An Edible Mosaic™

Everyday Fare With Extraordinary Flair

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • explore world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • tex mex
    • thai
  • web stories
  • my other blog

Home » Type » Appetizers » Best Turkey Sliders Recipe – For When You Need an Easy Appetizer Everyone Loves

Best Turkey Sliders Recipe – For When You Need an Easy Appetizer Everyone Loves

December 26, 2022 by Faith Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

Turkey sliders combine gooey cheese, cranberry sauce, and honey mustard butter sauce on soft Hawaiian rolls for an easy appetizer that’s perfect for game day, holiday parties, or any gathering! These are great for reinventing leftover turkey, or you can use rotisserie chicken.

stack of turkey sliders with swiss cheese and cranberry sauce

If you’re looking for a quick and easy snack or appetizer that feeds a crowd and is always a hit, look no further.

This easy turkey sliders recipe starts with sweet Hawaiian slider rolls. Then we add cheese, turkey (get your favorite sliced turkey at the deli, or use leftovers if you have them on hand), and cranberry sauce. But the real magic is in the butter sauce!

We use a honey mustard butter sauce with a touch of Dijon and a little bit of honey. This flavor combination pairs really well with turkey, and makes these sliders completely irresistible.

And no worries if cranberry sauce isn’t your thing. You can easily swap it out for something else, such as thinly sliced apple, marinara sauce, or pesto (only use 1/2 cup if you go with pesto).

The best part is, you can make these ahead of time, and they reheat well. They’re perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer, Christmas party, New Year’s Eve get together, game day event, or any gathering where you need a really good appetizer to nibble on.

top view of spread of turkey sliders on serving board and on appetizer plates

In This Article

  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Easy Turkey Sliders Recipe with Cranberry Sauce and Swiss Cheese
  • Storage and Reheating
  • Variations on This Turkey Sliders Recipe
  • Turkey Sliders Recipe FAQs
  • What Do You Serve with Turkey Sliders?
  • Turkey Sliders Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s a classic flavor combination (turkey + Swiss cheese), but it’s kicked up with a twist. Cranberry sauce adds sweet/tart fruity flavor, and honey mustard butter sauce takes these mini sandwiches over the top.
  • You can make these turkey sliders on Hawaiian rolls the day before if you want! Full instructions are in the Notes in the recipe card below.
  • This recipe is a great way to reinvent leftovers into a completely different meal. You can use leftover turkey (or rotisserie chicken), cranberry sauce, and you can even add stuffing!
hand holding turkey slider

Easy Turkey Sliders Recipe with Cranberry Sauce and Swiss Cheese

turkey sliders recipe ingredients

Honey Mustard Butter Sauce Ingredients

  • Salted butter – this is the base of our butter sauce; if you don’t have salted butter, use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt
  • Dijon mustard – adds the mustard flavor to our honey mustard butter sauce
  • Honey – for a touch of sweetness to round out the mustard
  • Worcestershire sauce – for savory depth of flavor
  • Dried minced onion – bumps up the savory factor
  • Poppy seeds – if you like poppy seeds buns or poppy seed bagels, don’t skip this ingredient

Baked Turkey Sliders with Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

  • King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls – these have a slightly sweet flavor, chewy texture, and they’re absolutely delicious; however, any type of slider rolls will work
  • Swiss cheese – this cheese is a classic pairing with turkey, but you can use any type of cheese you like
  • Thinly sliced deli turkey breast – or use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. If you’re going with deli turkey, you can use your favorite; my favorite is Boar’s Head Maple Glazed Honey Coat Turkey Breast
  • Cranberry sauce – homemade cranberry sauce or store-bought cranberry sauce is fine; this adds a delicious sweet flavor to contrast the savory components

Step by Step Instructions

stirring butter sauce for sliders

Stir together all ingredients for the honey mustard butter sauce in a small bowl and set aside.

cutting hawaiian rolls in half

Put the entire tray of rolls onto a cutting board and horizontally slice through them. You should be able to pick up the top of the rolls as a unit.

how to assemble turkey sliders
  1. Line a small baking tray with foil. Place the bottom half of the rolls on the prepared baking tray.
  2. Layer on 6 slices of cheese.
  3. And then the turkey.
  4. Dollop on the cranberry sauce.
how to bake turkey sliders
  1. Top with the remaining 6 slices of cheese.
  2. Place the top half of the rolls on top.
  3. Spoon on the butter sauce.
  4. Cover the rolls with foil and bake for 25 minutes, removing the foil during the last 5 minutes.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover turkey sliders covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

These little sandwiches reheat well in the oven or air fryer at 350F. Cover them with foil to prevent over-browning. In the oven it takes about 10 to 12 minutes, and in the air fryer it takes about 5 to 6 minutes.

Variations on This Turkey Sliders Recipe

  • Instead of Swiss cheese, use any type of cheese you like.
  • I love using thinly sliced deli turkey because it’s easily available all year, but you can also use leftover turkey or leftover chicken.
  • If cranberry sauce isn’t your thing, leave it out! Instead you can add 1 thinly sliced apple, 3/4 cup marinara sauce, or 1/2 cup pesto.
appetizer plate of turkey sliders with more sliders in background

Turkey Sliders Recipe FAQs

What Cheese Goes Best with Turkey?

There are quite a few different types of cheese that pair well with turkey. Here are a few ideas:

  • Swiss or Emmental
  • Provolone
  • Havarti
  • Monterey Jack
  • Cheddar
  • Gouda

We use Swiss cheese in this turkey sliders recipe, but you can swap it out for any type of cheese that you like paired with turkey.

