Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders: Easy & Delicious Game Day Snack Recipe

Introduction

Oh, the holidays! There’s something so special about that cozy feeling, the warmth of family, and the delicious aromas filling the kitchen. And if you’re anything like me, you love having easy, crowd-pleasing recipes that are perfect for those gatherings. Today, I’m sharing a recipe that’s a total winner: Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders! Seriously, these little flavor bombs are so incredibly easy and quick to whip up, they’ll become your go-to for potlucks, game nights, or just a fun weeknight dinner. Get ready to impress everyone!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fast: While the turkey cooks low and slow, you’ve got free time to catch up or get other things ready. The final assembly is super speedy!
• Easy: Minimal prep work involved. Your slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting, making this a dream for busy cooks.
• Giftable: Imagine a batch of these warm, savory sliders at a party – they disappear faster than you can say “delicious!” They’re perfect for sharing.
• Crowd-Pleasing: The sweet and tangy cranberry combined with smoky BBQ sauce and tender turkey is a flavor combination that just hits all the right notes. Everyone, young and old, will adore them.

Ingredients

Let’s gather our goodies! These ingredients are pretty straightforward, and you might even have most of them in your pantry right now. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2-3 pound boneless turkey breast: This is our star! A boneless breast is easy to handle and shreds beautifully.
• 1 cup BBQ sauce: Your favorite kind will work! Whether it’s smoky, sweet, or a little spicy, it’s going to be delicious.
• 1 cup cranberry sauce: This adds that delightful festive tang. You can use homemade or your favorite store-bought version.
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard: Just a touch to add a little zip and depth of flavor.
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar: For a hint of sweetness that balances the tanginess perfectly.
• 1 teaspoon onion powder: Brings a lovely savory onion flavor without the hassle of chopping.
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt: Hello, delicious garlic goodness!
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika: This is where the magic happens for that wonderful smoky undertone.
• ½ teaspoon black pepper: Just a little kick to round out the flavors.
• 12 slider rolls: The perfect little vessels for all this deliciousness. Hawaiian rolls are fantastic here, but any soft slider roll will do!
• 6 slices cheddar cheese: Because melty cheese makes everything better, right?

For the Topping:

This buttery, savory topping is what takes these sliders to the next level. It’s like a little flavor hug for the rolls!

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted: Our smooth, buttery base.
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika: More smoky goodness!
• 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar: A little extra sweetness for the topping.
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt: For that savory punch.
• ½ teaspoon onion powder: More savory depth.
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper: A hint of spice.
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley: For a pop of color and a touch of herbal freshness.

How to Make It

Alright, let’s get cooking! This is where the fun really begins. Don’t be intimidated; it’s so simple!

1. Get the turkey ready: Pop your boneless turkey breast right into your slow cooker. Easy peasy!
2. Whip up the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, cranberry sauce, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Give it a good stir until everything is nice and combined.
3. Saucify the turkey: Pour that luscious sauce mixture all over the turkey breast in the slow cooker. Make sure it’s nicely coated.
4. Let the slow cooker work its magic: Cover your slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours. You want the turkey to be super tender and easily shreddable. I usually check it around the 4-hour mark, but every slow cooker is a little different!
5. Shred that turkey: Once the turkey is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the turkey into bite-sized pieces. It should pull apart like a dream!
6. Bring it all back together: Return the shredded turkey back into the slow cooker. Stir it around so all those yummy shreds get coated in that incredible sauce. Oh, the aroma!
7. Prepare the topping: While your turkey is getting all saucy and wonderful, let’s make our topping. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, and dried parsley. This is going to make those slider tops perfectly golden and flavorful.
8. Roll call: Slice all 12 of your slider rolls in half horizontally.
9. Build your sliders: Arrange the bottom halves of the slider rolls on a baking sheet.
10. Pile on the turkey: Top each bottom roll generously with that luscious cranberry BBQ turkey. Don’t be shy – load ’em up!
11. Cheese, please! Place a slice of cheddar cheese on top of the turkey on each slider.
12. Brush with buttery goodness: Now, take your prepared topping mixture and brush it all over the tops of the slider rolls. This is going to make them so irresistible.
13. Top it off: Gently place the top halves of the slider rolls over the cheese.
14. Bake to perfection: Pop the baking sheet into a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C). Bake for about 5-7 minutes, or until the rolls are lightly toasted and the cheese is wonderfully melted and gooey. Serve immediately and watch them disappear!

