These contest-winning turkey sliders are a great way to use Thanksgiving leftovers. They also work well as an easy weeknight dinner or a hearty holiday appetizer. All you need to do is whip up a zippy cream cheese-mustard spread and a cranberry-green onion topping, then layer with thinly sliced turkey on fluffy, buttery rolls.
Quick, easy and flavorful turkey cranberry sliders will become your new favorite dish to make in minutes.
Ingredients for Turkey Sliders
- Cream cheese: A good dip or spread starts with a good cream cheese. Our Test Kitchen put together a list of the best cream cheese brands for cooking and baking, because our cooks do a lot of both and need reliable ingredients!
- Creole mustard: If you’ve never heard of Creole mustard, it’s brown mustard seeds that have been marinated in vinegar, horseradish and various spices. Zatarain’s is a popular brand of Creole mustard.
- Horseradish: Use store-bought horseradish or make a simple homemade horseradish.
- Cranberry sauce: Whole-berry cranberry sauce creates beautiful pops of tartness and brightness in these cranberry turkey sliders. You don’t have to use whole berry, but we like the texture it adds.
- Rolls: Buy Hawaiian rolls or dinner rolls. It may seem strange due to their sweet taste, but Hawaiian rolls are excellent with sliders. Premade rolls make this recipe quick and easy, but you can go the extra mile and bake your own buttery dinner rolls or fluffy Hawaiian rolls.
- Turkey: Whether it’s from leftovers or the deli, make sure the turkey is thinly sliced for easy stacking.
Directions
Step 1: Make the cream cheese spread
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Beat in the mustard, ginger, orange zest and horseradish until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure everything is mixed together.
Step 2: Make the cranberry-green onion topping
In another bowl, stir together the cranberry sauce and green onions until evenly combined.
Step 3: Smooth on the cream cheese spread
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly onto the bottom half of the rolls.
Step 4: Assemble the sliders
Layer on the sliced turkey, cranberry mixture and the roll tops. Slice the sliders to separate the rolls from each other if needed and serve.
Turkey Sliders Variations
- Use leftovers from Thanksgiving: This is the perfect recipe to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. Layer on turkey, cranberries, stuffing, green bean casserole or any leftovers you have in the fridge. They’ll all go well with the cream cheese spread.
- Swap in a different sliced meat: Not a fan of turkey? Sliced ham or chicken work here, too.
- Add arugula: Peppery arugula complements the other ingredients in these turkey cranberry sliders and adds color and texture.
- Try a different cheese: Omit the cream cheese and layer on sliced Havarti instead. Havarti’s lightly pungent taste pairs well with turkey, mustard and cranberries. Gouda, Swiss or provolone are also good options.
How to Store Turkey Sliders
To store the sliders, wrap them in storage wrap or place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to three days.
Can I make turkey sliders ahead of time?
Absolutely! Turkey sliders can be made the day before they’re being served. Wrap the sliders in storage wrap or place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.
Turkey Sliders Tips
What do I serve with turkey sliders?
These cranberry turkey sliders are great as part of a holiday appetizer spread. If you’re making the sliders for dinner, serve them with a bright winter salad and crispy air-fryer tater tots—and who can say no to a sandwich with homemade soup?
Can I bake turkey sliders?
You certainly can bake these cranberry turkey sliders. Preheat your oven to 350°F and assemble the sliders as above, building them in a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Brush melted butter on top of the rolls and bake until the tops are golden and the cheese spread is melty. If the tops are browning too quickly, tent aluminum foil on top of the rolls.
