Warm from the oven with gooey Havarti, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and a buttery, savory topping, these turkey cranberry sliders are one of my favorite ways to give holiday leftovers a second life.
There’s something especially satisfying about the day-after-Thanksgiving meal. The cooking is mostly finished, the fridge is packed with leftovers, and all I want is something warm and easy. That’s exactly where these sliders come in. Instead of simply reheating turkey and cranberry sauce, I tuck them into soft Hawaiian rolls with plenty of cheese and bake everything until the centers are hot and melty.
The topping might be my favorite part. Melted butter gets mixed with Dijon, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and everything bagel seasoning before being drizzled over the rolls. As the sliders bake, the topping settles into the buns and gives them a buttery, savory-sweet finish.
They’re cozy, simple, and ready in about 30 minutes. Serve them warm for an easy post-holiday lunch, set them out for game day, or add a simple side and call it dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It makes leftovers worth looking forward to. Turkey and cranberry sauce are delicious on Thanksgiving, but eating the exact same plate the next day can get a little repetitive. Layering them into warm sliders gives those familiar flavors an entirely different feel.
The sweet and savory combination is so good. You get savory turkey, mild and creamy Havarti, tangy-sweet cranberry sauce, and soft Hawaiian rolls all in one bite. The flavors feel especially at home together during the holidays.
The buttery tops are packed with flavor. Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce bring savory depth, brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness, and everything bagel seasoning gives the rolls a little extra texture and flavor.
They’re wonderfully easy. Instead of assembling a dozen individual sandwiches, you can slice the rolls together, layer everything at once, and bake the whole batch in one pan.
They’re made for sharing. Serve them for lunch after Thanksgiving, bring them out during a casual holiday gathering, or make a batch for game day. They’re easy to pick up, warm and cheesy inside, and best eaten straight from the oven.
Turkey Cranberry Sliders Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these warm, cheesy turkey cranberry sliders:
For the Sliders
- Hawaiian Rolls – Soft and slightly sweet, these rolls are a great match for the savory turkey and tangy cranberry sauce. Keeping the rolls together also makes the sliders quick and easy to assemble.
- Turkey – Leftover sliced turkey is perfect here, especially after a holiday meal. Deli-sliced turkey works just as well if you want to make these sliders any time of year.
- Havarti Cheese – Mild, creamy, and wonderfully melty, Havarti gives the sliders that gooey layer of cheese in every bite.
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce – This brings a sweet-tart pop of cranberry flavor that balances the turkey and rich cheese. Stick with whole berry cranberry sauce rather than jellied cranberry sauce, which can melt as the sliders bake.
For the Buttery Topping
- Butter – Melted butter forms the base of the topping, soaking into the rolls as they bake and giving them a rich, savory finish.
- Dijon Mustard – A little Dijon adds tang and a gentle sharpness that cuts through the sweetness of the rolls and cranberry sauce.
- Brown Sugar – Just enough to add a touch of sweetness and complement the cranberry sauce without making the sliders overly sweet.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning – Adds a savory mix of seeds and seasonings to the tops of the rolls, along with a little extra texture.
- Worcestershire Sauce – A small amount adds savory depth to the buttery topping and rounds out its sweet and tangy flavors.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s make the sliders!
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or rimmed baking sheet.
Step 2: Cut the rolls in half horizontally.
Step 3: Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared baking dish.
Step 4: Add the turkey in a layer over the bottom buns, and then layer the sliced cheese over the turkey.
At this point, you’ll have a generous layer of turkey covered with Havarti. Keeping the fillings spread across the rolls helps every slider get a little of everything.
Step 5: Top the cheese with the cranberry sauce, spreading to cover as needed.
The cranberry sauce is what gives these sliders their holiday personality. Its sweet-tart flavor cuts through the richness of the cheese and buttery rolls.
Step 6: Place the tops of the buns over the cranberry sauce.
Step 7: In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, bagel seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce until well-combined.
Step 8: Drizzle the tops of the rolls with the butter mixture.
Don’t worry if some of the mixture runs between the rolls. As everything bakes, that buttery topping works its way into the buns and adds flavor throughout.
Step 9: Cover with aluminum foil.
Step 10: Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the sliders are heated through and the cheese has melted.
Step 11: Remove the foil and continue baking for about 5 minutes. Serve warm.
That final uncovered bake gives the tops a chance to finish nicely while the centers stay warm, soft, and cheesy.
Expert Tips
Keep the rolls together when you slice them. There’s no need to separate and assemble 12 sandwiches individually. Slice through the whole group of rolls horizontally, then build the sliders in layers.
