With gooey white cheddar and lean turkey sausage, these Ground Turkey Sliders are the perfect healthy appetizer or quick dinner. The sliders come together in 20 minutes and use creamy cottage cheese to make the filling super juicy and higher in protein! Enjoy these delicious sliders surrounded by your friends and family!
“Made this delicious dinner for dinner with company! Kids and adults loved it!!!! I made extra and we finished it up at lunch the next day.” Thanks so much, Betsy!
When I moved to the midwest I learned about this thing called a Juicy Lucy. It’s a burger with cheese inside of it – like who came up with this groundbreaking idea?? It’s creamy, juicy, and gooey and ever since I tried it, I expect every burger or slider to live up the same deliciousness. Whether its a California Burger or a Flamethrower Burger, they all need to be juicy!
These turkey burger sliders use white cheddar and cottage cheese to create that juicy Lucy gooeyness and add extra protein! Stuffed in between sweet Hawaiian rolls and topped with a herby garlic butter sauce, the sliders are bursting with amazing flavor.[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Turkey sliders are a fun and easy appetizer, lunch, or dinner that both kids and adults love Made with Hawaiian rolls, cheese, and leftover turkey, they are the perfect way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers I’m going to walk you through step-by-step how to make turkey sliders in the oven so you can enjoy this crowd-pleasing recipe anytime.
Ingredients Needed
To make turkey sliders in the oven. you will need
- Hawaiian rolls or slider buns
- Leftover sliced turkey or deli turkey
- Sliced cheese like Havarti, Swiss, cheddar, or provolone
- Butter
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon or whole grain mustard
- Herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, poppyseeds, everything bagel seasoning
- Mayonnaise or mustard (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep the Buns
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Take 12-24 Hawaiian rolls and slice them in half, keeping the top and bottom halves separate.
If your Hawaiian rolls came in a cardboard tray, you can use that to bake the sliders and save yourself some dishes! Otherwise, line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
Add the Cheese
Place the bottom halves of the rolls on your baking tray or cardboard tray from the Hawaiian rolls. Layer cheese evenly over each bun bottom, covering completely. I recommend using 2 slices per bun to ensure even coverage.
Top with Turkey
Next, top the cheese with sliced deli turkey or leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Fold or overlap the turkey to fit one slice on each bun bottom.
Make the Butter Sauce
In a small bowl, melt 1/2 cup of butter. Whisk in 1-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1-2 tbsp Dijon or whole grain mustard, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp poppyseeds, and any other spices you’d like.
Finish and Bake
Carefully place the tops of the buns back on and brush the butter sauce evenly over the tops.
Place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the bread is toasted and the cheese is fully melted.
Let cool just slightly before serving while the cheese is still warm and melty. Enjoy!
Turkey Slider Variations
There are so many ways to customize turkey sliders with your favorite flavors:
- Use cranberry sauce or gravy for a Thanksgiving slider
- Add sauteed onions, mushrooms, or peppers
- Mix the butter sauce with pesto or herbs
- Top with lettuce, tomato, and condiments after baking
- Swap the cheese with provolone, pepper jack, or cheddar
- Use ham or chicken instead of turkey
- Add avocado, bacon, or fried eggs
The possibilities are endless for turning leftover turkey into amazing sliders.
Cooking Tips
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Be sure to fully cover each bun bottom with cheese slices, overlapping if needed. This prevents the bread from getting dried out while baking.
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Brush the butter sauce generously over the tops to infuse flavor and toast the buns.
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If your sauce is too thick to brush on easily, simply thin it with a teaspoon or two of milk.
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Watch carefully near the end of baking to prevent burning. Cover with foil if the tops brown too quickly.
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For convenience, assemble the raw sliders the night before and refrigerate. Then just bake before serving.
How to Store and Reheat
Leftover turkey sliders will keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. To reheat, place on a sheet pan and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until warmed through.
You can also wrap individual sliders in foil and reheat in the oven or microwave as needed for quick lunches throughout the week.
Freezing cooked turkey sliders is another great option. Let cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil and freeze in a ziplock bag. Reheat frozen sliders in the oven still wrapped until heated through.
