Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders
These mini Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders are a fantastic way to use leftover turkey from the holidays. They’re spectacular using Deli turkey, too for a year-round treat. To make them, fresh slider rolls are brushed liberally with a sweet and buttery poppy seed glaze then layered with cheddar cheese. Next, comes sliced turkey and whole berry cranberry sauce. After assembling, they’re baked until the cheese has melted and the tops are golden brown. The only hard part about these is, waiting to cut apart and enjoy.
Easy Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders Recipe
These cheddar turkey sliders are a spin-off of my recipe for Ham and Swiss Poppy Seed Rolls. The cranberry sauce with the cheddar cheese and turkey gives them a sweet and salty combination of flavors that my family loves. I serve these turkey sliders throughout the entire holiday season and they’re usually one of the first things to go from the appetizer table. They’ve become sort of a tradition for our holiday eats, much like cheddar sausage balls and a family favorite, my beef and cheddar cheeseball. Apparently, we have a thing for cheese. Guilty as charged.
Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make easy Turkey Sliders Recipe: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)
- Bread – 12-count package of slider rolls (i.e.. Pepperidge Farms or similar) forms the base of the sliders
- Turkey – One pound of thinly sliced leftover Thanksgiving turkey or deli turkey.
- Cheese – Sliced sharp cheddar cheese for a melty cheesy texture.
- Cranberry – Whole berry or jellied cranberry sauce complements the flavor of the turkey.
- Butter Topping – Salted or unsalted butter, spicy brown mustard, honey, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder.
How to Make the Best Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders Recipe
These sweet honey butter glazed turkey sliders are so delicious, make sure you grab a couple and set them aside for yourself, they always disappear in a hurry. An alternate plan would be making a double batch, depending on the appetites of those you’re serving.
- Heat Oven and Prepare Pan – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Separate the Rolls – Using a serrated knife cut through the middle of the slider rolls. Place the bottoms side by side on the pan. Set the tops aside.
- Make Seasoned Butter – Melt together the softened butter, mustard, honey, poppy seeds, grated onion, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Stir until fully combined.
- Brush with Butter – Brush the bottoms of the sliced rolls with about 1/3 of the seasoned melted butter.
- Assemble the Layers – Begin to layer 1/2 of the cheese on the bottom section, then arrange the turkey over the cheese. Break cheese slices when needed to fit.
- Cranberries – Spread the turkey with cranberry sauce. Top with the final layer of cheese. Brush liberally with butter mixture.
- Brush Tops of the Rolls – Place the tops of rolls over the cheddar cheese. Brush with remaining melted butter mixture.
- Oven – Bake covered with aluminum foil per the baking time in the recipe.
- Serve – Cut apart and serve immediately with additional cranberry sauce on the side.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Cheddar Turkey Sliders Recipe
- A sharp knife and cutting board.
- Large sheet pan or 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Measuring cups and spoons.
- Small bowl to make the honey butter poppy seed glaze and a pastry brush.
Recipe Variations, Variations and Substitutions
- Turkey – You can make these sliders with deli turkey or to reinvent leftover turkey during the holidays, for a round two meal. You could also use smoked turkey or smoked chicken.
- Slider Buns – You can use a sweet roll like Hawaiian rolls or another brand of slider rolls that you enjoy. Slider rolls tend to come in a variety of sizes so adapt the amount of ingredients as needed.
- Seasonings – You could skip the poppy seeds and sprinkle the tops with everything bagel seasoning.
- Chicken – You can also make these sliders using rotisserie chicken, deli chicken or roasted chicken.
- Melty Cheese – You can use an alternate cheese such as swiss cheese, provolone, muenster, mozzarella, gruyere cheese, havarti, smoked gouda cheese, white cheddar cheese or any flavor of cheese that you enjoy.
- Cranberry Sauce – You can drizzle the turkey with whole grain mustard, honey mustard or Dijon mustard in place of cranberry sauce.
- Bacon – You could add crispy bacon if you enjoy sweet and savory flavors.
