Sliders are such a fun and versatile food. They’re great as appetizers and perfect for tailgating, but also make a lunch or dinner option when paired with a side! These air fryer turkey sliders are easy to whip up anytime you’re in the mood for something tasty.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Instead of using turkey burgers, these easy air fryer sliders are made with sliced turkey. You can find it in the deli section (I like smoked turkey) any time of year. However, these sliders are also a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving!
Consequently, you can cook that in your air fryer too. Learn how to cook an entire turkey for your holiday over in our best LG air fryer oven recipes!
Combine the layers of turkey with buttery Hawaiian rolls, melted cheese, a savory topping, and easy air fryer cooking, and you have an amazing app, snack, and way to make your leftovers into something new and delicious.
Katie’s tip
If you’re looking for a way to use up other Thanksgiving dishes, make sure to check out these poppable Air Fryer Puff Pastry Cranberry Brie Bites which use cranberry sauce, or these Air Fryer Spinach Balls which feature stuffing mix!
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Ingredients List
- 1 package Hawaiian slider rolls (12 count)
- 6 slices swiss cheese
- 10 slices turkey
- 4 Tbsp butter (salted)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp dried minced onion
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- If you don’t like sweet Hawaiian rolls, you may substitute regular slider or dinner rolls (white or wheat)
- I use smoked deli turkey, but sweet is fine, as well as leftover Thanksgiving turkey slices
- Swiss cheese may be substituted for another type of cheese, such as Havarti (plain or dill), Muenster, gouda, mozzarella, cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, or Monterey Jack, or may be omitted entirely if preferred
- The onion on top may be substituted by dried minced garlic, poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or any other toppings you like
Step By Step Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F, following manufacturer guidelines. Slice your pack of Hawaiian slider rolls in half (creating a top and a bottom) using a bread knife or other long, serrated knife. If your air fryer basket is too small to accommodate the entire tray of sliders, divide it crosswise into two smaller sections of 6 rolls each
- Place a single layer of cheese on the bottom half of the rolls. On top of the cheese, add your sliced turkey meat
- Top the turkey and cheese sliders with the top bun section. In a small bowl, melt the butter and mix in the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dried minced onion. Then, brush the butter sauce over the top of the rolls (use a pastry brush or similar)
- Tent the tops of the buns with aluminum foil to prevent over browning. It should be tight enough to keep the foil from flying up into your heating element, but you don’t need to seal the sliders completely
- Place the foil-wrapped sliders into the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook turkey sliders on air fry setting at 350°F for 15 minutes (no flipping required) until cheese is melted
- Remove the sliders from the air fryer and remove the foil. If a darker toasting is desired, carefully return unwrapped sliders to air fry for an additional 1-2 more minutes (optional) until golden brown
- Cut into squares along the bun lines and serve. Feel free to add some leftover cranberry sauce for dipping or as a condiment as well!
Pairing Suggestions
- French fries (regular, sweet potato fries, or other)
- Potato chips
- Onion rings
- Fried mushrooms
- Fried pickles
- Macaroni salad
- Potato salad
- Fruit salad
- Coleslaw
- Mac and cheese
- Cranberry relish
- Broccoli salad
- Roasted brussel sprouts
- Pesto
- Butternut squash soup
- Baked beans
As you can see, there are a lot of dishes that go well with turkey sliders!
Try your air fryer turkey and cheese sliders with my easy recipes for Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries, Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Bacon, Air Fryer Baked Beans, Microwave Cranberry Sauce, or homemade Ninja Air Fryer Potato Chips.
Recipe FAQs
What Temperature Should My Air Fryer Sliders Be?
If you’re reheating Thanksgiving turkey or using raw meat, your air fryer turkey sliders should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Deli turkey (lunch meat) doesn’t need to be heated before serving in most cases, so the temperature isn’t as sensitive if you’re making your sliders with it.
How Long Do You Cook Turkey Sliders in an Air Fryer?
Turkey sliders using sliced meat should cook for about 15 minutes. Thicker turkey burger versions may require up to 20 minutes.
Always make sure that if you’re cooking or reheating non-deli turkey that it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming.
What Temperature Do You Cook Turkey Sliders at in an Air Fryer?
Cook turkey sliders in the air fryer at a temperature of 350°F to prevent over browning of the bread.
Turkey burgers, however, should be cooked at a temperature of 400°F and then added to the buns afterwards. This ensures they get safely cooked through without burning the rest of the ingredients.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Turkey Sliders
- If you’re using leftover sliced turkey (non-deli) make sure an internal temperature of 165°F is reached for food safety
- This recipe easily doubles or triples if you’re serving a larger crowd at a party
- Make sure to use the foil, as that prevents the bun tops from burning otherwise
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigeration: Store leftover turkey sliders in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in foil. They’ll keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
- Freezing: Wrap individual sliders or portions in foil and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll stay fresh for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating
- Reheating in the Oven/Air Fryer: For the best texture, reheat sliders in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 5–8 minutes, or until the turkey is warmed through and the buns are slightly crisp. This helps avoid soggy bread!
- Microwave Option: If you’re short on time, microwave on medium power for 30–45 seconds per slider. Cover with a damp paper towel to retain moisture
Final Thoughts
These tasty air fryer turkey sliders are so simple to make and packed with delicious savory flavors too! This easy recipe is a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, to add to your game day spread, or just to enjoy anytime.
The kids will love them as well, since they’re the perfect size – small and easy to hold! What’s more fun than a bunch of mini sandwiches?
Katie’s tip
For a not-so-mini version, also make sure to check out how to make Air Fryer Frozen Hamburgers for a quick and easy dinner option.
Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Equipment
- Basting brush (or similar)
Ingredients
- Package Hawaiian slider rolls, such as Kings Hawaiian (12 count)
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
- 10 slices turkey
- 4 Tbsp butter (salted)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp dried minced onion
Instructions
- Slice your pack of Hawaiian slider rolls in half (creating a top and a bottom) using a bread knife or other long, serrated knife. If your air fryer basket is too small to accommodate the entire tray of sliders, divide it into two smaller sections of 6 rolls each (optional)Package Hawaiian slider rolls, such as Kings Hawaiian
- Place a single layer of cheese on top of the bottom buns. On top of the cheese, add your sliced turkey breast. Top the turkey and cheese layers with the top bun section6 slices Swiss cheese, 10 slices turkey
- In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dried minced onion. Brush the butter mixture over the top of the buns4 Tbsp butter, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp dried minced onion
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F, following manufacturer guidelines
- Wrap the buns in aluminum foil (to prevent burning) making sure to roll the edges to secure them. Place the foil-wrapped sliders into the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook turkey sliders on air fry setting at 350°F for 15 minutes (no flipping required) until cheese is melted (and if using leftover turkey make sure it reaches 165°F)
- Remove the sliders from the air fryer and remove the foil. If a darker toasting is desired, carefully return unwrapped sliders to air fry for an additional 1-2 more minutes (optional)
- Cut into squares along the bun lines, and serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t like Hawaiian rolls, you may substitute regular slider or dinner rolls (white or wheat)
- I use smoked deli turkey, but sweet is fine, as well as leftover Thanksgiving turkey
- Swiss may be substituted for another type of cheese, such as Havarti (plain or dill), Muenster, gouda, or monterey jack, or may be omitted entirely if preferredÂ
- The onion on top may be substituted by dried minced garlic, poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or any other toppings you like
- This recipe easily doubles or triples if you’re serving a larger crowd
- Exact nutritional values will vary depending on specific ingredients used and total amount consumed, so please consider this as only a guideline or estimate
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Nutrition
