Turkey Cranberry Sliders (Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers)

I stared at a plastic container of dry turkey breast the day after Thanksgiving and questioned my life choices. Eating it cold over the sink felt sad. Microwaving it sounded worse. These turkey cranberry sliders fix the problem.

They take the driest parts of yesterday’s bird and revive them under melted Swiss cheese, cranberry sauce, and a buttery mustard glaze. You layer the filling on Hawaiian sweet rolls, bake the pan covered for 15 minutes, then uncover it for 3 more minutes. Serve these thanksgiving leftover sliders with potato chips, salad, or a cold pilsner while the cheese stays warm.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Zero waste: You finally have a plan for thanksgiving leftover sliders that does not involve plain white bread.
• Fast cleanup: Everything bakes in a single pan.
• Crowd control: One batch feeds a room of hungry relatives.
• Low effort: The oven handles the work while you sit down.
• Sweet and savory: Cranberry sauce, Swiss cheese, turkey, and Hawaiian rolls balance each other.

Tools You’ll Need

Nothing fancy, I promise.

• 9×13 baking dish: A standard pan holds one pack of rolls.
• Serrated knife: Use a serrated knife to slice the entire slab of rolls in half at once.
• Pastry brush: A brush spreads the butter glaze into every corner.
• Small bowl: Whisk the glaze ingredients in a small bowl.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Measure the turkey, cranberry sauce, butter, and seasonings.

Ingredients

• 1 package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, 12-count – The sweetness balances the savory meat and tangy sauce.
• 3 cups cooked turkey, diced, sliced or pulled – Making turkey cranberry sliders with leftover turkey gives dry meat a second chance at life.
• 1 cup cranberry sauce – Use jellied or whole berry. It provides the crucial acid to cut the fat.
• 6 slices Swiss cheese – Melts smooth and adds a nutty bite.

For the Butter Drizzle

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted – Carries the spices and toasts the top buns.
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, or Dijon mustard – Adds a sharp tang to wake up the bread.
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder – Brings a savory depth to the sweet rolls.
• 1/8 teaspoon salt – Enhances the butter mixture.
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds, optional – Adds a tiny bit of crunch. Skip them if they get stuck in your teeth.

How To Make Turkey Cranberry Sliders

Assemble these fast, shove them in the oven, and go sit back down on the couch.

1. Preheat and prep: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick foil or spray with cooking spray with cooking spray. Do not skip the foil. Melted cranberry sauce turns into concrete on bare glass.
2. Slice the bread: Separate the Hawaiian Rolls (top and bottom portion) and place the bottom half of the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Keep the rolls connected. Slicing the whole slab horizontally saves you ten minutes of tedious work.
3. Build the layers: Layer with turkey, cranberry sauce and cheese then place the top part of the rolls back on top of the layers of ingredients. Spread the cranberry sauce evenly so nobody gets a dry bite.
4. Mix the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, mustard, garlic powder, salt and poppy seeds. Whisk right before pouring so the spices do not settle at the bottom.
5. Coat the tops: Pour butter mixture over the top of the buns and use a brush or spoon to spread the butter and spices evenly over the top. Coat the edges well. The corner pieces dry out fastest.
6. Bake covered: Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. The foil traps the steam and melts the cheese without burning the delicate sweet bread.
7. Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for 3 more minutes, uncovered. Watch them closely. They go from golden brown to charcoal in sixty seconds.
8. Serve: Serve immediately. Let them sit for two minutes so the cheese stops flowing like lava.

Seasoning and Taste as You Go

Taste the leftover turkey before you start. If it lacks salt, sprinkle a little directly on the meat layer. The sauce and cheese do heavy lifting, but bland meat stays bland.

• Lacking punch: Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the butter glaze.
• Overly salty: The sweet rolls usually fix this, but you can add extra cranberry sauce to balance the bite.
• Missing depth: Swap the yellow mustard for a grainy Dijon.

Perfect Pairings

Serve these with sharp sides to cut through the heavy butter and cheese.

• Salty potato chips add crunch against the soft rolls.
• A crisp green salad dressed in vinaigrette brightens the plate.
• A cold pilsner or dry hard cider balances the sweet cranberry sauce.
• Set out an Easy Thanksgiving Cheese Board Everyone Will Love if you need a holiday party slider recipe spread.

Make It Yours

Adapt this formula to whatever sits in your fridge.

• Protein swap: Thick-cut deli ham works perfectly and cuts the prep time to zero.
• Vegetarian version: Skip the meat entirely. Add thick slices of brie and roasted butternut squash.
• Spice level: Layer pickled jalapeños under the cheese for a sharp kick.
• Diet adaptation: Gluten-free rolls work, but they crumble faster under the heavy glaze.

Turkey Cranberry Sliders

These turkey cranberry sliders combine leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, Swiss cheese, Hawaiian sweet rolls, and a buttery mustard glaze in one 9×13 baking dish. You bake the sliders covered at 325°F for 15 minutes, then uncover them for 3 minutes to brown the tops. Make these turkey cranberry sliders for a holiday party, game day, or an easy thanksgiving leftovers slider recipe when you need a warm meal without extra work.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 23 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 197

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (12-count)
• 3 cups cooked turkey (diced sliced or pulled)
• 1 cup cranberry sauce
• 6 slices Swiss cheese
• 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (or Dijon mustard)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds (optional)

Equipment

• 9×13 baking dish
• Serrated knife
• Pastry brush
• Small bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons

Method

 

1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Dish

   Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with nonstick aluminum foil or lightly coat it with cooking spray.
2. Slice the Hawaiian Rolls

   Using a serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian rolls horizontally to separate the tops from the bottoms, keeping the rolls connected as one large slab. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared baking dish, cut side facing up.
3. Layer the Filling

   Arrange the turkey evenly over the bottom rolls, followed by the cranberry sauce and Swiss cheese. Spread the cranberry sauce across the filling so each slider gets a balanced amount. Place the top half of the rolls over the filling, aligning it with the bottom layer.
4. Prepare the Butter Glaze

   In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and poppy seeds until well combined. Whisk just before pouring to redistribute the seasonings evenly.
5. Coat the Sliders

   Pour the butter mixture over the tops of the rolls. Use a pastry brush or the back of a spoon to spread it evenly across the surface, making sure to coat the edges as well.
6. Bake Covered

   Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Covering the sliders helps retain moisture while the cheese melts and the filling warms through.
7. Bake Uncovered

   Remove the foil and return the sliders to the oven for another 3 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and the cheese is melted. Watch closely during this final stage, as the sweet rolls can brown quickly.
8. Serve Warm

   Remove the sliders from the oven and let them rest for about 2 minutes so the melted cheese can settle slightly. Separate the individual rolls and serve immediately while warm.

Recipe Notes

Cranberry BBQ Sauce Variation

For a flavorful twist, try replacing the plain cranberry sauce with homemade cranberry BBQ sauce. The sweet, tangy flavor pairs deliciously with the turkey and Swiss cheese.

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup cranberry sauce
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

1. Combine the cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce begins to bubble.
3. Spoon the cranberry BBQ sauce over the turkey layer before adding the top rolls and baking as directed.

Poppy Seed Substitutions

If you don’t have poppy seeds, simply leave them out of the butter mixture. Alternatively, use Everything Bagel seasoning for an extra savory flavor.