Description

These Thanksgiving Leftover Sliders are a delicious and creative way to transform your holiday leftovers into a crowd-pleasing appetizer or meal. Soft Hawaiian rolls are layered with a savory spread of Dijon mustard and mayonnaise, juicy turkey, flavorful stuffing, tangy cranberry sauce, and melty cheese, then baked to golden perfection with a buttery herb topping. Perfect for sharing and enjoying warm with a side of gravy for dipping.

Ingredients

Scale

Rolls and Spreads

1 package (12 count) Hawaiian sweet rolls or dinner rolls
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 cup cranberry sauce (spreadable layer)

Filling

2–3 cups cooked turkey (sliced or shredded) or ham
1½ cups leftover stuffing
6 slices cheese (provolone, Swiss, cheddar, Havarti, gruyere, white cheddar, or choice)

Topping

4 Tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried herbs (parsley, thyme, or rosemary) or 1 Tbsp fresh herbs
Pinch of salt and pepper
Sprinkle of poppyseeds
Optional: 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor

Optional for Serving

1/2 cup gravy (for dipping or drizzling)

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or use a quarter sheet pan to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
Slice rolls: Carefully slice the entire sheet of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally without separating the rolls, then place the bottom half into the prepared baking dish evenly.
Brush on sauce layers: In a small bowl, mix together the Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. Spread this mixture evenly on both the cut sides of the rolls. Next, spread a thin layer of cranberry sauce over the bottom half of the rolls to add a sweet and tangy flavor.
Add meat and stuffing: Layer the cooked turkey or ham evenly over the cranberry-lined rolls. Season the meat lightly with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor, then add a layer of leftover stuffing over the meat.
Top with cheese and rolls: Place slices of cheese evenly over the stuffing layer. Then carefully place the top half of the rolls back on to form the sliders.
Mix the topping and brush: In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dried or fresh herbs, salt and pepper, and optional grated Parmesan. Generously brush this flavorful topping over the tops of the rolls and sprinkle with poppyseeds for a nice crunch and visual appeal.
Bake: Loosely cover the baking dish with foil to prevent the rolls from drying out and bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and garnish the tops with a pinch of flaky sea salt such as Maldon for an extra burst of flavor.
Serve warm: Slice the baked sliders into individual servings and enjoy warm. Serve with warm leftover gravy on the side for dipping, or enjoy them as they are for a delicious, comforting bite.

Notes

Use any favorite cheese that melts well such as Swiss, provolone, or cheddar.
If you don’t have leftover turkey, ham is a great substitute.
Make sure cranberry sauce is spreadable to avoid clumps—slightly warmed cranberry sauce spreads easier.
The buttery herb topping adds great flavor but can be skipped if desired.
Covering the sliders loosely with foil while baking helps keep them moist.
Garnish with flaky sea salt to enhance the savory and sweet flavors.
These sliders are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated covered with foil to maintain moistness.
Adjust seasoning to taste depending on the saltiness of leftovers used.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American