Easy Baked Turkey Sliders are on the dinner table in 45 minutes! With only 15 minutes of prep, these fantastic leftover turkey sliders on fluffy and sweet Hawaiian rolls are a great after Thanksgiving or anytime!
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175° C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Without pulling the rolls apart, slice them in half lengthwise, so you have a bottom half and a top half of attached buns. Slice the bottom slightly thicker than the top
Place the bottom half of the rolls in the baking dish and spread the cream cheese over them.
Next, spoon on the cranberry sauce and gently spread over the cream cheese.
Evenly distribute the turkey on top of the sauce, finish with a layer of cheese, then put the top half of the buns on top.
Combine the melted butter, garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and salt in a measuring cup or another pourable container. Stir well, then pour over the tops of the sandwiches. Sprinkle the poppy seeds all over the top.
Cover with foil, and bake for 20-30 minutes, until cheese is melted.
If a crisper top is desired, remove the foil during the last 10 minutes of baking
Notes
Ensure your cream cheese is nice and soft so you don't tear the rolls apart. Make your own delicious cranberry sauce:
12 ounces cranberries or frozen (do not thaw)
1 cup sugar, I used all-natural cane sugar, or white sugar
3 tablespoons orange juice, fresh squeezed is best
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
¼ cup water
Add cranberries, granulated sugar, orange and lemon juice and water to a small saucepan. Stir to combine, cooking over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
The sugar will dissolve and the cranberries will start to burst and pop; you want some cranberries rather whole, while others will disintegrate. NOTE: This recipe makes more than needed; store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and use another time. Or try it in my Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip.
Variations & SubstitutionsCheesy Turkey Sliders: If you’d like, swap the cheese for melty Swiss cheese, provolone cheese, brie or another favorite type of cheese. Use cheese leftover from your Thanksgiving charcuterie board.Add Stuffing: Add leftover stuffing or mashed potatoes to your recipe.No Thanksgiving Turkey? No Problem: You can still enjoy these delicious and easy turkey sliders without having leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Grab pre-roasted turkey or deli meat from the grocery store, make it with ground turkey, or even use rotisserie chicken for this recipe.Storage TipsFridge - After the sliders are cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to three days to enjoy later.How to Freeze Turkey Sliders | First, let the sliders cool completely, then move them to an airtight freezer-safe container or plastic bag to keep for up to 6 months.How to Reheat Turkey Sliders | A great way to reheat or keep sliders warm for a game day gathering is to wrap them in aluminum foil in a crockpot on warm or low. You can also reheat the slider in the oven set to 350° F (175° C), returning the leftover sliders to the baking dish and covering them with foil. Then, bake them for 5 to 10 minutes, removing the foil for the last few minutes.Can I keep sliders warm in a crock pot? Yes! Using your crock pot is a great way to keep them warm, grab-and-go style! Allow the sliders to cool for about 10 minutes, then wrap each slider individually in aluminum foil, place in a crockpot, lay some paper towels or a clean tea towel between the lid and the crock (this catches any condensation) and place the lid on, turn the slow cooker on warm or low at the most. Make Ahead Hawaiian Roll SlidersTo avoid soggy rolls, make turkey sliders as directed but hold off on the butter sauce until just prior to baking. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours or freeze up to 3 months. If frozen, thaw overnight in fridge, brush on butter sauce, then bake as directed, adding 2-3 minutes. Remember to remove your plastic wrap and replace it with foil.