Description
These Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders are a delicious and easy way to transform your holiday leftovers into a crowd-pleasing appetizer or meal. Featuring tender turkey, savory stuffing, tangy cranberry sauce, and melted provolone or Swiss cheese, all piled on soft slider buns and baked to golden perfection, they capture the essence of Thanksgiving in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Sliders
- 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls
- 2 cups cooked turkey (shredded or sliced)
- 1 cup prepared stuffing
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
- 6 slices provolone or Swiss cheese (halved)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise (optional)
Butter Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the sliders evenly and thoroughly.
- Prepare Buns: Slice the slider buns in half horizontally, keeping the bottom and top halves intact, then place the bottom halves in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish to create the base layer.
- Spread Mayonnaise: If desired, spread mayonnaise evenly over the cut side of the bottom buns; this adds moistness and flavor but can be omitted or substituted with gravy.
- Layer Ingredients: Layer the shredded or sliced turkey evenly over the bottom buns, followed by a layer of prepared stuffing, then spoon cranberry sauce over the stuffing for tangy sweetness.
- Add Cheese and Top Buns: Lay halved slices of provolone or Swiss cheese on top of the cranberry sauce, then carefully place the top halves of the buns over everything to form the sliders.
- Mix Butter Topping: In a small bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter with garlic powder, dried thyme, and poppy seeds to create a flavorful butter glaze for the buns.
- Brush and Bake: Brush the tops of the slider buns generously with the butter mixture, cover the dish with foil, and bake for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and cheese to melt.
- Uncover and Brown: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is beautifully melted.
- Serve Warm: Remove from the oven and serve the sliders warm for the best taste and texture experience.
Notes
- These sliders are a fantastic way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, saving time and minimizing waste.
- You can prepare the sliders ahead of time, refrigerate them before baking, and then bake when ready to serve.
- For extra flavor, substitute mayonnaise with gravy spread on the bottom buns.
- Choose either provolone or Swiss cheese based on personal preference for a milder or nuttier taste.
- Ensure the baking dish is well-greased to prevent the buns from sticking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