- Optional Toppings – You could serve these with lettuce, sliced tomato and red onion.
- Use a Bread Knife to Cut Apart – These aren’t pull apart rolls. It’s best to use a sharp knife to cut these turkey sliders apart following the perforations of the slider rolls, just before serving.
- Slow Cooker Turkey – Make your own turkey using my recipe for Slow Cooked Turkey Breast.
- How to Serve Turkey Cheese Sliders – Serve these sliders for game day, snacking, casual meals and entertaining. Serve them as a meal with a pasta salad, green salad, sweet potato fries, potato chips or alongside the other Thanksgiving leftovers. Slider recipes make the perfect party food!
Storage and Leftovers
- Make-Ahead Tip – To save time, these turkey rolls can be assembled one day in advance then covered tightly and chilled along with the remaining poppy seed glaze. Brush with the buttery glaze just before baking.
- Leftovers – Store leftover Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating – You can enjoy them gently warmed in the microwave or cold. You can also reheat in a 325°F air fryer or a preheated 350°F oven on a sheet pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, covered with foil just until heated through.
- Freezer – Freeze turkey sliders for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.
More Easy Turkey Recipes to Make
As I mentioned previously, while turkey is especially associated with the holiday season, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy it in some form year-round. Other turkey recipes to try:
- Turkey Broccoli Rice Divan makes a family pleasing casserole.
- Fiesta Turkey Club Sub for picnics and quick meals.
- This Turkey Tetrazzini has a homemade cream sauce that’s next level.
- Turkey Cranberry Crescent Ring can be served as an appetizer or a main dish.
- Turkey Croquettes are crispy little turkey cakes you serve topped with cranberry sauce and sour cream.
- Turkey Pot Pie is topped with puff pastry for the crust.
- Turkey Meatloaf Muffins are topped with mashed potato “frosting”.
- Apple Cranberry Turkey Salad from Inside BruCrew Life.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz package 12-count slider rolls (i.e.. Pepperidge Farms)
- 1 lb thinly sliced roasted turkey
- 16 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce whole berry or jellied (Your preference)
- 6 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 Tbsp grated sweet onion
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a serrated knife cut through the middle of the slider rolls. Place the bottom half of the rolls side by side on the pan. Set the tops aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt together the softened butter, mustard, honey, poppy seeds, grated onion, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Whisk until fully combined and slightly thickened then remove from the heat.
- Brush the bottoms of the sliced rolls with about 1/3 of the seasoned butter.
- Layer 1/2 of the cheese on the bottom, then arrange the turkey over the cheese. Break cheese slices when needed to fit.
- Spread the turkey with cranberry sauce.
- Top with the final layer of cheese. Brush liberally with butter mixture.
- Place the tops of the rolls over the cheese.
- Brush the remaining seasoned melted butter mixture on the top and all sides.
- Cover loosely with foil. Bake covered for 20 minutes then uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the tops are lightly golden.
- Cut apart and serve immediately with additional cranberry sauce, if desired.
Wondering if these can be assembled the night before and baked the next day or if they would get soggy? I would wait to brush the tops until cooking. But didn’t know if the butter mixture/cranberry sauce would turn the bread soggy overnight.
HI Chrissy, yes they can. Just as you said, wait and brush the outside just before baking. Also, bring to room temperature for at least 15 minutes prior to baking.
I made those delicious sandwiches today and they were great! I didn’t have slider buns so I used small burger buns, deli turkey, cheddar jack cheese- will make again
Wonderful, thanks Janet!
I’m having company today to play Mahjongg. I just made up these beautiful sandwiches. I’m using smoked turkey today. I usually never buy the orange cheese but I broke down and got it for the color contrast. I know everyone will love these little treats.
Hi Deb, we love these little sliders I hope your guests do, too!
This was a major hit at a potluck picnic. People were asking for the recipe off the bat. I used Hawaiian rolls, and sans the poppy seeds, but still insanely delish. Thanks for this great recipe!