Delicious Turkey Sliders on soft buttery rolls filled with sharp cheddar cheese, tart apple, and the best cranberry aioli! Whether your making these to use up leftover holiday turkey or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, everyone is sure to love them!
Turkey sliders are a fun, bite-sized way to enjoy juicy turkey burgers. But what sides pair best with these mini sandwiches? The key is finding savory, flavor-packed accompaniments that complement (not overpower) the turkey. After scouring blogs and pinning dozens of slider side dish recipes, I’ve compiled the 15 best options to serve with turkey sliders.
Sweet Potato Fries
Crispy, sweet potato fries are a perfect match for turkey sliders. They have just the right amount of sweetness to balance the savory turkey flavor Baking sweet potato fries keeps them healthier than deep frying too For extra zing, toss the fries in olive oil, cayenne, garlic powder, and parmesan before roasting.
Coleslaw
A cooling cabbage slaw with a tangy dressing provides a refreshing contrast to juicy turkey sliders. Stick with a simple slaw of shredded cabbage, carrot, onion, vinegar, sugar, and mayo. Or jazz it up with apple, cranberries, nuts or different seasonings Coleslaw also travels well for picnics and potlucks
Caprese Skewers
Make mini caprese skewers by alternating ripe cherry tomatoes, small mozzarella balls, and fresh basil on toothpicks The fresh, Mediterranean flavors pair beautifully with turkey burgers Drizzle the skewers with olive oil, balsamic reduction, and sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Avocado Corn Salad
For a southwestern twist, serve turkey sliders with a black bean, avocado and corn salad. The combo of buttery avocado, sweet corn, nutty black beans, red onion, cilantro, lime and olive oil is amazing. Add diced jalapeno for extra heat.
Parmesan Garlic Fries
Crispy fries topped with garlic, parmesan, and parsley are an easy, delicious side for turkey sliders. After frying the potatoes, toss them in melted butter, minced garlic, parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley. Bake until the cheese melts for irresistible cheesy fries.
Mediterranean Couscous
Cook up a batch of this Mediterranean seasoned couscous with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, and fresh herbs like mint, dill, and parsley. The light, fresh flavors pair wonderfully with juicy turkey burgers. Dress it with lemon and olive oil.
Grilled Zucchini
For a low-carb option, make grilled zucchini. Simply slice zucchini lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick strips. Toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and grill 2-3 minutes per side. The slight char pairs nicely with the turkey. Or use a grill pan on the stovetop.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Here’s an indulgent hot appetizer for serving with turkey sliders. This cheesy spinach artichoke dip is a crowd pleaser, with a creamy, irresistible blend of spinach, artichokes, parmesan, mozzarella and cream cheese. Bake or serve it warm in a crockpot, along with chips, crackers or veggie slices.
Tomato Basil Salad
A simple tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette allows the fresh flavors of the produce to shine. Use a mix of tomatoes like heirloom, cherry, and grape. Tear fresh mozzarella into bite size pieces. Top with julienned fresh basil.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
For a fun twist on classic potato salad, make it loaded, with cheddar, bacon, scallions, and ranch dressing. The flavors pair wonderfully with savory turkey burgers. After boiling and cooling the potatoes, gently fold in the cheese, veggies, bacon, and dressing.
Mexican Street Corn
Fire-roasted corn on the cob slathered in a creamy chili-lime dressing, cotija cheese, and cilantro is an amazing side for turkey sliders. The sweet corn balances the spicy seasoning. Grill the corn, then brush with mayo, lime juice, cayenne, cumin, and cotija cheese.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
A spinach salad with fresh strawberries, feta cheese, nuts, and a poppyseed dressing complements turkey burgers deliciously. The blend of sweet strawberries, tart feta, crunchy nuts, and creamy dressing is perfect for spring and summer.
Twice Baked Potatoes
Scoop out baked potatoes, mix the insides with cheese, sour cream, bacon, scallions, and butter, then stuff it all back in the potato skins. Bake again until warmed through and crisp. The rich, indulgent potatoes pair wonderfully with the lean ground turkey.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Pasta salad with ranch dressing, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and scallions makes a tasty, filling side for turkey sliders. The smoky bacon and cooling ranch pairs great with the juicy turkey flavor. For a spicy kick, add pickled jalapenos.
Fried Pickles
Breaded and fried pickles are a delicious, unique accompaniment for turkey sliders. Their tangy, salty crunch contrasts the soft turkey patties. Fry pickle chips or spears in buttermilk then bread crumbs for maximum crunch factor. Serve with spicy ranch.
Sauteed Green Beans
For a veggie side, saute green beans with shallots, garlic, and toasted almonds. The fresh green beans, crunchy nuts, and savory garlic perfectly balance your turkey sliders. Toss the sauteed beans with a bit of lemon juice as well.
