Simple Turkey Cranberry Hawaiian Roll Sliders

If you ask me, sliders are one of the best party foods out there.

These turkey cranberry Hawaiian roll sliders turn Thanksgiving leftovers into something everyone will actually get excited about. Sweet Hawaiian rolls get piled high with tender turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and melty Swiss cheese.

The real magic happens with the buttery topping that gets brushed over everything before baking. A mix of melted butter, mustard, garlic powder, and poppy seeds soaks into those soft rolls and brings it all together.

They’re easy to throw together and perfect for feeding a crowd, whether it’s the day after Thanksgiving or any time you’re craving those holiday flavors.

What Kind of Turkey Should I Use?

The great thing about these sliders is that they’re perfect for using up leftover turkey from your holiday meal, whether it’s sliced, diced, or pulled. If you don’t have leftovers on hand, you can grab a rotisserie turkey breast from the deli counter or even use deli-sliced turkey in a pinch. For the best flavor, I’d recommend using real roasted turkey rather than processed deli meat, but honestly, this recipe is forgiving and will taste good either way. Just make sure your turkey is already cooked and ready to go, since it only needs to warm through in the oven while the cheese melts.

Options for Substitutions

These sliders are easy to customize based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: If you can’t find Hawaiian rolls, regular dinner rolls or slider buns work fine. You’ll miss out on that slight sweetness, but the sliders will still taste great.
• Cooked turkey: No leftover turkey? Use rotisserie chicken, deli turkey, or even leftover ham. The cooking time stays the same regardless of which meat you choose.
• Swiss cheese: Feel free to swap in provolone, mozzarella, or white cheddar. Each brings its own flavor, so pick what your family enjoys most.
• Cranberry sauce: If you’re out of cranberry sauce, try using raspberry or strawberry jam for a similar sweet-tart contrast. You can also make a quick cranberry relish with fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange juice.
• Butter: You can use margarine instead of butter, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich. Olive oil works too, but skip the garlic powder since olive oil already has a strong flavor.
• Mustard: Yellow and Dijon mustard are interchangeable here. Dijon gives a slightly sharper taste, while yellow is milder and sweeter.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest mistake people make with these sliders is skipping the foil during the first baking stage, which causes the tops to brown too quickly while the cheese inside stays cold and unmelted – covering them for those first 15 minutes creates steam that warms everything through evenly.

Another common error is spreading the cranberry sauce too thick, which can make the sliders soggy and cause the filling to squish out when you bite into them, so aim for a thin, even layer of about 1-2 tablespoons total per slider.

Don’t forget to let the butter mixture cool for a minute or two before brushing it on, as butter that’s too hot can start soaking into the rolls and make them greasy instead of creating that nice golden crust on top.

Finally, resist the urge to pull the sliders apart right out of the oven – letting them rest for 5 minutes helps the cheese set slightly and makes them much easier to separate and serve without falling apart.

What to Serve With Turkey Cranberry Hawaiian Roll Sliders?

These sliders are pretty filling on their own, but they’re perfect alongside a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette to balance out the richness. I love serving them with sweet potato fries or regular fries for a casual meal that everyone enjoys. If you’re making these for a party or game day, set out some chips and dip, pickles, or a veggie tray so people can munch while the sliders are baking. They also pair nicely with a warm bowl of soup like butternut squash or even just some kettle chips if you want to keep things super easy.

Storage Instructions

Store: These sliders are great for making ahead! You can assemble them completely, cover the pan tightly with foil, and keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. They’re perfect for holiday gatherings or when you need to prep the night before.

Keep Leftovers: Already baked sliders will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days. The rolls might soften a bit, but they’re still delicious cold or reheated.

