Turkey Cranberry Sliders
These little sandwiches are like a festive twist on a classic turkey cranberry sandwich, but in slider form that’s way more fun to eat.
Equipment
- Baking dish (9x13-inch)
- Small bowl
- Pastry Brush
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
For the Sliders
- 12 soft Hawaiian rolls
- 2 cups cooked turkey sliced or shredded
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 6 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fresh arugula or spinach
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Dijon mustard or mayonnaise
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Pan
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
- Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms together as a whole sheet if possible—this makes assembly much easier.
- Pro tip: Leaving the rolls in one piece while layering keeps your sliders neat and prevents the turkey from falling out.
Step 2: Layer the Turkey
- Place the bottom half of the Hawaiian rolls in your prepared baking dish.
- Evenly distribute the turkey over the bottom layer.
- If you have leftover turkey, shredded works perfectly; sliced turkey is great too.
- Pro tip: Press down gently on the turkey to make sure it’s snug between the rolls, so every bite has turkey in it.
Step 3: Add Cheese and Cranberry Sauce
- Lay slices of provolone or Swiss cheese over the turkey. You can overlap slightly to cover the entire layer.
- Spoon cranberry sauce evenly over the cheese.
- Pro tip: Don’t overload the cranberry sauce—it should complement the turkey, not make the rolls soggy.
Step 4: Top and Butter
- Place the top half of the Hawaiian rolls over the layered turkey, cheese, and cranberry.
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter with garlic powder and thyme.
- Use a pastry brush to coat the top of the rolls with the butter mixture.
- Pro tip: Brushing the butter evenly ensures a golden, flavorful top and makes the sliders smell irresistible as they bake.
Step 5: Bake Until Golden
- Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 5–7 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and the cheese is melted.
- Let the sliders cool for 2–3 minutes before slicing into individual portions.
- Pro tip: Give the sliders a short rest after baking; it helps the layers set, so they don’t fall apart when you cut them.
Notes
Nutritional Value (per serving: 2 sliders)
- Calories: ~320
- Protein: ~18g
- Carbohydrates: ~28g
- Sugars: ~7g
- Fat: ~14g
- Saturated Fat: ~6g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Sodium: ~480mg