I’m a big fan of Thanksgiving and all the food, the traditions, the stretchy pants, the naps, the pie. Definitely the pie. All the “day of” traditions are wonderful, but sometimes I love the leftovers even more. There is just something about grabbing a plate, piling up all your favorites again and sitting on your couch. That feeling is what inspired these Turkey Cranberry Sliders!
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good turkey sandwich but sometimes you need a little switch up to keep it fun. Welcome to an elevated leftover turkey sandwich. Hawaiian rolls, turkey, Swiss cheese, cranberry sauce and buttery sauce over top. Baked until the Swiss is super melty, the cranberry sauce is nice and warm and the tops of the Hawaiian rolls are slightly golden with that sauce baked in.
Grab some Hawaiian rolls while you are doing your Thanksgiving grocery shopping so you can make these Turkey Cranberry Sliders with your leftovers. I mean, melty Swiss cheese? So good.
Check out the recipe at the bottom of this post and let me know what you think! Otherwise, keep reading to learn a little bit more about how to use Thanksgiving leftovers to make the ultimate turkey cranberry sliders.
Let’s face it – one of the best parts about Thanksgiving is getting to try new recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers! While these baked turkey and cranberry sliders are one of my favorite things to make, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using up leftover turkey and sides.
So, what does it take to make the ultimate Thanksgiving leftover sandwich? Read through for my best tips and tricks.
Generally speaking, refrigerated leftovers of any kind should be eaten within three to four days. And if you’ve got a lot of Thanksgiving leftovers it sometimes takes creativity to use up all the food that fast.
I like to freeze some turkey (and the bones) for broth and soup making in the winter. Leftover mashed potatoes can become the topping for shepherd’s pie (which can also be frozen).
When it comes to making Thanksgiving leftover sliders, I recommend doing it the day after the holiday. That’s when the meat is freshest and they make a great quick meal for a day of Black Friday shopping (if that’s your thing).
It depends on what kind of sandwich you want to make! I think a great loaf of sourdough bread or Anadama bread goes really well with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. Sourdough really balances out the flavors of turkey and other leftovers while Anadama bread brings a slightly sweet flavor that goes so well with this sweet and savory sandwich.
For this recipe, though, I couldn’t resist making leftover turkey sliders on Hawaiian rolls. They are light, fluffy and just a little bit sweet. They’re also the perfect size for feeding a crowd and are always a big bit!
A better question would be: “what cheese doesn’t go with turkey sandwiches?” And the answer would be: there’s no such thing! Cheese and turkey are basically sandwich soulmates. But when it came to choosing a cheese for my turkey cranberry sliders, I knew I needed something that would really complement the sweet and savory flavors.
I considered brie, smoked gouda and a good sharp cheddar. And honestly I think any of those choices would be so good. But in the end I settled on Swiss. Its slightly nutty flavor plays well with turkey and cranberry without overpowering the dish.
The reason these sliders are one of my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers is simple: they’re so dang easy to make!
Step One: Prepare your ingredients.
This is probably the most complicated step and it’s still so easy. Simply shred up your turkey, slide your Hawaiian rolls in half and get your leftover cranberry sauce and Swiss cheese out of the fridge. There, you’re done!
Step Two: Assemble the sandwiches.
Layer the bottom of a baking dish with the bottom halves of the rolls. Pile on shredded turkey, cranberry sauce and Swiss cheese, then top with the top halves of the rolls.
Step Three: Finish the sandwiches.
Melt butter and mix in mustard, garlic powder and poppy seeds. Brush this magical mixture over the top of your turkey cranberry sliders for an extra boost of flavor.
Step Four: Bake and eat!
Pop your Thanksgiving leftover sliders into the oven covered with foil to bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for an extra 3 minutes. Let them cool and then enjoy!
Ready to try these baked Turkey and Cranberry Sliders for yourself? Grab the full recipe below!
Ready to try these baked Turkey and Cranberry Sliders for yourself? Grab the full recipe below!
Sweet Hawaiian Rolls stacked with turkey, cranberry sauce, Swiss cheese and buttery sauce over top. So delicious and easy to make. Great way to switch up leftovers!
1 package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (12 count)
3 cups cooked, shredded turkey
1 cup prepared cranberry sauce or canned
6 slices of swiss cheese
4 Tablespoons of butter, melted
1 teaspoon yellow or dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
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