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If you need a delicious way to use up leftover turkey that works just as well for an appetizer, lunch, or easy dinner, these Turkey and Cranberry Sliders are a must-make. This recipe is inspired by the most popular sandwich at the deli and bakery I owned for years, where turkey, Swiss, and cranberry flew out the door every single day.
Soft, buttery dinner rolls are layered with sliced turkey, melty Swiss cheese, and a creamy cranberry spread, then baked until warm and irresistible. It’s everything people love about a classic deli-style sandwich—similar to my Ham and Cheese Sliders and Club Sandwich Sliders, but with a festive turkey and cranberry twist.
If you have tons of leftover turkey after Thanksgiving, you should make my Turkey and Fixings Stuffed Taters and my Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry!
Recipe Tip
- Recipe Name: Turkey and Cranberry Sliders
- Prep Time:10 minutes
- Bake Time:25 minutes
- Servings:12 sliders
- Time Saving “Practically Homemade” Ingredients: Dinner rolls, jellied cranberry sauce, and deli turkey (or leftover turkey)
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
- Butter Rolls: A package of soft dinner rolls (the kind that come connected in a sheet) works perfectly here because you can slice them all at once. I used the butter-flavored King’s Hawaiian rolls because their flavor goes great with the cranberry, but any soft dinner rolls will work.
- Turkey: Leftover roasted turkey is ideal here, but deli turkey works just as well if you’re not working with leftovers. You’ll need about a pound, sliced thin enough to layer easily on the rolls.
- Cranberry Sauce: Jellied cranberry sauce blends right into the cream cheese mixture for a sweet and tart spread, while whole berry cranberry sauce works just as well if you have leftovers from Thanksgiving. You can also use cranberry sauce in these easy turkey cranberry pinwheels, another great way to turn leftover turkey into a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese is the base of the spread that makes these sliders so delicious!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make Turkey and Cranberry Sauce Slider Sandwiches
Step One: In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and cranberry sauce. Mix until smooth.
Step Two: Heat your oven to 425°F. Use a serrated knife to slice the entire sheet of dinner rolls in half horizontally, keeping the bottom half connected. Place the bottom half in a 9×13 baking pan and spread with the cranberry cream cheese mixture.
Step Three: Layer the sliced turkey over the spread.
Step Four: Top with Swiss cheese.
Step Five: Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese. Mix together the melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley flakes. Brush or spoon the mixture over the top of the rolls.
Step Six: Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes until the filling is warm and the cheese has melted. Remove the foil and bake for another 3-5 minutes until the tops are golden. Cut into individual sliders and serve warm.
Expert Tips
- Slice the rolls while they’re connected. Keep that sheet of dinner rolls intact and use a long serrated knife to slice straight across. This keeps everything even and makes assembly so much easier than trying to slice individual rolls. This simple step works especially well for easy chicken sliders made with dinner rolls, which are one of my go-to slider recipes.
- Don’t skip the foil. Covering the sliders for the first part of baking steams everything together and melts the cheese perfectly. If you skip this step, the tops will get too brown before the filling heats through.
- Make them ahead for easy entertaining. Assemble these turkey cranberry sliders completely, cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the covered baking time since they’ll be cold from the fridge.
- Adjust the cranberry to taste. If you love cranberry flavor, use up to ½ cup of cranberry sauce in the spread. If you prefer it more subtle, stick with the ⅓ cup called for in the recipe.
Storage and Freezing
Store: Keep leftover turkey sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual sliders in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or warm the entire batch covered with foil in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes.
Freeze: To freeze unbaked, assemble completely, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen by adding an extra 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time.
To freeze after baking, let the sliders cool completely, then wrap individual portions or the whole batch tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Turkey Sliders FAQs
I love the savory, nutty flavor that Swiss cheese brings to these sliders, but provolone, white cheddar, and Havarti are all delicious alternatives. Just avoid pre-shredded cheese – sliced cheese melts much better and creates that perfect stretchy texture.
Yes! Use two 9×13 pans or one large sheet pan. Just keep in mind that if you crowd them too much, they might need a few extra minutes of baking time to heat through completely.
Do you like sandwiches? Try these recipes…
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Turkey Cranberry Slider Sandwiches
Ingredients
Sandwiches
- 1 package dinner rolls, {1 dozen}
- 4 ounces cream cheese , {room temperature}
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup cranberry sauce , {jellied}
- 1 pound sliced turkey
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
Butter Topping
- 2 Tablespoons butter, {melted}
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon parsley flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°.
- Combine the softened cream cheese, mayo and cranberry sauce in a bowl and mix until well combined.
- Cut the dinner rolls in half using a serrated knife. Place the bottom half of the rolls into a 9×13 baking pan. Top the rolls with the cranberry cream cheese mixture. Top with the sliced turkey, followed by the Swiss cheese.
- Combine the butter topping ingredients and brush {or spoon} over the top of the rolls. Cover the rolls with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until the filling is warm and the cheese is melted. Remove the foil from the top of the rolls and continue to bake for an additional 3-5 minutes. Cut into 12 rolls and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is my favorite way to use Thanksgiving leftovers!