Why Turkey Sliders Make Such a Great Meal
There are so many reasons turkey sliders should become a regular meal in your home:
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Kid-friendly and fun to pick up and eat with your hands
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Perfect for using up leftover turkey after the holidays
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Easy to double or triple the recipe for parties and game day
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Endlessly customizable with your family’s favorite flavors
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Made with simple, affordable ingredients you likely have on hand
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Saves money compared to buying slider trays at restaurants
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Can be prepped ahead of time for quick baking whenever you need
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Adaptable for school lunches, office treats, or freezer meals
So next time you have leftover turkey or a crowd to feed, give turkey sliders a try! The endless possibilities and crowd-pleasing flavors will make this recipe a repeat favorite.
how to store & make it ahead
To store these in the fridge, simply cover and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They will start to get a bit soggy after day 2 but still tasty!
You can definitely freeze these! Just bake them and let them cool completely, then cover them with plastic wrap and foil (double layer). Freezer for up to 3 months and reheat directly from frozen in the oven.
To make this dish ahead of time, it depends on how long in advance you need them. Either assemble it up to 1 day in advance and bake right before serving or make the components up to 3 days in advance and assemble and bake when ready.
To reheat these, pop them in the oven covered to reheat for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees.
troubleshooting & testing notes
My filling is falling out. This is somewhat inevitable and part of the beauty of this recipe. But, to keep it inside, keep the filling inside the edge of the rolls by about ½”-1”.
I tried baking the turkey and here’s what happened. Baking the turkey is a great option but it ends up being a bit dry. You also either need to bake it in a sheet tray and try and lift the whole square out or form patties which takes time.
TURKEY & CHEESE SLIDERS on Hawaiian Rolls | Quick Easy Potluck, Holiday party, Superbowl recipe
FAQ
How to keep sliders from getting soggy?
Your sliders are probably soggy because the sauce soaked into the buns. To avoid this problem, we toast the bottom buns in the oven for a few minutes.Nov 19, 2023
Do sliders have to be served hot?
They taste best served hot, fresh from the oven, but any leftovers can sit out for up to two hours. After that, store them in the fridge and simply reheat that sandwiches as needed. If you’re eating on the patio and it’s 90 degrees or any hotter outdoors, the sliders shouldn’t sit out more than 1 hour.
How do you keep sliders warm in the oven?
You can use a basting brush to evenly cover the tops, but make sure you let the excess drip between your sliders to the bottom. 7. Then, cover the casserole dish with foil and bake the sliders for about 10 minutes.
How long do you heat up sliders?
Look, I am not above snacking on leftover ham and cheese sliders straight from the refrigerator. In fact, I think they’re delicious cold. But if you prefer them warm, simply wrap one or two sliders in foil and pop the package into a preheated oven for around 10 minutes or air fryer for 5-7 minutes, or until reheated.
How long do you bake turkey sliders?
Stir to combine and pour the sauce over the sandwiches. Sprinkle bagel seasoning over the topping. Bake: Cover the sliders with foil and bake at 350°F for 14 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Then uncover and bake for 3 more minutes. Slice and serve the turkey sliders warm. How do you make Turkey sliders?
How do you make Turkey sliders?
Lay the bottom halves of the rolls in a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish or jelly roll pan (I always use a 9″ x 11.5″ jelly roll pan). Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bottom rolls. Layer on the turkey and cheese slices, then carefully place the bun lids on top of the cheese slices. Pour the glaze evenly over the top of all of the sliders.
How do you cook Turkey sliders in a crock pot?
Brush the butter mixture evenly over the tops and sides of the assembled rolls. Cover the rolls with parchment paper or foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Let the rolls rest for 2-5 minutes before serving. Cook the turkey sliders at 350°F.
How do you make Turkey sliders without cheese?
Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bottom rolls. Layer on the turkey and cheese slices, then carefully place the bun lids on top of the cheese slices. Pour the glaze evenly over the top of all of the sliders.
How long do you bake Hawaiian Roll Turkey sliders?
Place the sliders in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. TAKE OFF the foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. The buns should be a light golden brown when they are finished baking. REMOVE the pan from the oven. Cut apart the Hawaiian roll turkey sliders to serve. All images and content are © TheTastyTip.com.
How do you reheat Turkey sliders?
To save any uneaten turkey sliders: Allow to cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container. They will keep for 3-4 days stored this way. To reheat, place a foil-wrapped slider on a baking sheet and warm at 325°F for 10 minutes. You can also microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until hot.