Recipe
These Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sliders are the ultimate way to use up turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and cheese in one delicious bite. From fridge to table in under 30 minutes, they’re a crowd-pleaser that makes leftover season something to celebrate.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls (1 package)
- 2 cups cooked turkey, shredded or chopped
- 1/2 cup leftover cranberry sauce
- 6 slices Swiss cheese (or provolone, mozzarella, or cheddar)
- 1/2 cup leftover stuffing (optional but highly recommended)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion (or onion powder)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, take the leftover turkey out of the fridge so it comes to room temperature slightly.
- Prepare the rolls. Place the entire block of 12 Hawaiian rolls on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the entire block in half horizontally. Keep the tops and bottoms intact as a single piece. Place the bottom half of the rolls in your greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread the cranberry sauce. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the leftover cranberry sauce evenly over the bottom half of the rolls. If your cranberry sauce is very thick, warm it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it spreadable.
- Add the turkey. Distribute the shredded or chopped turkey evenly over the cranberry sauce. If you are using leftover stuffing, crumble it over the turkey now.
- Layer the cheese. Place the Swiss cheese slices over the turkey. If you are using slices, tear them in half and arrange them so every slider gets a piece.
- Place the tops back on. Carefully lift the top half of the rolls and place it over the cheese and turkey. Gently press down to compact the sliders slightly.
- Make the butter topping. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and dried minced onion. Stir until well mixed. Brush this mixture generously over the tops of the rolls, making sure to get the edges. If using, sprinkle poppy seeds over the buttered tops.
- Cover and bake. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Uncover and finish baking. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Rest and serve. Let the sliders rest in the pan for 5 minutes before cutting. Use a sharp knife to cut along the individual roll seams. Serve warm.
Notes
Don’t skip the foil covering for the first 10 minutes to ensure the turkey and cheese heat through without burning the bread. Shred the turkey instead of slicing it to prevent it from sliding out. You can assemble the sliders up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate; add 5 minutes to the covered baking time if starting from cold. For a dairy-free version, use vegan cheese and plant-based butter. For gluten-free, use gluten-free Hawaiian rolls.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: Thanksgiving leftovers, turkey sliders, leftover turkey recipe, easy sliders, 30-minute recipe, holiday leftovers, comfort food