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Turkey Sliders Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 25 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 sliders
- ⚡ Calories: 188kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Savory, tangy, and gently spicy (melty pepper jack plus bright salsa verde)
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our french dip sliders
Quick Answer
Slice slider rolls in half and set the bottoms in a cast iron skillet or baking dish. Layer on salsa verde, folded deli turkey, and pepper jack cheese, then replace the tops. Whisk melted butter with dried onion flakes and more salsa verde, pour it evenly over the rolls, and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese melts and the tops turn golden brown.
Jump to:
- Turkey Sliders Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Turkey Sliders
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Turkey Sliders FAQs
- Other Recommended Slider Recipes
- Baked Turkey Sliders (Salsa Verde and Pepper Jack)
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The skillet crisps the bottoms. Baking the sliders in a preheated safe cast iron skillet gives the bottom rolls a light toast, so they never go soggy under the salsa verde.
- Salsa verde works in two layers. Spreading it under the turkey seasons every bite, while whisking it into the butter topping caramelizes the flavor right into the roll tops as they bake.
- Folded turkey traps steam. Folding each slice instead of laying it flat creates little pockets that hold moisture, keeping the deli turkey juicy through the full bake.
- Pepper jack melts low and slow. At 350 degrees the cheese fully melts and laces into the turkey before the tops over-brown, which is why the middle is never cold.
- Butter plus onion flakes equals instant flavor crust. The dried onion flakes rehydrate in the melted butter and toast on top, delivering that classic party slider crunch with zero chopping.
- Connected rolls hold the shape. Keeping the rolls attached while you assemble means the sandwiches bake as one unit and pull apart cleanly at the table.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Five minutes of prep, one skillet, and the oven does everything else, this is weeknight and game day gold.
- The salsa verde butter topping tastes like you fussed, but it is literally stir and pour.
- They feed a crowd the way our pulled pork sliders do, without any long cook time.
Key Ingredients
You only need six simple ingredients for these sliders, and most of them are probably in your fridge right now. Here is what really matters in the lineup:
- Slider Rolls: A sweet variety works best here, the slight sweetness plays off the tangy salsa verde and spicy cheese. Hawaiian style rolls are perfect, and keeping them connected makes assembly a breeze.
- Deli Turkey: Thick cut oven roasted deli turkey folds beautifully over each roll. Ask the deli counter for slices on the thicker side so every bite has real substance.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: This is the flavor sneaky hero, it melts like a dream and brings a gentle heat that regular provolone just cannot match.
- Salsa Verde: Jarred salsa verde does double duty, it gets layered on the rolls AND whisked into the butter topping for a tangy, savory finish.
- Butter and Onion Flakes: Melted butter mixed with dried onion flakes soaks into the tops and bakes up golden, just like the topping on our ham and cheese sliders.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These sliders are endlessly flexible. Here are the swaps we reach for the most:
- Swap the cheese: Monterey jack or provolone keeps it mild for kids, while habanero jack turns up the heat.
- Use rotisserie chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken works beautifully in place of deli turkey, just pile it on about a half cup per row.
- Red salsa version: A smooth red salsa or even taco sauce swaps in for the salsa verde if that is what the pantry has.
- Add a smear of cream cheese: A thin layer on the top rolls makes them extra rich and keeps the tops from absorbing too much sauce.
- Thanksgiving style: Swap the salsa verde for cranberry sauce and you basically have our leftover turkey sandwich in party form.
- Everything topping: Add a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning to the butter for extra crunch and flavor on top.
How to Make Turkey Sliders
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the slider rolls in half and place the bottom halves in a large cast iron skillet or oven safe dish, then spread 1/3 cup of the salsa verde evenly over them.
- Fold one slice of deli turkey over each roll so it fits neatly on top and covers the salsa layer.
- Evenly distribute the pepper jack cheese over the turkey, then set the tops of the rolls back on.
- Mix the melted butter, onion flakes, and remaining salsa verde in a small bowl, pour it evenly over the rolls, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tops are golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Keep the rolls connected while you slice and assemble, it makes layering twice as fast and the sliders pull apart perfectly after baking.
- Tent with foil at 15 minutes if the tops are browning faster than the cheese is melting, then uncover for the last 5 minutes.
- Let them rest 5 minutes out of the oven so the cheese sets slightly, they slice apart much cleaner.
- Make them ahead: assemble everything up to the butter topping, cover, and refrigerate up to a day. Pour the topping on just before baking.
- Use thick cut deli turkey from the counter rather than thin shaved packs, it keeps the middle layer substantial instead of compressing flat.
- Double the batch on a sheet pan for parties, they disappear as fast as our reuben sliders every single time.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These turkey sliders are the anchor of a very easy party spread. We line them up next to a big bowl of chips and our totchos when there is a game on, and the two trays empty at exactly the same speed.
For a sit down dinner, keep it simple with a crisp side. A scoop of classic potato salad or a pile of sweet potato fries rounds the plate out without stealing the show.
Feeding brunch people? They are surprisingly great next to a slice of breakfast casserole, salty, melty, and exactly what a lazy Sunday table wants.
However you serve them, put the skillet right on the table with a towel under it. Pull apart sandwiches taste better when everyone grabs their own.
Turkey Sliders FAQs
Yes! Assemble the sliders completely but hold the butter topping, then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake, pour the freshly mixed butter topping over the rolls and add 3 to 5 extra minutes to the bake time since they start cold.
Sweet, soft slider rolls are the classic choice, Hawaiian style rolls being the favorite. Their slight sweetness balances the tangy salsa verde and the spicy pepper jack. Any connected sheet of soft dinner rolls will work, just avoid crusty rolls which turn hard in the oven.
Two things help: bake them in a preheated oven so the bottoms toast quickly, and do not over-sauce the bottom layer. One third cup of salsa verde spread thin is plenty. If making ahead, always add the butter topping right before baking rather than letting it soak overnight.
Store cooled sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a 325 degree oven, covered loosely with foil, for about 10 minutes until warmed through. The microwave works in a pinch but the tops lose their toasty texture.
You can! Wrap baked and cooled sliders tightly in foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat straight from frozen, still wrapped in the foil, in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. The texture stays surprisingly close to fresh baked.
Pepper jack is our pick because it melts smoothly and adds gentle heat that wakes up the mild turkey. Provolone, Monterey jack, Swiss, and havarti all melt beautifully too. Skip pre-shredded cheese blends, whole slices give you that perfect melty pull.
Want more pull apart party food? Our ham and cheese sliders use the same cast iron trick with a honey butter topping.
Baked Turkey Sliders (Salsa Verde and Pepper Jack)
Ingredients
- 12 slider rolls I suggest using a sweet variety for this recipe
- 2/3 Cup salsa verde divided
- 12 slices Castle Wood Reserve® Turkey
- 6 slices Castle Wood Reserve® Pepper Jack Cheese
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried onion flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Slice slider rolls in half and place the bottom half of the rolls into a large cast iron skillet (or oven safe dish of your choice). Layer 1/3 Cup of the salsa on top, place one slice of the turkey over each roll, folded so it fits on top. Evenly distribute the cheese on top of each sandwich. Place the top of the rolls on.
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, onion flakes and remaining salsa. Pour on top of the rolls evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and the rolls are golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
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