Substitutions & Additions

One of the best things about this recipe is how adaptable it is! Feel free to play around and make it your own:

• For a spicier kick: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your sauce mixture, or use a spicier BBQ sauce.
• Different cheese: Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or even a sharp white cheddar would be delicious alternatives to cheddar.
• Add some crunch: Before baking, sprinkle some crispy fried onions on top of the turkey for an extra layer of texture.
• Make it a sandwich: If you don’t have slider rolls, this shredded turkey filling is amazing on regular buns or even as a topping for baked potatoes!
• Vegetarian option: While this recipe is for turkey, you could adapt the sauce for pulled jackfruit or pulled mushrooms for a fantastic vegetarian slider.

Tips for Success

A few little tricks to ensure your Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders are absolutely perfect every time:

• Don’t overcook the turkey: While the slow cooker is forgiving, make sure to check for tenderness. If it’s still tough, give it a bit more time.
• Shredding is key: Using two forks is the easiest way to shred the turkey into perfect bite-sized pieces.
• Prep the topping ahead: You can mix up the topping ingredients (except the butter) a day in advance and store them in a dry container. Just melt the butter and whisk it in when you’re ready to use it.
• Evenly distribute the turkey: Try to get a good amount of turkey on each slider for the best flavor experience.
• Watch the rolls: The rolls toast up quickly! Keep an eye on them in the oven so they don’t get too brown.

How to Store It

Leftovers? Lucky you! Store any leftover shredded cranberry BBQ turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. The slider rolls are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them separately and assemble fresh sliders when you’re ready to eat.

FAQs

Got questions? I’ve got answers!

• Can I make the turkey filling ahead of time? Absolutely! You can cook the turkey and shred it in the sauce up to 2 days in advance. Store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to make sliders, simply warm the turkey mixture and proceed with the assembly and baking steps.
• Can I use chicken breast instead of turkey? Yes, you can! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts will work wonderfully in this recipe. The cooking time might be slightly shorter, so keep an eye on it.
• What if I don’t have a slow cooker? No problem! You can adapt this recipe using an oven. Place the turkey breast in a baking dish, cover it with the sauce mixture, and bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 1.5-2 hours, or until cooked through and tender. Shred and proceed as usual.

Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

Print Recipe

Easy and quick cranberry BBQ turkey sliders, perfect for game day or any gathering, featuring tender shredded turkey coated in a sweet and tangy sauce, topped with melted cheddar cheese and a buttery, savory roll.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 sliders

Ingredients

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Main ingredients

• 2.5 pound boneless turkey breast (average of 2-3 pounds)
• 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite kind)
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 slider rolls slider rolls (Hawaiian rolls recommended)
• 6 slices cheddar cheese

For the Topping

• 0.5 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt
• 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

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Instructions

1. Place your boneless turkey breast into your slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, cranberry sauce, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper until well combined.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the turkey breast in the slow cooker, ensuring it’s evenly coated.
4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours, or until the turkey is very tender and easily shreddable.
5. Carefully remove the cooked turkey from the slow cooker and shred it into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
6. Return the shredded turkey to the slow cooker and stir to coat it with the sauce.
7. While the turkey is in the slow cooker, prepare the topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, and dried parsley.
8. Slice all 12 slider rolls in half horizontally.
9. Arrange the bottom halves of the slider rolls on a baking sheet.
10. Generously top each bottom roll with the shredded cranberry BBQ turkey.
11. Place a slice of cheddar cheese on top of the turkey on each slider.
12. Brush the prepared topping mixture over the tops of the slider rolls.
13. Gently place the top halves of the slider rolls over the cheese.
14. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until the rolls are lightly toasted and the cheese is melted.
15. Serve immediately.

Notes

Leftover shredded cranberry BBQ turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently. Slider rolls are best fresh, but can be stored separately.