Reheat: Warm up leftover sliders in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes, covered with foil so they don’t dry out. You can also microwave individual sliders for 20-30 seconds, though the oven method keeps them from getting too soft.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2600-2800
• Protein: 110-120 g
• Fat: 90-100 g
• Carbohydrates: 320-340 g

Ingredients

For the rolls:

• 12 hawaiian rolls (King’s Hawaiian recommended)
• 3 cups turkey (shredded or sliced into thin 1-inch pieces)
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry for better texture)
• 8 slices swiss cheese

For the glaze:

• 5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1.5 tsp mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp poppy seeds
• 1/4 tsp dried sage

Step 1: Prepare the Butter Topping and Oven

• 5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1.5 tsp mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp poppy seeds
• 1/4 tsp dried sage

Preheat your oven to 325°F.

While the oven heats, whisk together the melted butter, mustard, garlic powder, salt, poppy seeds, and dried sage in a small bowl until well combined.

This aromatic butter will add incredible flavor to the tops of the sliders, so make sure everything is evenly distributed.

Set the butter mixture aside.

Step 2: Assemble the Sliders

• 12 hawaiian rolls
• 3 cups turkey
• 1 cup cranberry sauce
• 8 slices swiss cheese

Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Carefully slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping each roll intact as much as possible.

Place all the bottom halves cut-side up in the prepared dish.

Layer each bottom half with turkey, followed by a generous dollop of cranberry sauce, then top with a piece of Swiss cheese—I like to tear the cheese slightly so it covers more surface area and melts evenly.

Replace the roll tops to sandwich everything together.

Step 3: Top and Bake Covered

• butter mixture from Step 1
• assembled sliders from Step 2

Generously brush the butter mixture from Step 1 over the tops and sides of all the sliders, making sure to coat them evenly so they’ll brown beautifully and develop flavor.

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap steam and keep the rolls moist during the initial baking phase.

Bake for 15 minutes covered.

Step 4: Finish with Crisping

• sliders from Step 3

Remove the foil carefully to avoid steam burns and bake uncovered for an additional 3 minutes.

This brief final stage allows the tops to crisp up slightly and the cheese to achieve a light golden color.

Watch carefully during this stage to prevent over-browning.

Step 5: Serve

Remove the sliders from the oven and let them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.

This allows the cheese to set slightly and makes them easier to handle.

Serve warm, and I recommend keeping them slightly separated on the serving plate so they stay crispy on the sides rather than steaming each other.

Simple Turkey Cranberry Hawaiian Roll Sliders

Delicious Simple Turkey Cranberry Hawaiian Roll Sliders recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 12 sliders

Calories: 2700

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

For the rolls

• 12 hawaiian rolls (King's Hawaiian recommended)
• 3 cups turkey (shredded or sliced into thin 1-inch pieces)
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry for better texture)
• 8 slices swiss cheese

For the glaze

• 5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1.5 tsp mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp poppy seeds
• 1/4 tsp dried sage

Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F. While the oven heats, whisk together the melted butter, mustard, garlic powder, salt, poppy seeds, and dried sage in a small bowl until well combined. This aromatic butter will add incredible flavor to the tops of the sliders, so make sure everything is evenly distributed. Set the butter mixture aside.
2. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Carefully slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping each roll intact as much as possible. Place all the bottom halves cut-side up in the prepared dish. Layer each bottom half with turkey, followed by a generous dollop of cranberry sauce, then top with a piece of Swiss cheese—I like to tear the cheese slightly so it covers more surface area and melts evenly. Replace the roll tops to sandwich everything together.
3. Generously brush the butter mixture from Step 1 over the tops and sides of all the sliders, making sure to coat them evenly so they'll brown beautifully and develop flavor. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap steam and keep the rolls moist during the initial baking phase. Bake for 15 minutes covered.
4. Remove the foil carefully to avoid steam burns and bake uncovered for an additional 3 minutes. This brief final stage allows the tops to crisp up slightly and the cheese to achieve a light golden color. Watch carefully during this stage to prevent over-browning.
5. Remove the sliders from the oven and let them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly and makes them easier to handle. Serve warm, and I recommend keeping them slightly separated on the serving plate so they stay crispy on the sides rather than steaming each other.