Juicy Cranberry Turkey Sliders Recipe: Festive Bites Everyone Loves

Cranberry turkey sliders offer a delightful twist on classic sandwich combinations that spark culinary excitement.

Small yet packed with flavor, these miniature handheld delights convert ordinary ingredients into extraordinary bites.

The perfect balance between tangy fruit and savory poultry creates a mouthwatering experience that surprises and satisfies.

Compact burger-style presentations make these sliders ideal for gatherings, allowing guests to enjoy multiple flavor profiles without feeling overwhelmed.

Seasonal ingredients elevate the recipe beyond typical appetizer expectations, bringing creativity and unexpected depth to the table.

Texture plays a crucial role in making these sliders memorable, with soft rolls and tender meat complementing crisp garnishes.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and zesty elements that dance across your palate.

Customizations for Cranberry Turkey Sliders

• Thanksgiving Leftover Remix: Transform traditional Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry sauce into bite-sized sliders using leftover ingredients from your holiday feast.
• Mediterranean Fusion Sliders: Replace turkey with grilled chicken, swap cranberry sauce for tzatziki, and add crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-inspired version.
• Vegetarian Harvest Sliders: Substitute turkey with roasted portobello mushrooms, use goat cheese instead of Havarti, and keep the cranberry sauce for a delicious plant-based alternative.
• Spicy Southwest Sliders: Switch turkey for pulled pork, replace cranberry sauce with chipotle mayo, add pepper jack cheese, and sprinkle with chopped jalapeños for a zesty kick.

Benefits of Making Cranberry Turkey Sliders

• Boost Holiday Flavor: Cranberry turkey sliders deliver a perfect blend of sweet, tangy cranberry sauce and savory deli turkey, creating a festive taste explosion that captures the essence of holiday dining.
• Effortless Entertaining Magic: These sliders are incredibly simple to assemble, requiring minimal prep time and offering a crowd-pleasing option for gatherings, potlucks, or quick family meals that look impressively gourmet.
• Texture Sensation Delight: Soft Hawaiian rolls combined with melted cheese and a buttery, herbed topping provide a multi-layered textural experience- crispy exterior meets tender, warm interior for an irresistible bite.
• Quick Comfort Meal: Ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish, these sliders solve the challenge of preparing a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen, making them perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous get-togethers.

What You’ll Need for Cranberry Turkey Sliders

Main Ingredients:

• Hawaiian Rolls: Soft, sweet bread base that provides a delightful foundation for the sliders, choose fresh and slightly pillowy rolls for best texture.

• Deli Turkey: Lean protein that adds savory flavor, select thinly sliced, high-quality deli turkey for optimal taste and tenderness.

• Havarti Cheese, Provolone Cheese: Creamy, melting cheeses that provide rich flavor and smooth texture, choose sliced varieties for easy layering.

• Cranberry Sauce: Sweet and tangy condiment that complements the turkey, use prepared or homemade sauce with a smooth consistency.

• Melted Butter: Adds richness and helps create a golden brown crust on the rolls.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Provides depth and umami flavor to the topping.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds a sharp, tangy note to enhance overall taste.
• Dried Minced Onion: Introduces subtle onion flavor and aromatic complexity.
• Poppy Seeds: Provides a subtle crunch and decorative appearance.
• Chives: Offers a mild onion-like freshness and green color accent.

• Cooking Spray: Prevents sticking and helps easy removal of sliders from the baking dish.
• Aluminum Foil: Helps retain moisture and ensure even heating during initial baking stage.

Cranberry Turkey Sliders: Step-by-Step Prep Guide

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Warm up your oven to 350°F. Grab a 9×13 baking dish and give it a light spray of cooking oil to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Slice and Arrange Rolls

Carefully slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Gently place the bottom half of the rolls into the prepared baking dish, creating a soft foundation for your sliders.

Step 3: Layer the Turkey

Spread a generous layer of deli turkey evenly across the roll bottoms, creating a delicious meaty base.

Step 4: Add Cranberry Goodness

Drizzle and spread cranberry sauce over the turkey layer, adding a sweet and tangy touch to your sliders.

Step 5: Cheese Please

Create a blanket of cheese over the cranberry sauce, using either Havarti or provolone slices. Ensure an even coverage for maximum cheesy deliciousness.

Step 6: Top It Off

Crown your slider creation by placing the top half of the rolls over the cheese layer.

Step 7: Create the Flavor Boost

• Melted butter
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dijon mustard
• Dried minced onion
• Poppy seeds
• Chives

Generously brush this magical mixture over the tops of the rolls, ensuring every inch is covered.