Spread the fillings from edge to edge. Try to distribute the turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce across the entire surface. That way, the corner sliders are just as satisfying as the ones in the middle.
Use whole berry cranberry sauce. Jellied cranberry sauce isn’t a good choice here because it can melt. Whole berry sauce also gives the sliders little bursts of cranberry flavor and texture.
Cover them for the first part of baking. The foil helps the sliders warm through while the cheese melts. Removing it for the last few minutes lets the tops finish baking uncovered.
Enjoy them while they’re warm. This is one of those recipes that’s especially good soon after it leaves the oven, when the Havarti is melted and the buttery rolls are still warm.
Recipe Variations
I love the combination of turkey, Havarti, and cranberry sauce, but these sliders are easy to adapt depending on what you have left in the refrigerator.
For the cheese, Swiss or cheddar can stand in for Havarti. Swiss gives the sliders a mild, slightly nutty flavor, while cheddar makes them a little sharper.
No leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Deli-sliced turkey works too, which means there’s no reason to save this recipe only for November.
You can also swap the Hawaiian rolls for another soft dinner roll if you’d prefer less sweetness. And if you don’t have everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds or poppy seeds can add a little texture to the tops.
Storage & Reheating
If you happen to have sliders left, transfer them to an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. They’re best eaten within 2-3 days.
For reheating, I like the oven when there’s time. Place the sliders in a baking dish and loosely cover them with foil so the tops don’t become too dark before the centers are warm. Heat them until warmed through.
For a quick lunch, you can also reheat an individual slider in the microwave. The bread will be softer than it is straight from the oven, but it’s an easy option when you only want one or two.
Serving Suggestions
These turkey cranberry sliders are substantial enough for an easy lunch or casual dinner, especially during that wonderfully lazy stretch after a big holiday meal.
If I’m serving them as a meal, I like the idea of adding something fresh or crisp alongside them. A simple green salad, crunchy slaw, or roasted vegetables balances the buttery rolls and melted cheese nicely. A warm bowl of soup would make them especially cozy on a cold day.
They also fit naturally alongside other Thanksgiving leftovers. Add a few roasted vegetables or whatever holiday sides are still waiting in the refrigerator, and you have an easy second-day feast without simply recreating Thanksgiving dinner.
For game day or a holiday gathering, serve the sliders warm on a large platter and let everyone pull off their own. They’re small enough for snacking, but with turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce tucked inside, they’re satisfying enough that one rarely feels like enough.
Recipe FAQs
1. Can I make turkey cranberry sliders ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the sliders ahead of time and keep them covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. I recommend waiting to add the butter topping until right before they go into the oven. This helps keep the rolls soft without getting too soggy.
2. How do I keep turkey cranberry sliders from getting soggy?
Make sure your turkey isn’t overly wet and don’t add more cranberry sauce than the recipe calls for. If you’re making the sliders in advance, leave off the butter mixture until you’re ready to bake. This will help keep the rolls from soaking up too much moisture.
3. Can I use deli turkey instead of leftover Thanksgiving turkey?
Yes, deli turkey works great! Leftover sliced turkey is an easy choice after Thanksgiving, but you can definitely use deli-sliced turkey instead. It’s a simple swap that lets you make these sliders any time of year.
4. Why do I need to cover the sliders with foil while baking?
The foil helps the sliders heat all the way through without the tops getting too brown. It also gives the Havarti plenty of time to get nice and melty. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes so the tops can finish baking uncovered.
5. What is the best way to reheat turkey cranberry sliders?
I recommend reheating them in the oven if you have time. Place the sliders in a baking dish, cover loosely with foil, and heat until warmed through. You can also microwave individual sliders when you need something quick, but the rolls will be a little softer.
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Ingredients
Sliders
- 12 count package Hawaiian rolls
- 8 ounces sliced turkey
- 8 ounces sliced Havarti cheese
- 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
Topping
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp everything bagel seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or rimmed baking sheet.
- Slice the Hawaiian rolls horizontally through the middle, keeping the top and bottom portions together.
- Set the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange the sliced turkey evenly across the bottom buns. Place the sliced Havarti cheese over the turkey.
- Spoon the whole berry cranberry sauce over the cheese and spread it across the surface as needed.
- Set the top half of the rolls over the cranberry sauce.
- Add the melted butter, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, everything bagel seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce to a small bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the butter mixture evenly over the tops of the rolls.
- Cover the sliders with aluminum foil.
- Bake for about 15–20 minutes, or until the sliders are hot throughout and the cheese is melted.
- Take off the foil and bake for about 5 minutes longer.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 466mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 274IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 0.2mg