How Do You Keep Sliders From Getting Soggy?

There are two tricks to avoid soggy sliders:

  1. Don’t use too much butter sauce, and
  2. Bake them uncovered for the last 5 minutes.

This recipe uses 6 tablespoons of butter, which is perfect for this amount of sliders. Any more than that, and you run the risk of soggy sliders.

And we remove the foil during the last 5 minutes of cooking time, which not only helps brown the tops, but it also helps crisp up the sliders.

How Can I Make Sliders From Leftovers?

Thanksgiving leftovers are perfect for sliders. You can use leftover turkey (or rotisserie chicken) instead of turkey from the deli. You can also use leftover cranberry sauce.

If you want to make turkey sliders with stuffing, it’s easy to do! You will need about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of stuffing; spread it around on the bread before adding the first layer of cheese.

Can You Make Sliders Ahead of Time?

Yes! You can assemble these sliders the day before you want to serve them, just don’t top with the butter sauce.

Cover them well, and then the next day when you want to serve them, let them sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. Top with the butter sauce, cover with foil, and bake as directed.  

How Many Sliders per Person is the Serving Size?

Two sliders is a good serving size per person.

hand reaching in to grab turkey slider off baking tray

What Do You Serve with Turkey Sliders?

You can either serve turkey sliders along with side dishes to make it a full meal, or serve them with more appetizers as a party spread.

To make turkey sliders a full meal, serve them with:

  • Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad – a copycat recipe from Outback Steakhouse that’s even better than the original
  • Creamy Brussels Sprouts Salad – minimal ingredients, but full of flavor and texture
  • Lentil Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette – an incredibly delicious blend of flavors
  • Sweet and Smoky Baked Sweet Potato Fries – made crunchy in the oven!

To serve sliders as part of an appetizer spread, serve them with:

  • Beer Batter Onion Rings – the best onion rings of your life
  • Baked Jalapeno Poppers – super cheesy and delicious (and also keto!)
  • Quick and Easy Grilled Peppers – they’re also great in the oven
  • Three Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms – always one of the first things to disappear off an appetizer table
close up view of a stack of turkey sliders with cranberry sauce

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from you!
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment.
You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
xoxo, Faith

Turkey Sliders Recipe

By: Faith Gorsky
Turkey sliders combine gooey cheese, cranberry sauce, and honey mustard butter sauce on soft Hawaiian rolls for an easy appetizer that’s perfect for game day, holiday parties, or any gathering! These are great for reinventing leftover turkey, or you can use rotisserie chicken.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 494 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Honey Mustard Butter Sauce:

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Turkey Sliders with Cranberry Sauce:

  • 12 ounce package King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls with 12 slider rolls
  • 12 slices Swiss cheese 1 ounce each for a total of 12 ounces
  • 12 ounces thinly sliced deli turkey breast my favorite is Boar’s Head Maple Glazed Honey Coat Turkey Breast
  • 3/4 cup cranberry sauce

Instructions
 

For the Honey Mustard Butter Sauce:

  • Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

For the Sliders:

  • Preheat the oven to 375F. Line a small baking tray with foil.
  • Put the entire tray of rolls onto a cutting board and horizontally slice through them. You should be able to pick up the top of the rolls as a unit.
  • Place the bottom half of the rolls on the prepared baking tray. Layer on 6 slices of cheese, and then the turkey. Dollop on the cranberry sauce. Top with the remaining 6 slices of cheese. Place the top half of the rolls on top. Spoon on the butter sauce.
  • Cover the rolls with foil and bake for 25 minutes, removing the foil during the last 5 minutes.
  • Serve warm.

Faith’s Tips

  • Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe makes 12 sliders; each serving is 2 sliders, for a total of 6 servings.
  • Make Ahead: You can assemble these sliders the day before you want to serve them, just don’t top with the butter sauce. Cover them well, and then the next day when you want to serve them, let them sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. Top with the butter sauce, cover with foil, and bake as directed.
  • Storage and Reheating: Store leftover turkey sliders covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. These reheat well in the oven or air fryer at 350F. Cover them with foil to prevent over-browning. In the oven it takes about 10 to 12 minutes, and in the air fryer it takes about 5 to 6 minutes.
  • What Can I Use Instead of Deli Turkey? I love using thinly sliced deli turkey because it’s easily available all year, but you can also use leftover turkey or leftover chicken. Rotisserie chicken also works well!
  • What If I Don’t Like Cranberry Sauce? If cranberry sauce isn’t your thing, leave it out! Instead you can add 1 thinly sliced apple, 3/4 cup marinara sauce, or 1/2 cup pesto.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Turkey Sliders Recipe
Amount Per Serving (2 sliders)
Calories 494 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Trans Fat 0.5g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 80mg27%
Sodium 871mg38%
Potassium 190mg5%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 650IU13%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 366mg37%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Easy Turkey Sliders, Hawaiian Roll Turkey Sliders, Turkey Sliders, Turkey Sliders Recipe, Turkey Sliders with Cranberry Sauce
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
turkey sliders recipe pin

Filed Under: Appetizers, Leftovers, Sandwiches, Turkey Tagged: Easy Turkey Sliders, Hawaiian Roll Turkey Sliders, Turkey Sliders, Turkey Sliders Recipe, Turkey Sliders with Cranberry Sauce

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

Affiliate Disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

meet faith

I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

an edible mosaic cookbook

affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

Home | About | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Contact

Copyright © 2023 | Faith Gorsky, An Edible Mosaic™ | All Rights Reserved