So next time you serve up a batch of turkey sliders, try pairing them with one of these 15 savory side dishes. With so many tasty options, from sweet potato fries and coleslaw to cheesy baked potatoes and fried pickles, you can create a mouthwatering meal perfect for any occasion.
What to Serve with Turkey and Cheese Sliders
These sliders pair perfectly with so many different sides so you really can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for a few sides to serve with your sandwiches here are a few of my favorite options:
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Sliders Recipe
- Great way to repurpose leftover turkey – if you have leftover roasted turkey (or chicken!) from a holiday meal then this recipe is the perfect way to repurpose those proteins. Plus, you can use any leftover homemade cranberry sauce to make the aioli!
- Easy to customize – sliders are incredibly easy to customize and make your own! Swap the cheese, add your favorite sauce, add more protein…the possibilities are really endless.
- Perfect for a crowd – because this standard recipe makes 12 sandwiches, it’s perfect for feeding a larger group of people. Especially around the holidays when you might be hosting more than usual.
Rolls: my personal preference for these sliders is always to use Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. They’re buttery, perfectly soft, sweet, and just give the sandwiches the best flavor. Of course, you’re welcome to use whatever rolls your prefer.
Turkey: you’ll need three-fourths a pound of sliced turkey for this recipe. You can use your favorite brand of sliced deli turkey or if you’re making the sandwiches after the holidays, use sliced leftover roasted turkey breast.
Cheese: sharp white cheddar cheese gives these sliders the best flavor and it melts perfectly. If you don’t love cheddar I’ve included some substitutions, below.
Apple: a bit of fresh apple pairs so well with the turkey and cheddar. Go with tarter varieties of apple like honey crisp or granny smith for this recipe.
Arugula: it may be a little unconventional but a bit of arugula gives these sandwiches even more flavor and a bit more freshness. The peppery flavor of the greens works so well with all of the other elements of the sandwich.
Butter: you’ll need a bit of butter to brush the tops of the rolls after toasting.
What really takes these sandwiches to the next level is the delicious cranberry aioli. It’s so easy to make, packed with flavor, and the perfect way to use up some of those Thanksgiving leftovers! Here’s what you need:
- cranberry sauce (I love to use this homemade cranberry sauce)
- mayonnaise
- dijon mustard
- Use gluten free rolls – need to keep this recipe gluten free? Feel free to use your favorite gluten free sandwich rolls. These rolls would be a great option!
- Switch up the cheese – you can easily customize these sandwiches by using whatever sliced cheese you prefer. Swiss, havarti, gouda, or a spicy pepper jack could all work well. You could also use your favorite vegan cheese alternative if needed.
- Leave off the greens – don’t love arugula? you can easily leave it off.
- Double the recipe – instead of 12 standard sized rolls you could use 24 smaller rolls instead for more bite-sized sandwiches. If you’re really trying to feed a crowd, make a double batch of this recipe for 24 regular sized sandwiches.
- Use your favorite sauce – don’t love cranberry? swap the cranberry aioli for your favorite sandwich sauce. My homemade honey mustard sauce would be delicious on these sliders.
- Switch up the protein – swap the turkey for chicken if you prefer! You could also use your favorite flavor-enhanced sliced deli meat for these sandwiches. Black pepper or smoked turkey breast would be delicious!
Step One: Set the oven on low broil.
Step Two: Use a serrated knife to slice the rolls in half lengthwise (leaving the individual rolls intact). Place the rolls on a sheet pan and then place them under the broiler, watching carefully, until lightly toasted and golden. Remove the rolls from the oven. Set the bottom side of the rolls aside. Flip the top side of the rolls over and brush with butter. Return to the oven and broil the tops for another thirty seconds to one minute until lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees.
Step Three: Add the mayonnaise, dijon Mustard, and cranberry sauce to a small bowl. Whisk together until well combined and smooth.
Step Four: Spread the aioli on the cut side of both rolls. Set aside the top half of the rolls.
Step Five: Then on the bottom half of the rolls, place 6 slices of cheddar cheese, then add the sliced turkey, then the sliced apples, and then top with the remaining 6 slices of cheddar cheese. Place in the oven and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is fully melted.
Step Six: Remove from the oven and top with baby arugula and then place the top half of the rolls on top. Serve and enjoy!
- Watch the rolls carefully while toasting – rolls can burn quickly in the oven so keep a very watchful eye on them and only use low broil instead of high.
- Up the protein and cheese – the amount of protein called for in this recipe is really just a suggestion. If you prefer a bit meatier sandwich then feel free to increase the amount turkey you’re using. The same goes for the cheese if you want an extra cheesy slider.
- Line your sheet pan with parchment paper – this helps to make cleanup easy and catch any melty cheese that happens to fall.
TURKEY & CHEESE SLIDERS on Hawaiian Rolls | Quick Easy Potluck, Holiday party, Superbowl recipe
FAQ
What is a good side for ham and cheese sliders?