Step 8: First Bake

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. This will heat the sliders through and help the cheese melt into gooey perfection.

Step 9: Final Golden Touch

Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes to create a light golden-brown top that’s crispy and inviting.

Step 10: Serve and Savor

Pull your sliders out of the oven and serve immediately while they’re warm and irresistible. Get ready for a flavor explosion that’ll make everyone at the table smile!

Tips for Juicy and Flavorful Cranberry Turkey Sliders

• Slice Strategically: Cut Hawaiian rolls precisely in half to ensure even layering and consistent slider size.
• Cheese Melting Magic: Let cheese reach room temperature before placing on sliders for smoother, more even melting.
• Butter Brushing Technique: Apply herb-butter mixture generously but gently to prevent rolls from becoming soggy.
• Foil Coverage Trick: Keep foil loose while baking to allow steam circulation and prevent rolls from getting too dense.
• Serving Sweet Spot: Rest sliders for 2-3 minutes after baking to let cheese set and flavors meld perfectly.

Best Storage and Reheat Methods for Turkey Sliders

• Refrigerate: Store sliders in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Wrap Carefully: Cover sliders individually with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out and absorbing other refrigerator odors.
• Reheat Gently: Warm sliders in a preheated 350ºF oven for 10-12 minutes. Loosely cover with foil to retain moisture and prevent bread from becoming too crispy. Remove foil for the last 2-3 minutes to restore slight crispness on top.

Side Dish Ideas for Cranberry Turkey Sliders

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio cuts through the richness of the turkey and cheese, complementing the tangy cranberry sauce with its bright, refreshing notes.
• Serve Alongside Harvest Salad: Create a light mixed green salad with candied pecans, goat cheese, and a light vinaigrette to balance the slider's warm, savory flavors and add a fresh crunch.
• Match with Craft Amber Ale: A smooth, slightly malty amber ale provides a perfect counterpoint to the sliders, enhancing the buttery roll and bringing out the depth of the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
• Pour Sparkling Apple Cider: For a non-alcoholic option, a crisp sparkling apple cider offers a sweet and tangy complement that echoes the cranberry sauce while providing a festive, refreshing beverage.

Cranberry Turkey Sliders Recipe

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4.7 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Cranberry turkey sliders bring festive flavors to any gathering with minimal effort. Crisp bread cradles juicy turkey and tangy cranberry sauce, offering party guests a perfect handheld bite that satisfies seasonal cravings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 (16 ounces / 454 grams) package Hawaiian rolls (12 count)
• 1 pound / 454 grams deli turkey, thinly sliced
• 6 slices Havarti or provolone cheese
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (jellied or whole berry)

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons minced dried onion
• 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Garnish:

• 2 teaspoons fresh minced chives

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven by heating it to 350ºF and coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Split the Hawaiian rolls horizontally, creating a top and bottom layer, and place the bottom half in the prepared baking dish.
3. Distribute sliced deli turkey uniformly across the roll base, ensuring complete coverage.
4. Spread a generous layer of cranberry sauce over the turkey, creating a tangy foundation.
5. Arrange Havarti or provolone cheese slices evenly across the cranberry sauce, providing a creamy texture.
6. Carefully position the top half of the rolls over the cheese layer, completing the slider assemblage.
7. Create a flavorful glaze by whisking together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, dried onion, poppy seeds, and chives in a small mixing bowl.
8. Brush the prepared glaze generously and evenly over the slider tops, ensuring complete coverage.
9. Shield the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15-18 minutes, allowing the ingredients to heat thoroughly and cheese to melt completely.
10. Remove the foil and return the sliders to the oven for an additional 3-5 minutes to achieve a golden-brown top with a slight crisp.
11. Serve the sliders immediately while warm, offering a delightful combination of flavors and textures.

Notes

• Prepare a quick and delicious crowd-pleasing appetizer or game day snack that combines tangy cranberry sauce with savory turkey and melted cheese.
• Hawaiian rolls provide the perfect soft, sweet base for these sliders, creating a delightful flavor contrast with the savory fillings.
• Make-ahead friendly dish that can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking, perfect for meal prep or entertaining.
• The buttery herb topping adds an extra layer of flavor and creates a golden, crispy exterior that elevates these simple sliders.
• Easily customize by swapping turkey with ham or chicken, and experiment with different cheese varieties to suit your taste preferences.
• Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the gooey melted cheese and warm, soft rolls at their absolute best.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 275
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg