Turkey Cranberry Sliders

Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious turkey cranberry sliders with buttery rolls, melty cheese, and a pop of sweet-savory flavor. They’re quick, comforting, and the perfect next-day meal.

Jessica’s Recipe Science

The provolone cheese creates a melty, moisture barrier that keeps the turkey from drying out and binds the sliders together.
Leftover cranberry sauce adds acidity and natural pectin, giving the sliders a pop of flavor while helping the layers stick together.
A butter–mustard glaze adds flavor to the meat and boosts browning for a golden, flavorful finish on the rolls.

Why It Works

After a long day of Thanksgiving cooking, these turkey cranberry sliders are the easy win every tired chef deserves. They’re a simple, delicious way to use up leftover rolls, turkey, and jammy cranberry sauce. You can even tuck in a little classic stuffing or mashed potatoes if you have them.

I always make extra Hawaiian rolls during the feast so I can turn them into these mini sandwiches the next day. A lightly sweetened butter–mustard glaze adds flavor to the turkey, helps the rolls brown beautifully, and makes the everything bagel seasoning stick. Add a few slices of gooey cheese, bake on one sheet pan, and you’ve got warm, melty sliders that make leftovers feel exciting again.

Ingredients You’ll Need

List of ingredients needed to make this turkey cranberry sliders recipe.

Bread: Hawaiian rolls add sweetness to the sliders, which balances the savory turkey. Use homemade rolls or a store-bought 12-ounce package of King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls, yielding twelve sliders.
Butter Sauce: To add flavor to the turkey and the rolls, brush them with melted butter, Dijon mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt.
Turkey: Use about 8 ounces of leftover turkey, sliced or shredded, for the sliders. Add more to your liking for a heartier serving.
Cranberry Sauce: Use leftover homemade cranberry sauce for a sweet-and-tangy flavor, with big bites of fruit. You’ll need ¾ cups of sauce.
Cheese: Use slices of Provolone cheese to complement the warm roasted turkey. This type of cheese has a mild, buttery, and subtle tanginess. You’ll need ten slices for the sliders.
Topping: Sprinkle on everything bagel seasoning on the rolls. It’s typically a mixture of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic and onion, and salt. You can add these ingredients individually instead, or omit a topping altogether.

See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).

Ingredient Substitutions

This leftover turkey cranberry sliders recipe is easy to customize! Try these tasty options:

Bread Swaps: Use white or whole wheat dinner rolls instead of Hawaiian dinner rolls.
Meat: Use roasted chicken or deli turkey meat. You can even add leftover honey-glazed ham to make ham and cheese sliders!
Cheese: Use your favorite cheese, like Havarti cheese, Swiss cheese, brie cheese, mozzarella, gouda, smoked gouda, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese.
Worcestershire Substitutes: Use soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos. Alternatively, combine half soy sauce and half vinegar to add tang.
Sweetener Options: Instead of honey, use maple syrup, agave, or brown sugar.
Sauce Swaps: Use canned whole berry cranberry sauce, chutney, strawberry jam, apricot preserves, or cranberry relish.
Fillings: Add arugula or spinach for some greens. Add leftover turkey gravy, stuffing, or mashed potatoes for the ultimate leftover Thanksgiving turkey slider.

How to Make Turkey Cranberry Sliders

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Place the oven rack in the center for even baking, and preheat to 350°F (177°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or foil so the sliders don’t stick and cleanup stays easy.

Melted butter and spices in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Make the Butter Sauce

For extra flavor, whisk together melted butter, Dijon mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and a pinch of salt. This quick sauce adds a savory, lightly sweet boost to the turkey and the rolls, helping everything brown beautifully as it bakes.

Hawaiian rolls being cut in half with a serrated kitchen knife.

Step 3: Slice the Rolls

A 12-count package of King’s Hawaiian rolls is baked as a single sheet, so keep them attached and slice the whole sheet in half horizontally. This gives you one large top and bottom layer, making assembling the sliders fast and easy.

Quick Substitution: If using individual rolls, cut them in half and line them up side by side on the sheet pan.

Spatula spreading cranberry sauce over the top of sliced turkey.

Step 4: Assemble the Sliders

Set the bottom buns, cut side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Arrange six slices of provolone cheese over the rolls, overlapping them to ensure complete coverage. Layer the turkey slices evenly over the cheese. Brush about half of the butter mixture over the turkey layers.

Brush applying melted butter to the top of Hawaiian rolls on a sheet tray.

Evenly spread the tangy cranberry sauce on top. Add the remaining slices of cheese. Add the tops of the rolls, then brush them with the remaining butter sauce. Sprinkle the seed seasoning mixture over the buns.

Tips for Perfect Execution: Sandwiching the turkey between the cheese slices ensures that the slider components stick together after baking. The gooey cheese acts like glue, sticking everything together.

Baked turkey sliders with browned tops that have everything bagel seasoning.

Step 5: Bake the Sliders

Cover the sliders with aluminum foil, then bake for 15 minutes. This traps the steam, helping the meat warm up and the cheese melt. The foil is removed, and the sliders are baked until the rolls are golden brown and slightly crisp.

Stack turkey cranberry sliders with everything bagel seasoning.

Step 6: To Serve

Place the cranberry turkey sliders on a cutting board, then slice them into individual sandwiches with a large knife. Enjoy them while they are hot!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the secret to a juicy slider?

Add a butter sauce on top of the meat to retain the moisture. This will keep the turkey sliders juicy. Layering the meat between slices of cheese also helps keep it from drying out in the oven.

What’s the best cheese that goes with turkey?

Swiss, provolone, and cheddar are my go-to cheeses for turkey because they melt well and add just the right savory balance. If you want to mix things up, creamy Havarti, spicy pepper jack, or buttery Gouda are great options, and for a more gourmet twist, Brie or Muenster adds a rich, indulgent touch.

Can I make turkey sliders ahead of time?

You can layer all of the ingredients, cover in foil, and store in the refrigerator 1 day in advance. Increase bake time to 20 minutes covered, as the slider ingredients will be cold. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.