Thanksgiving leftover sliders for 12: 24 sweet rolls stacked with leftover turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and Swiss, brushed with sage butter and baked until hot through. They take about 15 minutes to build and 30 to bake, which makes them the easy answer for the Black Friday and Saturday games, at home or on the grill at the lot.
Feeds: 12 (24 sliders) · Hands-on: about 15 min · Total: about 45 min
Home gear: 2 foil pans (9 × 13 in.) with foil to cover, a long serrated knife and a pastry brush
Pack for the lot
- 2 pans of sliders, covered, in the cooler
- Gravy, in a sealed container, in the cooler, plus a small pot to heat it
- Instant-read thermometer
- Knife and a spatula
- Heat-proof gloves
- Charcoal and a chimney starter, or a full propane tank
- Plates, napkins and trash bags
Lot notes
- Fuel: charcoal or propane both work. All you need is a cool side and a lid.
- Watch the bottoms: foil pans are thin and the rolls are sweet, so they scorch fast over direct heat. Keep them on the cool side, and nest each in a second pan if the bottoms start to darken.
- Cold until it's on the grill: the built pans ride in the cooler at 40°F or below. Leftovers are already cooked once, so they get one reheat to 165°F, then eat them.
- Holding: leave the pans on the cool side with the lid down to keep them at 140°F or above. Toss what's been out past 2 hours, or 1 hour over 90°F. Don't send them home a second time.
- Cleanup: fold the foil over the crumbs and toss the pans.
Can you make Thanksgiving leftover sliders ahead?
Yes. Build them, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day, as long as the turkey and stuffing are still inside their 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Bake them straight from the fridge until the center reaches 165°F.
How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good for?
Cooked turkey and stuffing keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge, so Thursday's leftovers are good for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday games. Gravy keeps only 1 to 2 days, so use it by Saturday. Freeze anything you won't use by then.
How do you keep sliders hot at a tailgate?
Bake them on the cool side of the grill with the lid down and leave them there while people eat, so they stay at 140°F or above.
How many sliders do you need for 20 people?
Plan on 2 each, or 40 sliders. Multiply everything by 1⅔: about 3½ packs of rolls (round up to 4), 2½ lb of turkey, 5 cups of stuffing, 2½ cups of cranberry sauce and 20 slices of Swiss, across 4 pans.